Advice for Your First Year of College
There is no one right way to go about your first year of college—it comes with different obstacles for everyone. And yet, there are plenty of helpful threads to catch from those who have been in your shoes before. Just ask any former college first year and they’ll probably say something along the lines of, “It just takes time to adjust.” In the spirit of that extra-exciting, ultra-uneasy back-to-school feeling that comes with starting college, we asked members of the Chatham community to share some advice for our incoming Chatham first-years. Below you’ll find honest input and tried-and-true strategies from those who were once in your shoes and who now regularly help first-years adjust to college. Check them out below—
Meet the Panelists:
What’s one thing you didn’t know that you wish you knew going into your first year of college?
Dr. Dana Brown: At first I was intimidated by my professors and I wish that I wasn’t in order to build relationships from the start. I waited until much later in my academic career when I got more comfortable.
Lalah C. Williams: One thing I wish I knew going into my first year of college is that taking care of yourself is a daily task. It doesn’t roll over from one day to the other and you can’t “catch up” on it. Stay hydrated, set a sleep schedule and stick to it or alter it as you go, find an outlet (I recommend Booty Barre with Mona), and take weekends to yourself when you need them.
David Saur: It just takes time to get into your groove in college, from a social and routine standpoint. Just take it day by day. Everyone goes through it, so you're not alone! Enjoy the process and put yourself out there to try new things.
Irina Bucur: Coming into college, I wish I would have immediately known that you have to be your biggest advocate. This means asking questions, taking initiative on opportunities other people might not approach you about, and moving past any discomfort and feelings of imposter syndrome while you navigate the ins and outs of student life and academia. If there is a class you want to take but can’t register for because of a prerequisite, a co-curricular program you have your eye on, or a dream internship don’t meet all qualifications for, ask if you can make it work. The worst you’ll be told is no. Push for the outcome you want rather than waiting on it.
Dana DePasquale: I wish I had explored my college campus and the surrounding area more when I was a first year. Explore! Wander! Find a creative place to study hard at Chatham. When you’re finished studying, stroll to my favorite lunch spot in Squirrel Hill: the “Food Shoppe.”
Rachel Fiscus: If you have not participated in larger group activities, try it out. If you are used to being in science-driven activities, try an art-related activity. I was extremely outgoing and extroverted in high school but grew up in a rural community; the people around me were my comfort zone for 18 years. I did not take to the social life and meeting new people until the start of my junior year of college. I missed the blossoming of the freshman and sophomore year socialization.
Emily Fidago: I wish I had known that it’s totally normal to feel scared and homesick. I wish I had realized sooner that the best way to get over homesickness is to invest in making college your new home. Explore campus and the surrounding area, try to get involved in activities, take advantage of opportunities to meet new people, and don’t count down the days until the next opportunity to go home for the weekend!
Lauren Tudor: It’s okay to make mistakes! Every mistake or failure is a learning opportunity.
Dr. Carrie Tippen: I wish I’d believed people when they told me that I could change my mind. I came in with a decided major and career path, and I didn’t seriously explore other options until my senior year when I suddenly realized I wasn’t interested in the job I had been training for. It worked out for me eventually, but I wish I had started with a more open mind and more curiosity about all the things a college degree could offer me.
Abigail Kneuss: High school academics can often feel like a competition between you and your peers. In college, it's really you who shapes your learning experience and you move at your own pace. I wish I had taken every opportunity to learn new things by attending more events on campus and in the Pittsburgh area. There's always something to do and something to learn from.
What advice would you give to incoming first years about beginning their college experience?
Dana Brown: Get involved! Your first year is great for exploring different clubs and leadership opportunities. I made so many lifelong friends through these experiences and you will too!
Lalah C. Williams: The JKM Library is your friend. They have pretty much everything you’ll need, including quiet and social places to study, a free interlibrary loan system for textbooks and journal articles, a ton of books for study and leisure, personal librarians, and more. Your personal librarian is a great asset for research, so don’t be afraid to reach out because they’ll be happy to help you.
David Saur: Get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Be open to meeting new people. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to adjust to college. It just takes time!
Irina Bucur: Take the next four years at your own pace, but think intentionally about every class you register for, and every opportunity you accept or reject. Treat your time as your most valuable resource, and make decisions for your own academic success and mental wellbeing. Doing things differently than your peers doesn’t mean you’re falling behind!
Rachel Fiscus: Challenge yourself to try something new as soon as you get your footing. Try a new activity or say hi to someone you don’t interact with regularly. If you are feeling overwhelmed socially, academically, and/or emotionally, go to your support systems: academic advisor, Student Success Coach, or the Counseling Center. If that person cannot help you directly, they will find someone who can. Do not get trapped in cyclical chaos in your mind—find a starting point for success!
Allie Reznik: To get the most out of your college experience and do all of the things, you need to make time to do nothing. There are so many assumptions around not having enough time to rest, and, if you don’t make the time, you’re not going to have the time. Allow yourself to plan your rest just as you schedule everything else in your busy life.
Emily Fidago: Try to set a reasonable bedtime and wake up time. Explore subjects and topics you know nothing about. Spend time outside of your dorm room if you want to make new friends. Don’t go home every weekend because it ultimately will not make you feel less homesick. Take advantage of all of the campus activities offered by the Office of Student Engagement!
Lauren Tudor: Take advantage of all of the great opportunities available to you as a student! Just find what works for you! Explore the city of Pittsburgh, connect with mentors through the Office of Alumni Relations, study abroad, join a club, or work on campus through student employment!
Carrie Tippen: I think first year students are usually most worried that they’ll never make friends, but honey, there will never be another time in your life when it is easier. There will never be another time when you are loaded into rooms with people your own age who share your interests and tastes and have ample time to talk to you and walk with you and eat with you and stay up late with you and get up to shenanigans with you. You will not find another group of people so open to friendship and ready for new adventures than first year college students. Friends are just waiting to be made everywhere you look.
Abigail Kneuss: College is a lot of fun but it's also a huge change which can be stressful! Make sure to take a step back from every situation and look at the bigger picture. I wish I had spent a lot less time worrying and a lot more time being in the moment.
Thank you to all of our first year advice columnists! We look forward to seeing all of our students back on campus very soon!