Surviving & Thriving in Your First Year at College or University

Surviving & Thriving in Your First Year at College
or University
The first year of college or university can be fun and very exciting. It can also be stressful, at
times. Discover some proven tips to help make your transition into post-secondary as smooth
as possible. Not only can these tips help students survive freshman year, they can help you
become a better student all around. Things that include communicating with your family,
following a schedule, eating as healthily as possible, asking for help, and carefully planning your
first-year schedule can help ensure your success and that you’re excited about your second
year of school.
Communicate with Your Family
Believe it or not, homesickness is a part of the college experience. You will likely miss home at
some point, but for most students, it happens during the first year. Homesickness can lead to
depression, cause a lack of motivation and negatively impact your social and academic
performance. But contacting your family and friends on a regular basis can help remedy this.
Calling, texting, video chatting or sending messages to your family or friends at least once a
week helps alleviate loneliness, reinforces your place in the family or friendship circle and even

educes stress. Besides, with so much communication technology today, there’s no excuse not
to call your family and friends every week or even every day.
Create and Follow a Schedule
Your class schedule isn’t the only schedule you should be following. You should also have a
schedule or plan that includes a daily routine. This plan includes wake up and sleep times, your
course and work schedules, study times, leisure activities and short-term and long-term goals.
Following this plan is the best way to visualize your time management, as well as how you could
possibly use time more effectively. It’s the ultimate time-management tool and essential for
first-year university students. A schedule can also help you coordinate with your roommate,
especially if you live in a Durham College or UOIT residence. For example, you could coordinate
study times by agreeing to study at the same time, leave the room or observe silence when
either roommate needs to study.
Eat as Healthily as Possible
The ‘college or university diet’ is infamously one of the unhealthiest diets. Whether you live in a
UOIT or Durham College residence, on or off-campus, this doesn’t mean you can’t strive to be
as healthy as possible. Ensure you’re choosing one or two healthy options per meal and that
your meals always include at least one fruit and/or vegetable, as well as protein.
Off-campus student housing, like Village Suites Oshawa, also often feature fitness centres, yoga
rooms, etc. Take advantage of these facilities or plan to walk as much as possible for exercise.
Additionally, stock your mini-fridge with as many healthy snacks as possible, including
snackable or snack-sized fruits and vegetables.
Ask for Help
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, especially when you’re a first-year student. In fact,
this is one of the times when you may need the most help. College or university can be intense
and overwhelming, but asking for help and using your family and friends for support and as
sounding boards are great ways to manage the stress.
Professors are also sources of support and academic assistance. If you’re struggling
academically, look for a tutor or join or start a study group or visit a learning centre. The health
centre can also help ensure you lead a safe, healthy lifestyle. Support groups and student clubs
or activities can alleviate stress, anxiety and even loneliness, as well.
Plan Your Course Schedule Carefully

Be sure to take the time to carefully consider your course schedule in first year, because there
are many options and it can seem a little overwhelming. As a freshman, you must typically take
a variety of prerequisites or introductory courses. Fortunately, these courses are tailored to
your program, which narrows down your options, so the requirements of the program will do
most of the work for you. When it comes to your course load, carefully consider what it is that
you think you will be able to manage. For example:
Spread the classes out over the week
Take fun, interesting electives
Don’t overload your schedule with credit hours
Ask your advisor for advice and guidance
Of course, one of the keys to getting your college or university career off to the best possible
start is loving where you live. If you have yet to find your student housing, book a tour of Village
Suites Oshawa now.