With a new college semester around the corner, the creativejawns fam has you covered with all of the advice, tips & things you need to survive freshman year! Navigating this process is extremely challenging and together we can manage the highs and lows of this exciting but scary time.
TOP 12 DORM ROOM MUST HAVES
1. Vanity Mirror
2. Vacuum
3. Extension Cord
4. Slippers
5. Fan
6. Shower Caddy
7. Mattress Topper
8. Brita
9. Wall Art
10. First Aid Kit
11. Bathrobe
12. Speaker
"The biggest piece of advice I could give is don't worry about what others think. No one cares about what outfit you wear, if you want to go out one night or not, what grade you get on a test, and so much more. Don’t spend your time and energy freaking out about what others may think of you."
— Taylor Faust, University of Maryland
FRESHMAN YEAR TAKEAWAYS AND ADVICE
"My biggest piece of advice after finishing freshman year is to really learn and put an emphasis on understanding the importance of time management! This is key to balancing a social and work life and will be a life skill you’ll need forever."
— Ava Ingersoll, University of Maryland
"One of my biggest takeaways from this year is push yourself out of your comfort zone and really immerse yourself in all of the opportunities at your school. I joined competitive clubs and research programs that I didn't know if I would get into and was honestly scared to join and they've given me some my best friends and so many opportunities that made my freshman year.”
-Sami Fragin, University of Michigan
"My biggest takeaway or piece of advice after finishing freshman year is to be authentic in who you are and make the most out of your college experience. You are only in college for four years... join clubs, try new hobbies and explore your interests, get involved, go to sporting events, social outings and meet new friends. Do it all. Surround yourself with people who accept you for you."
— Page Goldberg, Penn State University
MAKING FRIENDS IN THE BEGINNING OF COLLEGE
1. PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE
“It is cliche and can be very overwhelming but it is so important to put yourself out there. Strike up a conversation with the people in front of you in line at the dining hall, stay up a little later getting to know the people on your floor, and just do your best to talk to and keep connecting with people you meet. You never know who will become one of your best friends. I also found it easier to walk around with my roommate so the two of us could make friends together and it wouldn’t feel as scary!”
—Lexi Schachter, Vanderbilt University
2. KEEP YOUR DOOR OPEN
“Keep your dorm door open so that people can always pop in and say hi! I ended up making my best friends this way. Host pregames and invite people on your floor, sit next to people in the dining hall and start conversation and always say hi to people in the elevator. Everyone is eager to make friends!”
-Cami Escobar, University of Michigan
3. JOIN CLUBS
“At the beginning of school I went to events on campus for organizations I was interested in and I met so many people this way. Joining clubs and programs is where I've met many of my closest friends so I can't recommend joining clubs enough. Also, if it is something you are interested in, joining a sorority is a great way to meet people who have similar values to you.”
-Sami Fragin, University of Michigan
4. Introduce yourself
“Introduce yourself to everyone you meet even if it's in line for coffee, in class, in the dining hall, at the gym, or even if you are walking pass a mutual friend of a friend of a friend. There is always a new friend to be made and you never know where you'll find your favorite friendships.”
-Kylie Tammaro, Penn State University
5. STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
“Go out. Even if you’re a homebody like myself, push yourself to go out at least once a week and invite girls on your floor or in your classes to come out with you. They can introduce you to even more people and soon you’ll be able to find a good group of close friends!”
-Gabby Petrone, University of Miami
living with a roommate
be willing to compromise
“Going from having my own room to sharing a room with someone else was definitely a huge adjustment. It is important that as a roommate, you are willing to compromise and be okay with things not always going your way. It is important to communicate with your roommate on what upsets you or what he-she does that may bother you, as doing so can help create boundaries that are healthy in maintaining a good relationship. I also think it is important to make an effort to get to know your roommate, such as getting dinner together or studying together. My roommate was one of my best friends at school and we did almost everything together!”
