How to…Make Friends in College

They say high school is the best four years of your life, but we beg to differ – it’s definitely college! If you’re a college student at the moment, you know what we’re talking about – those long hours spent studying with friends and nights out brushing off that stress create friendships that will last long into your adult years and laughing memories that will live on forever. Yet, forming those friendships isn’t always easy as a new college student or transferring to a new school. So don’t fret, here’s a ways to make the friends that will stand by you, through thick or thin!

Start Sweating It

…At intramural athletics, that is! If you’re already on a collegiate athletic team, go you! Otherwise, most colleges offer a great selection of intramural athletics, everything from tennis to dodgeball. Sure, they’re still competitive, but the fun level is amped way up. Don’t let your current athletic level intimidate you – intramural athletics combine a mix of skill levels, so you’ll fit right in. There’s just something about playing with a team and all being in it together that bonds people to each other, and there’s a big chance you’ll all get together after your session and hang out for a bit, helping you get to know everyone and make more friends!

Major Friendships

Many freshmen are still undecided on their majors, but as you progress throughout your college years, you’ll be having more and more classes with the same people – the students in your academic major. You’ll be assisting each other on presentations, working together on group projects, and one day, sitting next to each other at graduation! Join the academic club associated with your major, and make a point to get to class a few minutes early to commiserate with fellow students on that last assignment, upcoming exam, that abstract concept you’re all having a hard time learning, etc. These small moments helping each other get through difficult classes goes a long way in making friends within your major.

Don’t Just Make Friends, Gain Sisters!

The media’s depiction of Greek life as being all about partying and barely making the grades is a stereotype only true at a very small number of sororities, while most sororities actually promote togetherness, community service, and academic excellence. Of course, you’ll want to meet the current members of the sorority and make sure their values match your own personal beliefs, but we’re confident you’ll discover an instant support system upon joining a sorority, as well as a wealth of new friends who will always stand by you. Don’t be afraid to get out there and explore Greek life – get a feel for what it’s all about!

What Do You Think?

Did you have any trouble making friends in college? What are your best tips for breaking out of your shell and meeting new people? Leave a comment and let me know!

Surviving Freshman Year!

For almost all students, freshman year in college is an exciting, tiresome, and overwhelming experience. Every student has a list of things that he or she would like to have known before going into freshman year; here is mine:

Moving In

· Student deals aren’t really deals. Most package deals are filled with shoddy merchandise and are only marginally cheaper than buying higher quality items from a retailer. Before you commit to buy bedding sets or bathroom packs, compare prices with Walmart or Target.

· Don’t buy expensive electronics or furniture! Your friends, your roommates, and your roommates’ friends will all use them throughout the year (probably without your permission), and your all-leather desk chair and Xbox 360 will quickly be reduced to ruins.

· Pack lightly. It reduces clutter in your room and makes going home for breaks a lot easier.

· Buy a student insurance policy. They’re cheap and can really put your mind at ease.

· Let your parents help you on move-in day (that’s move-in DAY, not move-in DAYS). It’s especially helpful if they bring a car to drive you and your new friends to IKEA and K-Mart.

Academics

· Think outside of the box, but don’t go crazy. Many upperclassmen will tell you that freshman year is a time to explore and take a plethora of new courses. While this is true, make sure that you adequately prepare for your major. In other words, if you plan to major in economics, don’t start sophomore year having taken nothing but underwater basket weaving courses.

· Avoid the freshman academic slump. It’s real and will consume your GPA in the blink of an eye.

Living

· Introduce yourself to everyone. You all got into the same school; you were made for each other!

· Enjoy camp college! The grace period between the opening of dorms and the beginning of classes can be really fun, especially for freshmen.

· Don’t be afraid to throw a party in your room; be afraid to throw a party in your room every week. A nice get-together that’s within university rules can help you to meet new people, but if you become known as the “party guy,” you’ll start to meet the wrong type of people and spend countless hours cleaning your dorm.

The above advice will help you to navigate your freshman year. However, perhaps the biggest tip that I can give an incoming freshman is not to precisely follow all of my tips. Your freshman experience is just that, yours!

Homework: To do or not

Many times or not, you will hear a student say ” It’s hard staying focused on homework, It takes to long. ”

I Remember being in high-school, sitting at my home computer or laying in my bed, most times not being able to wrap my head around the pieces of paper in front of me. Something always came up, I’d get hungry, thirsty, or some neat T.V. show was on, and I’d get lost in it. A bit of time would usually pass before I eventually got serious about doing my work.

A key thing to starting the engine on homework is to surround yourself by silence, in a serene environment. When everything around you is quiet you won’t have to tune into distractions going on in your area. Silence gives your brain time to think through things and focus on your task with the intent of actually doing it.

Another main key thing is SELF-MOTIVATION, whether it pertains to Homework, Life, Work, or anything else. Self motivation is what all famous characters have, On an extraordinary level. You always have to stay motivated if you want to succeed over a lifetime. You ALWAYS have to keep your eyes on the prize. In this case that is, Starting your work, Give your best possible answers, Then completing your work. It may seem like a task that can’t be done, but with no doubts in my mind, it has been done before. If you can’t find an answer instantly, Keep Looking, it’s that simple.

Homework is not fun for most people. But if you ease your brain, it can be much easier to do. If you can buckle down and push through it, your grades will improve while you’re still learning. After you master the basics, Homework will be a breeze. You are controlling the work, Don’t let it control you.

With Heart & Soul,

– Brandon Robinson