High school is weird, but college is even weirder. It represents a peculiar time between your teenage and adult years where you aren’t expected to know everything, but you are expected to be a bit more responsible than before. The transition from high school to college can feel intimidating at first, but it’s an excellent opportunity to become more independent and to try something new. So, here are some of the biggest adjustments you should be aware of going into college.
In high school, your classes had a predetermined schedule with few variations. In college, you can schedule your classes based on your own preferences. Are you a morning, afternoon, or evening person? Are you more productive with classes crammed into a few days or spread out over the week? These are the questions that you can answer to figure out what works best for you. During your later college years, you’ll have more freedom to choose different electives and discover which academic areas excite you!
Furthermore, because there’s less time spent in classes, there’s plenty of free time to spare. Compared to high school, there are more free social opportunities with various organizations. You can try completely new activities or find a community based on your current interests. To find these events, check out DuckLink to discover social, academic, and professional opportunities. Many of these events offer free food, which is a perfect chance to uncover Hoboken’s amazing food scene (and fill your stomach). You can also explore Hoboken, take a walk around the pier, or catch a train to New York City. Why? Why not? You’re free to do what you like!
However, that freedom comes at a cost. With great freedom comes great responsibility.
When you miss class, there aren’t professors emailing your parents: You just miss class. There isn’t anyone holding you accountable for your grades. You have to get used to self-studying for exams worth 40% of your grade and keeping up with the work for semester-long group projects. If you’re dorming, you have to navigate living without your parents and handling any potential roommate conflicts. You have to worry about student loans, jobs, internships, and everything else that comes with adulthood. Each day, it’s a constant question of how you should handle your time. Should I hang out with my friends or focus on academics? Should I go to other fun events to meet new people, or should I prioritize my job to pay off loans? Which club should I go to, and why does every club I want to attend happen on the same day? There are so many opportunities available that it can feel overwhelming. But you can’t do everything.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t resources available to help you. For academics, go to the office hours provided by professors and their teaching assistants. You can also take advantage of individual tutors for each class or stop by the drop-in tutoring center in the library. For clubs, try out everything at first, then determine which ones you feel the most comfortable with or you want a leadership role in. For finance, create a budgeting plan to determine what percentage of money should be divided up into tuition, savings, and wants. College is a balancing act, but don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s only been two weeks; you don’t need to have everything figured out.
It can be difficult adjusting to an entirely new environment, but if you pace yourself, college is your chance to find your passion and create long-lasting memories!