-Page Goldberg, Penn State
Have honest communication
“In order to have a good living relationship with your roommate you have to have open and honest communication. If your roommate is doing something that bothers you, you need to respectfully tell them. Change won’t occur without the other person being aware of what is bothering you. Another key component is compromise. You aren’t always going to agree with your roommate and that’s ok! You have to be willing to compromise when necessary. It builds mutual respect for one another and allows each person to feel heard. Without communication and compromise it can become very difficult to live cohesively with each other.”
-Jamie Weiss, Binghamton University
your roommate does noT have
to be your best friend
“I think it's important to realize that you may not and don't have to be best friends with your roommate and that is really ok. As long as you are both respectful of each other's space, feelings, and are kind, then the living situation will work out. My roommate and I discussed that if we ever did something the other did not like or felt uncomfortable about, that we would bring it to them instead of making it a lingering problem, which made my living situation a really welcoming and uplifting environment.”
-Sami Fragin, University of Michigan
Make an effort
“Hang out with your roommates outside of your room!! If you have a common space, watch movies together, go grocery shopping together, all these little things add up and make you guys way closer than just saying hi and bye when passing through your room!”
-Maggie Faust, Temple University
SET BOUNDARIES
“Having a good relationship is what makes living together not only easy but more fun. Setting boundaries, or asking each other permission with certain things such as when you want to have people in the room or when you want quiet time is very important. Just have common courtesy for each other and always communicate!!!”
-Sami Feinstein, University of Maryland
DORM ROOM GALLERY
BALANCING SOCIAL LIFE AND SCHOOL
“Something that helped me a lot was on Monday I would plan out my whole week with everything I needed to get done before Friday. I would spend all my afternoons in the library so I would be able to go out at night and have fun!”
-Jessy Brown, Tulane University
PLAN YOUR WEEK
make work a priority
“Always make sure to get your school work done first. The balance comes along with getting the things you NEED to get done first, and doing the things you WANT second. If you can succeed in school, the social life will come easy!”
-Zara Liss, College of Charleston
Don’t procrastinate
“Do your best to get ahead of your work and plan as much as you can. There are going to be times when you and your friends spontaneously want to go get ice cream or just hang out so the easiest way to have time for that and your work is to plan ahead and stay ahead of your work.”
—Lexi Schachter, Vanderbilt University
Don’t be afraid to say no
“When trying to balance your social life and school make sure to do what's best for YOU. There are millions of opportunities to go out and have fun so never feel pressured to not miss a night. Do what you feel most comfortable with and don't just follow what the crowd is doing always.”
-Bari Bergstein, University of Maryland
“Going to college freshman year is always glamorized but one things I learned is that EVERYONE gets upset, anxious and nervous when leaving home and starting a new experience. Some people speak about it more than others but you are never alone when having those feelings. As someone who struggled a bit at the beginning of freshman year simply because of the major change it was, I promise it gets better!! Give it time, let yourself adjust to the new environment and let yourself feel every emotion.”
-Bari Bergstein, University of Maryland
“College is one for the scariest transitions you will have thus far in you life and it’s ok to be scared about it. Getting used to your new life is difficult at first but once you’re adjusted it is going to be the time of your life. Life is too short to surround yourself with people who don’t support your passions or don’t help you to become the best versions of yourself. Take advantage of every opportunity you are given and always reach for the stars when it comes to your goals.”
-Liv Shaw, University of Pittsburgh
“Feeling nervous is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone is nervous to go to school whether they admit it or not. Find comfort in the fact that there are thousands of kids going through the exact same emotions as you are! I always felt like I was the only kid nervous to go, but I was so wrong. It’s a big transition for everyone because it signifies you growing up and becoming an adult. Let yourself feel all your emotions whether they are positive or negative and remember that the nerves will pass. By the time you graduate four years later you won’t even remember that nervous kid you used to be!”
-Jamie Weiss, Binghamton University
