I know college acceptance season is coming up for many high school students. It is an interesting feeling knowing that my own college experience is soon coming to an end as I wrap up my last semester at NYU. For much time I have been reflecting on that girl who just got accepted to NYU and who had so many question as to what college was like and what I should expect. So I wanted to list 5 things I wish I knew before starting in the hopes I can help someone else who have might have the same questions.
1) Friends Will Come & Go
This one was a big one for me because I struggled with this a lot during my freshman year. Obviously after 7 years of high school I had become really attached to my friends from that time. Because of this I was not the most open to having new friends in college because I somehow thought that because college was only 4 years I would not be able to create such “strong bonds” as I did with my high-school friends. I would say that was the worst thing I could have thought because I became way too attached to them and was not opening up to any new friends
I had to learn the hard way that time ≠ strong friendship. I did fall out of touch with some of my high school friends which was hard for me to come to terms with. But I eventually realized that I gained so many new amazing relationships in return. Some people I had only known for a year had become so close to me that I did not even realize. You will meet so many people in college that will come into your lives and some people may come out. Though this mat be hard, at the end of the day that is how life is. People come into your life for a reason or a season. You will be able to gain new friends back throughout college.
2) Half The Things You Think You Need You Don’t
I know you are looking up videos and blog posts of things that I need in college. Let me just stop you right there…Half of those things you do not need. Of course you are thinking of all the hypothetical situations of what you could potentially need but as a fourth year student I cannot tell you how much money I have wasted on “hypothetical situations.” If you are not a cooker…please do not go out and buy all the cooking utensils. If you are not a decor person…do not go out and buy all the decor for your room. You can honestly save so much money through taking a good inventory of what you currently use in your life and either use or replace those items.
Leave the “hypothetical situations” to if they ever happen (which spoiler alert…most never do). For the few that do come up its a quick fix to either just go ahead and get those items or wait till your next break when you are home to pick them up. College is already expensive as it is so the more money you can save from the get go the better. Also while you are in college, you are really struggling for time between classes, socializing, gym etc. so all the down time activities you think you would be doing may not actually happen. I rather see how your first semester goes, and then choose if its a good idea to bring your entire game station with you.
3) This Is An Adjustment For Your Family Too
Whether you are their first or fifth child off to college, this time is also going to be an adjustment for them, as they get ready to not having you in the house anymore. Its easy to get caught up in your own emotions without taking time to consider how they are feeling. While I was wrapped up in my excitement about heading off to college, I wish I had know to also make the best of the moments that I was still home. I am very close to my mom and my sister and while I am in college now there are many moments when I miss our daily routines we had with each other.
This can go for your family, friends, relationships etc. There will be major changes when you head off for college, so do not forget to enjoy the time that you currently have with them. Talk to your parents about how they are feeling as you head off for college. Take the time out to go do stuff with them like game nights, movie nights or even trips to the mall. Because trust me once college starts, those things become few and far between and only reserved for school breaks. The present is the only time we have so enjoy it with the ones you love while you have it.
4) Keep An Open Mind
You will meet a lot of new people, take new classes and be presented with new opportunities. Sometimes it can be scary being faced with all these new decisions and situations and you may feel overwhelmed. However, taking chances and opportunities are a large part of the college experiences. Decisions about which friends to keep, which new class to try out and which new club to sign up for all part of growing up and learning how to make the best decisions for yourself. So do not run away from these opportunities for growth but rather, keep an open mind and be welcome to them.
Now this does not mean to go and do things that are obviously bad for you because you will be confronted with those type of situations as well. It means to go into college open to learning and experiences. Trust me, high school pales in comparison to college so everything you think you ‘know’, drop it at the front gate. Keeping an open mind allows you to experience so much growth during college and allows you to make the most of these next four years. Some of my favorite memories during college came from me keeping an open mind and stepping outside my comfort zone.
5) Record Your Memories More Often
Now since we mentioned memories, this bring me to my last point of recording them while you make new ones. Now I would be lying to you if I said that college was all fun and games because it is not (remember that finals and homework will still exist). Yet it is important to record the good memories that you make throughout the four years because all of a sudden you are like me, reminiscing on how fast the time has gone. I am so grateful that I remembered to occasionally record videos or take pictures during some of my favorites memories with my friends that I can now look back on fondly.
Whether it was some of the fun trips we took during spring break or us trying to contain our giggles during some late night studying at the library. These memories now hold a special place in my heart and now my phone. Which is why I highly recommend that you remember to do so throughout these upcoming four years. It can be easily forgotten in the daily hustle and bustle of your college lives but it has so much sentimental value. We all have access to our cellphones which makes it a lot easier to do so than before, so there really is no excuse. Trust me your future self will thank you for it.
Congrats to the Class of 2024! These next four years are about to be so life-changing for you so I wish you all the best moving forward! If anyone reading this is currently in their post grad life, I would love any advice about things you wish you knew before your graduation. Also feel free to leave any advice you may have for the upcoming freshman as well.
See you all next week!
The It Girl's Spot 