How to Survive Your First Semester in College...Away from Home!

Ok, ok...I know some of this will sound a little silly and maybe some of you will think "ha! it's not that easy!" and my response would be "you're right. It is not." It is not that easy but it is easier than you think. If it was "that" easy, there would not be so many books, blogs, and websites about "How To Survive Your Freshman Year."

Your student life in college might not be easy but it is doable and, better yet, it could be a lot of fun!

5 things you can do to survive your 1st semester in college...away from home!

Join a club

Clubs in college are much cooler than clubs in high-school. You can find all kinds of clubs from sports, to service based, to careers, to languages, and even culture based clubs. You can even create your own club, just show your passion and you will meet people with similar interests.

Participate in a College Tradition

Most of the traditions are pretty fun. Get to learn about your schools tradition and participate. Participating will make you feel as a true part of your school and its history.

Volunteer

There are tons of volunteer opportunities in college. If you have never participated in a volunteer activity, you have not experienced how rewarding it could be. Volunteer experience is as important as professional experience when you mention it on your resume. It will show your potential employer how involved you are in helping your community and giving back. Volunteering provides you with valuable skills and knowledge that you might need later on when you apply for a job that you really, really want.

When you volunteer you are not only giving back to your community but you are also giving yourself the opportunity to explore different career options and opportunities. This is a safe way for you to see if you really like something, if you are good at it, if you are willing to do it every day for the next 30 years, or if you definitely need to change your career.   

Find Awesome Study Spots....other than the library and learning lab

It could be really exciting to try to find the perfect study spots...at least the perfect ones for you. Remember, if a place is perfect for someone it does not mean that you will be able to study effectively there too. So, find the spots that you like, how do you know? well, if you can stay there for hours, it's comfy, not too pricey, convenient, and you have everything you need, then it is the right place for you.

You can find more than one perfect study spot if you really spend some time exploring your surroundings. Some of the neatest places are not the most popular ones. Trust me.

Find Your Favorite Restaurants

Ah, food! Yes, college students need to eat and eat well, especially if you are away from home and don't

cook much. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on food, but you will if you are not careful. Find places that serve good portions, who doesn't love Thai food restaurants? Look for places that offer student discounts, and that give you a good variety of meals, such as a salad bar and/or soup of the day included with your main dish. If you can afford it, try a new place every week, or every two weeks. Most students live on under a budget, so you can easily find other students like you and look together for the best deals on food. Be careful not to visit the all-you-can-eat pizza restaurant or not-so-fresh Chinese buffet too often...you don't want to spend most of your first semester away from home and sick of your stomach.