Starting your first semester as a first-year college student can feel like stepping into a whole new world, and in some ways, it is a whole new world. College is a new place, with a new schedule, new people, and new opportunities. It is an overwhelming time for many as well as an exciting fresh start. With the right strategies and mindset, you can navigate this transition with confidence and excel in your first semester. Here are some simple pieces of advice I would have liked to know coming into college for the first time:

Establish a Routine:

As you will quickly find, the college schedule is a lot different than the average high school schedule. College involves a lot more time to independently structure yourself and your day.

Do not take this for granted. Create a simple routine for yourself that involves time to study, take care of yourself and socialize.

Write Clear Goals of What You Would Like to Get Out of Your College Experience:

Sure, this is a cliche. However, when you have graduated, the last thing you want is to be asked “What did you get out of college?” And have nothing to say. Whether it be about academics, athletics, social aspects, and all that in between, write down what you want to do with your time here. You only get to do this once, make the most of it.

Find a Passion:

College is filled with so many opportunities to try new things or even expand on things you already know you like. Do not spend your time in college just simply doing the bare minimum. Find something to do outside of just schoolwork and hanging out with friends. You could do this through joining clubs or intramural sports. This is a simple way to have fun as well as add structure to your schedule.

Take Time for Yourself:

This is the advice I most wished I had heard before coming to college. There is immense pressure in the first weeks of the semester to put yourself out there. It gets overwhelming how busy you are trying to balance school along with new friendships. Make sure you take care of yourself and know that spending time away from people is sometimes a good thing.

The start of college comes with many new and exciting experiences, but it can also become overwhelming. If you follow these few pieces of advice, you will have a head start in the semester. With this, the most important piece of advice, enjoy yourself. You don’t get to go to college twice.