It’s that time of year again folks! A new school year is already under-way and returning students can easily spot the typical signs of college first-timers. Yes, I’m talking freshman.
Those who walk among us lost in translation and trying their hardest not to look as lost as they truly are. The newly legal students who don’t quite know what the breezeway is yet, and will never know the importance of the words “Fubar” or “Scoop”. These students are so new that most will never know what greatness used to reside in the awful construction site across from campus.
Freshman are new to college life, so they aren’t familiar with the things we veterans are. It’s their first year, how are they supposed to know insider info or what not to do? Well luckily for you freshman, I’m here to give you some pointers and advice that will help make your first year here at UCF run smoothly, successfully, and not to mention your best year ever.
Please don’t wear your lanyard with your dorm keys around your neck. This is probably the number one thing us upperclassman poke fun at you for (besides you being small). It’s the same thing as stamping “freshman” across your forehead, tagging with you all the negative stereotypes of being a freshman. Do yourself a favor, and just don’t do it.
If you can help it, try not to look at the large maps around campus. If you do, you will probably hear people snickering behind you. Again, it’s another way of making it obvious that you are new to campus and need help. If you know you are going somewhere you haven’t been before, look up the map online and plan your route before you leave your dorm. You can even ask someone walking on campus for directions. It’ll show you are confident enough to talk to others and you might even make a friend. However, beware of slick upperclassman who may point you in the complete opposite direction.
Attention freshman girls: Don’t hook up with upperclassman boys. Sorry guys, just doing my fellow ladies a favor. Girls, just because a hot upperclassman wants to get with you, it doesn’t mean you are a really cool freshman. It probably means he’s just a really lame senior and the older girls all know better. Don’t get attached to the first guy you meet because chances are it’s not going to last. If you don’t get attached or you move on quickly, then go for it. But don’t be surprised if things get sloppy.
Work hard your first semester and don’t slack off. If you want to disregard all my other superficial advice from before go for it, but this is the one thing you should really listen to. I know so many people who slacked off their first semester because they were too busy partying and enjoying their first college experiences that they are now paying for it as upperclassman. Those general education classes you are taking are as easy as they are going to get, so ace them. If you get awful grades your first semester you will be constantly trying to bring up your GPA the rest of the time you are in college. You’re here first and foremost for an education, so make your mama proud!
Put yourself out there and get involved! Freshman year is arguably the best because everything is so new and exciting. Make the best of it by joining a club, attending campus events, and meeting new people. You’re going to remember college by the people you’ve met and the memories you’ve made (and hopefully what you’ve learned along the way). You get out of it what you put into it, so step outside your comfort zone and try something new. There is something here at UCF for everyone.
Don’t be afraid to skip a class or two. Seriously, we all do it. Once you learn that your class is basically lecture and that they don’t take attendance, go ahead and skip if you know you can get the notes online or from another student. To me, that’s one of the best things about college! If you had a long night and really don’t feel like getting up one morning, or you would much rather go to some event on campus instead of class, it’s okay to miss one or two classes if you know it’s not going to impact your grade. But don’t make a habit of this and end up way behind. It happens to a lot of students and it will stress you out later on in the semester.
Don’t feel pressured to do anything you are not comfortable doing. College is a lot different from high school in that you may find yourself in situations you have never experienced before. You may not feel comfortable with the things people are doing around you, but you also don’t want to feel like a loser or outsider. Don’t compromise your beliefs in order to feel accepted. College isn’t just about learning Statistics or Biology, but it’s also a time to learn about yourself. If you don’t want to do the things your friends are doing, then don’t. I think being able to stand up for what you believe in is extremely respectable (and not to mention attractive). If your friends continually give you crap for wanting to study for a test or not wanting to use a fake I.D. at the bar, then get new friends. You will feel so proud of yourself later for standing up for your beliefs and being your own person.
There are certain places, events, and student perks you must absolutely take advantage of. Unless you have some older friends here at UCF, you probably don’t know about all the cool stuff campus culture has to offer. Here are some things that may make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Restaurants you will be sorry you didn’t discover: Lazy Moon, Huey Magoo’s, Jimmy Hulas, Moat, 4Rivers BBQ, and Wackadoos.
Events you must go to: Football tailgates and games, Spirit Splash, free concerts on campus, Universal Knights, and Light up UCF!
Services UCF provides that will save your butt: The student union gives out free scantrons to students with a UCF I.D. Learn what “Safe Ride” is and use it! The Health Center can be your best friend or your worst enemy. And don’t park places you are not supposed to. You will get tickets, and you will be pissed.
Don’t be a crappy roommate. Seriously, don’t be that horror story that older Knights tell when remembering dorm life. Be respectful of what time of the night you stop rough housing at. Try your hardest to be quite when you wake up in the morning. Don’t let your boyfriend sleep over every single night (ew). Don’t you dare eat your roomies food without asking, even if you know they won’t care. Always ask, because nothing is worse than craving that last Lunchable and you come home to find your roommate devoured it thinking you wouldn’t mind. Please try to leave your dorm for reasons other than class. Don’t become a hobbit, remember that your roomie would probably love some alone time too. Clean up after yourself, and if you’re a pig do your best to keep your trash on your side of the room. Just remember that they deserve to live there just as much as you do. Try to compromise and work together.
Stop acting sloppy at the bars. We get that this is probably the first time you’ve been let off your mother’s leash, but for heaven’s sake please try to keep it together. I’ve got multiple pictures of obvious freshman disgustingly groping each other at the bars with total disregard for the fact that tons of people are pointing, giggling, and taking pictures. Don’t get so drunk that you keep falling over or that you want to start fights with random strangers. It’s not cool. It’s really unattractive and annoying. Of course you should go out and have as much fun as possible, that’s one of the best things about college! But nothing screams “Look, I’m a freshman!” like not being able to hold it together out in public. I understand that tolerance comes with experience, but remember that this is your first time in college. You should want to leave a good impression, not an impression that you are a hot mess.
If you choose to follow these ten guidelines then you should do tremendously this year. Though there are many more things I could write to help you newbies, that wouldn’t be fair to us upperclassman – plus this article is already long enough. We had to learn through experience and it’s only fair that you do too (and trust me, you will). Freshman year is a breeze, don’t stress too much about it. Just use your good judgment (or someone else’s) and you should make it out alive.