The 8 Most Important Things to Do in the First Week of College

The first week of college is a beautiful, messy whirlwind that you will never forget. In many ways, it sets the tone for the rest of your semester. Nonetheless, it can be stressful. You are living away from home, getting what feels like a hundred syllabuses for your new classes, trying to make friends, finding your way around campus, and so much more. It is easy to get caught up and overwhelmed in all of the excitement, but it is important to stay grounded and start your semester off right. Here are eight tips to help you remain calm, cool, and collected in your first week of school.

1. Unpack ALL of your boxes. Yes, all of them. Resist the temptation to leave that one lonely box filled with things you didn't think you would need but your parents demanded that you bring with you sitting in your corner until October. Unpacking all of your boxes gives you a sense of belonging in your new dorm. Your dorm becomes a home base for you to hold onto on a bustling new campus. By getting that space in order as soon as you arrive at school, you take control of your semester and your college experience.
2. Attend all of your classes. You will probably hear a lot of, "It's syllabus week! You don't need to go to class!" during your first week of college. Don't listen. Syllabus week is one of the most important weeks of the semester. It gives you a chance to learn your schedule, get comfortable with moving around your campus, and put all of your important test dates into your Google Calendar. Skipping syllabus week may seem fun, but figuring out you had a weekend reading assignment for Politics of the American Presidency when your professor hands you a pop quiz on it Monday morning is not. 
3. Find study spaces that fit your needs. I am a die-hard advocate of the study-in-bed method, but my best friend cannot finish a paper unless she is sitting in Lamont Library. Take some time to explore your campus libraries, coffee shops, and common areas to figure out where you like to study. It may seem unnecessary when you don't have any "real work" yet, but knowing where to study for that huge Economics midterm the night before the test can be a lifesaver.
4. Eat in your campus dining halls. Even if the food is awful, campus dining halls are a great place to get to know people, and no time is better than the first week of school. It can feel awkward to sit next to someone you have never met and start talking, but keep in mind that everyone else is feeling the same way. Break the ice with a compliment, then ask to sit next to someone. I promise that you will be surprised by how quick the conversation starts to feel natural. Who knows, you could even meet your new best friend.
5. Sit towards the front in your classes. Even if you are not the type of person who likes to raise their hand and talk in class, sit at the front of your classes. It shows the professor that you are engaged in the class, and getting to know my professors was one of the highlights of my first-year experience. Moreover, sitting in the front of the class helps you stay on track. It's easier to switch from your notes to Twitter in the back of a two hundred person lecture than it is to start texting in the front of the room when your professor is watching.
6. Establish some room guidelines with your roommates. I was blessed to have some phenomenal roommates my first year of college, but it is still important to establish ground rules for how you want your room to operate. Establish a cleaning schedule, so that no one person is stuck bearing the brunt of the workload. Talk about what time you will need to go to sleep and get up, so your roommate isn't blasting country music at 3am when you have an 8am the next morning. Be open to hearing new ideas, and don't be afraid to share your own. Open communication is crucial to the success of any living situation, and it is important to establish it from the beginning.
7. Call your parents. I called or FaceTimed my parents every single day of my first year of college. One of my closest friends only talked to her parents once a week at the most. Both of these are perfectly normal and acceptable, but make sure you call your parents at least once in your first week of school. This is almost as big of a transition for them as it is for you, and letting them know how you are adjusting will mean the world to them.
8. Ask for help. No one has all of the answers for how to make your college experience perfect and Pinterest-worthy, but asking for help is a great way to begin adjusting to your new lifestyle. Whether it is asking an upperclassman how to find your way to a building on campus or inquiring with your Office of Student Life about mental health services, asking for help is the best way to get vital information that will ensure your college success. No one expects you to have all of the answers in your first week of school, and there is no shame in needing help. You will be surprised to find how many warm, welcoming people there are who are more than willing to help you orient yourself on campus.

College is an amazing experience that I am still in the midst of today, but it does not have to be perfect. You are going to make mistakes, especially during your first week of school, but one of the most important things I have learned in college so far is that mistakes are some of the best opportunities we have for growth. So enjoy that beautiful, messy, unforgettable whirlwind, mistakes and all, because you only get to do it once.
​-Alexis Mealey