Preparing for College: What To Expect as a College Freshman

Freshman year of college is an exciting new experience. There are opportunities to make new friends, try new things, and of course, live on your own for the first time. However, balancing these new experiences with your studies and new living situation can prove challenging. Many students will tell you it’s easy to fall behind or feel overwhelmed with so many new things happening all at once.

To help prepare for college, we’ve put together this guide to give you an idea of what to expect as a college freshman before college move-in day arrives. We’ve also listed some helpful tips for first-year college students (and parents) to make your transition to freshman year of college as smooth and successful as possible. Don’t forget to check out how Collegeboxes makes not only freshman year more effortless, but the following years as well, by providing college storage and shipping services.

5 Tips for College Freshmen and What to Expect

1. College Move-In Day Can Be Hectic

Move-in day is exciting, but it can also be stressful if you’re not prepared. Creating a dorm room essentials list is an easy way to plan and cut back on college moving stress. List what you need right away and plan to bring those items with you. Plan to buy some items after you arrive and have larger items shipped to school, so you’re not burdened with hauling too many items on day one.

Come move-in day; you will have an assigned time to go with your designated move-in day. It’s essential to be mindful of your allotted move-in time to stay on schedule, as these times are handed out to cut back on congestion in the hallways, long lines for the elevators, and crowds in the other common areas. Being late or cutting into that time could create delays and headaches for yourself and others.

2. College Class Schedules Vary

Gone are the rigid 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday high school class schedules. Instead, college schedules vary quite a lot based on the courses you’re taking. As a result, you might have three classes bunched together on Mondays and Fridays, two classes with time in between on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and one class only on Wednesdays. It’s a good idea to take advantage of gaps in your schedule or any time off during the week to work on homework or get some studying done rather than treat this as free time. Also, keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to know your schedule and stick to it, no matter how random it may seem.

3. Dorm Rooms Are Small

Getting a head start on your dorm room setup is a great idea. But remember, not all dorm rooms are created equal. They vary in both size and style, and they’re typically smaller than they look in the movies (sometimes even under 300 square feet). Try to get a good idea of the dorm room you’ve been assigned before you begin packing your belongings, so you avoid packing too little or too much.

Dorm styles are most often double or triple rooms. It means you’ll likely be sharing your dorm room with either one or two other students. In some cases, you may be assigned a quad dorm, which is shared by four students. Quad dorms are either a single room with four beds or a suite-style layout where they have their space.

4. Get Used to Sharing Your Space

You might be envisioning you and your new roommate being the best of friends. Or maybe you’re dreading sharing a space with a stranger. Whatever the case, it’s best to brush up on some tips for relieving tension in the dorm room beforehand so that you can work toward a favorable living situation. Just know that if you and your roommate aren’t getting along, it’s not the end of the world. Just be courteous, and you’ll make it out just fine.

Keep in mind your dorm isn’t the only space you’ll be sharing. Most residence halls have communal dining areas and communal showers and bathrooms shared by countless other students. If you’re not used to sharing these types of spaces with others, it might be worth taking some time to prepare mentally. You may also want to brush up on some best practices (invest in some shower shoes!) and get familiar with the shared areas in your building and where they’re located ahead of time.

5. You’re On Your Own

Living on your own for the first time is undoubtedly exciting. But it would be best if you remembered that also means you are responsible for your health and success during the semester. While instructors and college staff members can help with specific functions, like academic advice, other essentials like attending class regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, getting a good night’s sleep, and completing your schoolwork on time are mostly up to you. No one will be there to guarantee your success or remind you to stay on task.

Parents’ Guide to the College Freshman Experience

If you’re a parent sending your teenager off to college for the first time, you may also be wondering what to expect this upcoming school year. After all, you want your freshman to be successful and comfortable, but you won’t be there to ensure that’s the case. It’s natural to be nervous about things like your teen’s health, grades, feeling of homesickness, stress, and social pressures. Even if you’re not the “helicopter parent” type, you will likely want assurance that your teen manages things well.

To alleviate some of that anxiety, we recommend using the time to prepare your teenager for their new independent lifestyle. It could be as simple as encouraging them to try new things or understand what resources are available to them through the university. Of course, it helps to have healthy communication with your freshman throughout the school year as well. Just don’t overwhelm your freshman if you can help it.

College Moving for Parents

Often, parents carry the burden of planning for college. That includes coordinating the college moving process every step of the way. In fact, many of the challenges students face on college move-in day also apply to parents, sometimes even more so, as they’re the ones supplying transportation and planning the shipping and moving logistics. Things like limited parking near university housing, reserved elevator times, and tight move-in schedules can make things difficult.

College Moving With the Experts

One way to alleviate the challenges that come with college moving – particularly on college freshman move-in day – is to allow the college moving experts to do the heavy lifting. Collegeboxes provides an easy and affordable way to move to college. It includes supplying summer storage and shipping of your belongings to and from your school. Sign up for Collegeboxes today.