How to Get Through Your First Semester at College

Moving from high school to college is a bit scary. Although the transition is exciting, typically college freshman are on a larger campus than they were for high school, away from home for the first time, and more responsible for managing their course load. All of these changes are reasons why freshman year can be quite challenging. However, don't freak out yet - there is much you can do to prepare yourself well to go to the head of the class!

Getting Involved: Getting involved with smaller groups on your large campus will help you to connect and make the transition to a larger campus community from what you were used to in high school. Some groups/activities you can participate in are events sponsored by your residence hall, intermural sports, and clubs. Many clubs and teams set up booths and events to welcome and recruit freshman in the fall.

Get a Support Network: Whether you're just living down the street from your parents or in a different country, it can be difficult to get used to being responsible for your own meals and you own time. What is most important during this transition is to make sure you have people to support you. While your family may still be far away, it is a good idea to set up a schedule where you call home at least once a week. Your parents will love this plan, will bother you less the rest of the week, and you will maintain the support system provided by your family, which you may need later.

Another way to build support away at school is to again join clubs and organizations. If you aren't the go-getter type however, try to get to know your RA or other students living in your residence hall.

Get a Planner: Staying organized is critical during your first semester in college. You will probably have a completely different course schedule than you did during high school. Having classes every other day can get tricky with remembering what is due when - so WRITE IT DOWN! I recommend a planner with enough room to write assignments and descriptions on the day they're due.

Overall, you should do fine in college if you make sure to check out what resources are there for you. Oftentimes there are numerous programs designed for first year students, but you need to seek them out. A good way to find what's out there for you to utilize is to ask your resident assistant, talk with your academic councelor, or check out your school's website. Good luck with school!

As a resident assistant for two years at the University of Arizona, I have seen some major issues that many freshman must deal with time and again.

• Depression and suicide
• Money (budgeting, credit, student loans)
• Family pressures
• Newfound freedom
• Body image
• Time mangagement
• Choosing what to do in life
• Alcohol and drugs
• Health, sex and sleep
• Harder course load
• How to talk to teachers

Before heading off to college, make sure that you prepare yourself to deal with these issues with either yourself and/or friends. There are many resources out there to help you deal with difficult issues, some including your resident assistant or hall director, professors, your campus health center, and your councelor.

I recommend that as a freshman, you start out by meeting many of these people to establish a relationship before you need to turn to them for advice/help.