Welcome Week is approaching soon and, as many out-of-state incoming freshman are beginning their trip to school, here are some useful tips to survive the exciting, yet daunting, period.
Her Campus released a list Tuesday of how to survive your school's Welcome Week, a time for incoming freshman to get settled in and socialize with their fellow classmates.
The week will be for students to meet their roommates, adjust to campus life and attend parties and other events geared toward freshman orientation.
Here are the top five tips for freshman to survive Welcome Week.
Plan ahead
A schedule of Welcome Week activities should be readily available on your school's website, so look it up and pick the activities that most interest you. This way, you will not be caught scrambling to pick the best one and you will be bound to meet people who share your particular interests.
Do not get carried away and over-plan. If you do not want to go alone, ask your roommate to come with or see where they are planning on going. Chances are, you were put in a room with people who share your likes and interests (if you filled out some sort of survey sheet). Remember, there is plenty of time to do multiple activities.
Make the most of the club fair
Each club will be represented here, so be sure to attend this, as it will also be easy to find when and where it will be held. If you are a writer, look for the student newspaper's table. If you like politics, inquire with the student government table, and so on. Just about everything will be well represented here and they will also be trying to recruit you.
Just make sure not sign up for too many, or you will stress yourself out with an overly busy schedule.
Put yourself out there
For many students, this will be the first time since grade school you will not be in class with you're small circle of friends. College is a clean slate for the vast majority of freshman, so do not retract and be prepared to meet people, because many others are preparing to do the same.
Do not be too anxious about making a new friend every day, or even making a new connection the entire week. Just worry about being friendly at Welcome Week and in your classes and you will make friends soon enough.
Be smart
Keeping your wits about you is huge this week. For many, it is the first week away from home with no one to answer to, or so you might think. There are still rules in place and, although it will be significantly easier to obtain alcohol, it is still illegal on a college campus. There is no gray area about it.
Still, parties will be had and alcohol is bound to be present. If you or your new friends have too much to drink, always know who to call and put your school's health services office in your phone's contact list. Many schools have policies against punishing those who report health hazards like alcohol poisoning.
Have fun
This is probably most important, but also the hardest to follow. Once your stuff is laid out in your dorm and your parents drive off, you have the entire week to have fun. Once classes start, this will be much harder to do.
Take advantage of the lack of responsibility for a week, relax and do not worry about missing out. Welcome Week is geared toward reaching you and remember; weeks like this in the four years of college are not common.
