LIM College

By Analyse Frezzi

I’m not going to lie— being a college freshman is hard. And, while going through the transition from high school to college, a lot of things change. Even though it’s tough, it’s also a great time. To help you out, here are 10 freshman tips I wish I knew going into college!

1. The transition is hard, and that’s okay.

The transition to college was extremely hard for me. With everything changing at one time, it definitely can be overwhelming. Don’t let that discourage you. I promise that things will get better. It may take some time, but before you know it, you’ll be having the time of your life! :D

2.  Don’t worry about your friends!

If you ask, “What is the one thing that any incoming college freshman is afraid of?”— It’s losing touch with their friends from home. Trust me. There is no need to worry. Even though the idea of leaving your friends and going to college by yourself is scary…It’s not as bad as you think. Keep in touch with them as much as possible, (which is pretty easy nowadays), and hang out whenever you can. It will feel like nothing has changed.

3. Don’t worry about making friends!

When I chose to come to LIM, I knew I would be completely by myself. I was afraid that I wouldn’t fit in with any of my classmates. Remember, we’re all here for one reason—we all love fashion. If you feel like you have nothing to talk about, talk about fashion. You’ll make friends before you know it.

4. Don’t worry about getting lost.

Let me start out by saying that I have the worst sense of direction in the world. Seriously, I think my GPS is my best friend. At LIM, there is a lot of walking between buildings. Don’t worry about getting lost on your way to class. Remember, the city is set up like a grid, and there’s more than one way to get anywhere. Also, the streets are numbered. If you see the numbers are going away from where you need to be, just turn around and you’ll be on your way!

5. Get involved!

At LIM, there are a lot of different clubs. There’s definitely something for everyone here. Also, don’t be afraid to try something new—you never know what you might wind up liking. Joining clubs is also good for your resume and a great way to make friends.

6. Commuter Syndrome

I actually don’t know if people use this term. It’s just something I say. As you have probably guessed, I commute to school from Staten Island. In the beginning, being a commuter felt a little lonely. Almost everyone in my orientation group lived in the dorms, and they all became friends quickly. I sort of felt like I was on the outside looking in. That definitely gets better. As the year went on I started to talk to more people from my classes and now I feel completely normal and accepted, like everyone here!

7. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors!

I always thought speaking to my professors would be scary. I had always felt a little intimidated by the idea of talking to a teacher, or someone who has a lot of authority over me. All the professors here are super friendly, and they want to help you. If you feel like you are struggling with a certain topic, just tell them. They will be glad you asked.

8. Don’t overload yourself!

Going into college, you may think you need to be taking tons of credits, getting involved at school, AND getting a job. Although you may have to do all of these things, don’t do them all at once. Ease yourself into the college atmosphere, and everything will fall into place eventually.

9. Time management is key!

Time management is very important in college. At the beginning of each semester, in each class you’ll receive a syllabus stating every single assignment for that semester. It’s up to you to stay on top of those assignments and make sure they’re handed in on time.

10. A new schedule = STRESS!

I never thought that making a new schedule for the next semester would be so stressful. Don’t worry! Just prepare yourself. Make an appointment way in advance with your academic advisor. Even if you think you have everything figured out, (I thought I did.), you don’t. The academic advisors definitely help a whole lot. Just remember to plan ahead!

Hopefully these ten tips have helped! College is a really fun experience, so enjoy every bit of it! :]