The first year of college is getting closer and closer for Michigan State University's incoming freshman. With this milestone, it's important to keep the "dos" and "don'ts" in mind.
Psychology sophomore Elizabeth Antrassian said one of her most important "dos" was to set boundaries.
“Set good boundaries with roommates,” she said. “I had a really bad roommate, and she just did not respect…any of the (rules) we put in place.”
When boundaries are violated, Antrassian emphasized how important it is to stand up for yourself.
“Speak up and don’t let someone walk all over you,” Antrassian said. “If you're having issues with someone, speak up, because it will make things, like, a lot better.”
She also encouraged incoming freshmen to utilize their resident assistants.
“I definitely recommend getting a good relationship with your RA because most of them are really nice,” she said. “We got along really well with both of them, and it definitely helped us out a lot.”
Utilizing resources can help freshman make the most of their first year socially, academically and financially. Genomics and molecular genetics sophomore Graham Jackson, who is an out-of-state student, said being financially responsible was a big do for him.
“Take advantage of everything that’s included,” he said.
The combo exchange system at MSU is a significant resource that on-campus students have access to. 12 combos are included with every dining plan. Antrassian said stocking up on snacks by using your combos is a great way to save money.
“Use up all the combos and just keep them in stock in your room,” she said. “I kind of, I did it more at the end, where I would just kind of stock up on chips and stuff, like basic stuff just to keep in the room…so, you don't have to spend money on snacks in your dorm.”
Jackson also witnessed an alternative use for combos when his friend saved up bottled water, snacks and even cups of ramen throughout the entire year, and then donated it all to the MSU food bank in Owen Hall.
Another important do for budgeting is making sure you are not paying for stuff that you don’t need, Antrassian said.
“Save money and budget — I spent way too much money my freshman year, and I went through, like, most of my savings,” she said. “I'm going to try not to do as many impulse purchases on Amazon and only buy stuff that I need.”
Another inevitability that comes with freshman year is meeting new people. Biomedical laboratory science sophomore Savannah Phillips said that putting herself out there made a big difference.
“In high school, I wasn't one to really reach out…but I kind of started doing that my freshman year, and it caused me to have a ton of cool experiences, meet a lot of cool people,” Phillips said. “That really made it easier to transition from my life leaving behind my family and friends.”
While it can be intimidating, Phillips said, telling herself that everyone is in the same boat was a comfort.
“Everyone is on the same playing grounds (and) you're all very new to this,” she said. “They're all thinking the same thing you are. Everyone is just looking to make connections, build a group of people. And the absolute worst someone could say is, oh, no, thanks, I'm busy or I can't make that. It's not anything detrimental.”
A do that largely affected Antrassian’s social life was joining groups on campus.
“Get involved,” she said. “I am in a sorority and two clubs on campus, and I've met so many people.”
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Another thing freshman have to adjust to in college is the course load. Phillips said it's important to do your coursework as it comes.
“Don't procrastinate,” she said. “A lot of reasons professors give you so much time to do work is they're kind of hefty assignments, and it's not beneficial to try to rush through an assignment because you waited till the day that it's due.”
The preparation for tests was also something she noted as a big change.
“I had to change my learning style completely,” she said. “In high school, I was able to make a set of flashcards, studied a couple of times and I would ace all my tests. That was not the case when I started MSU, because everything was pretty much application based.”
Phillips suggested doing practice problems as well as going to office hours and getting help when you need it.
“That's another big one: meeting your professor and establishing a personal connection with them,” she said. “You're also getting that additional help, and you can ask for exam questions.”
