Finally, your journey to adulthood is all set to begin! You might be spending sleepless nights tossing and turning all night or frantically asking around how to prepare for your upcoming university life. And in search of some good solid answers, you have stumbled upon this article–voilà! To guide you with the best and practical advice, we have curated this list of five valuable tips on how you can make the most out of your freshman year!
Make Your Student Accommodation Feel Like Home
Living in a different country or even city can be challenging in many aspects. Missing your family and friends is way more than normal. Well, you might not bring your loved ones with you, but you certainly can give a makeover to your room to make it feel like home.
So whether you stay in student housing in Houston or student housing in Dallas, decorate your room with vibrant fairy lights, hang paintings on walls, place a rug on the floor, etc. You can also bring some of your favorite items from home with which you feel an emotional connection, like your favorite blue blanket, fancy floral mug, or family photos.
These little things play a huge role in keeping the homesickness at bay and making you motivated at all times so that you get well-acquainted with your new life soon and make the most out of it.
Network, Network, and Network!
Networking should begin the moment you set your foot inside the uni. Don’t miss any opportunity to interact with others as it is good for building both your professional and personal contacts. Approaching the right people at the right place can bring a plethora of opportunities for today and tomorrow. You never know, the stranger you exchanged a hello with ends up being your lifelong friend!
We understand it might be tough as you feel shy or nervous approaching new people. But remember, on your first day or even during the first week, everyone will be as clueless as you will be. Some might not be friendly, but it is guaranteed that you will attract your tribe pretty soon if you keep socializing effectively.
Don’t miss any opportunity to strike up a meaningful conversation with your classmates, professors, advisors, recruiters, etc. Also, make sure you attend all career fairs on your campus, guest lectures, or even a Christmas party organized by the faculty. These events are excellent spots to meet like-minded people that can help you learn more or new things.
Be a Good Student (Literally!)
Yes, you heard us right! As cliché as it may sound, but it is what you are here for at your university. While it is natural to get caught up in the fancy new adult life, you shouldn’t get deviated from your main purpose, which is ‘studying.’
So don’t make a regular habit of skipping classes, especially the early morning ones–just because you couldn’t get up from your bed. Remember, the more you take your studies seriously, the more you will grasp knowledge. We are not urging you to be a bookworm, but devoting a fixed time for studying and being attentive throughout it.
Bonus tip: ask (more) questions to your professors or even your peers in the class. Being curious is the trait that will take you further in your life by prompting you to ask relevant questions and seek an abundance of information in exchange.
Keeping Yourself Occupied in Your University Life
Your time at your university is a golden period where you get to experience multiple things at once and be able to meet people of different cultures, races, religions, and ethnicities. Securing good grades should be your primary motto, but other than that, you have plenty of other things to accomplish that can shape your personality, build new friendships, enhance your skills, and more.
So keep yourself busy and make the best use of your time by:
- Visiting your university library in your free time
- Joining a sorority or fraternity
- Taking up research projects with your professors
- Getting involved in extracurricular activities like sports or a hobby club, etc.
Get Organized!
Nobody likes missing out on deadlines, special events, or meetings! We understand your university life will be no less than a rollercoaster ride, and it is very natural not to remember everything. And that’s where you need to make a planner and keep track of all crucial details and dates. So while sitting at your student housing in Chicago, download an app or do it the good old-fashioned way–on a paper diary. And write down everything from deadlines to exams to group meetings to school events.
While in school, our teachers would remind us constantly about the upcoming important tasks and dates. But it is not the case anymore in the university–you have to do it all on your own (like an adult). Your planner will help you manage your schedule better without letting you miss any deadline.
You can also make a different planner for your personal life. You can pen down important family dates, activities with friends, extracurricular events with your peers of hobby clubs or school groups, etc.
Do you need assistance in locating the perfect student housing?
amber is an accommodation booking platform devoted to helping students worldwide with the best experiences and inexpensive options for finding a suitable home. We are upgraded with the latest COVID-19 policies and would be pleased to help you find the ideal abode you are searching for. You can follow us on our Instagram and Facebook pages and receive fresh updates every day.
Writer: Harshita Anand is a postgraduate in English Journalism and a graduate in Hotel Management. She has worked in a varied range of industries and with people from all walks of life. Her rich experience piqued her curiosity to continuously learn new things every day and write passionately about them!
