Five Things I Wish I Knew Before College

By: Brianna Alexander-Thomas

My first year in college was exciting but also incredibly nerve-wracking. I practically had no one to advice me about what college life would be like. My first year was amid the pandemic and after a year of online classes I wasn’t as nervous as I was at the start of school year. However, when things eased up in the world, and we had to transition to in-person classes, I was afraid of everything. So to anyone that’s in the same shoes as I was, here are some advice from a girl heading to her senior year!

1.Budgeting and Finances 

Since I started college during the pandemic, I didn’t know things were going to be as expensive as they were. From the bus fare to the snacks, to the books, I learned really quickly that compared to off campus, college is really expensive and that’s minus the tuition fee! Here are some ways I found to help me cut costs and save a couple of extra bucks: 

• Book Store V.S. “Book store” 

When I needed to buy books I bought one of them at the campus bookstore (I kind of regret it now looking back). I later realized that there was a completely free version on Reddit. Funnily, I barely ever read the book. Now, whenever I get my book list, I immediately go to reddit because 9 out of 10 times I found a free digital version of the textbook I needed. Facebook marketplace, Amazon, and your local public library are also good places to look. 

• Snacks Shouldn’t Cost a Kidney 

Snacks and lunch can be pretty expensive on campus. I found that I was actually paying almost double the prices I normally pay for Rice Krispies. To get around paying almost double, I looked to the restaurants off campus. For example, I found this amazing homemade Asian place and it only cost around $15 for a Chicken Katsu Donburi, a house salad, and a miso soup — what a bargain!. Sadly, they had to close down due to increasing rent. It's just great to know there are always cheaper options, you just need to look for them or bring your own snacks!

• Scholarships $$$

Apply for scholarships! Scholarships are a great way to earn money towards tuition or cover any other expenses . There are usually a ton of scholarships that schools provide to students. If you are eligible for a scholarship, you really should apply.  Read through the requirements and apply for all the scholarships you can. The money you receive can go a long way if you you use it right! You just have to apply discipline and channel all your scholarship funds towards every school cost.

2. Self Care Days are EXTREMELY Important 

Some of my courses were very tasking. The overwhelming workload took a toll on mental state Now I realize that self-care days are extremely important, and I wish I had paid more attention to my mental health rather than using different forms of escapism to get away from how I was feeling. I think it’s important to have at least one person you can always reach out to. In my experience, I’ve worked with therapists for my mental health, but I normally run to my favorite self care app “Finch”. Many colleges and universities will offer counseling or at least resources to help with student’s mental health. Prioritizing your mental health enables you to cope with challenges effectively and thrive during your college years.

3. Take Advantage of EVERY RESOURCE

I was surprised at the amount of free resources that I was able to use such as a free gym, career supports, academic supports, counseling, covered dental & vision (okay this one I paid for in my tuition but still I’m glad to have it) and more. I really wish I spent more time going through what I would be getting out of the college I attend to really take advantage of everything at my disposal. My advice would be to look into everything that the college/university will offer you from what you’re paying for to what you’re going to get for free. Another thing to look into is the campus map and how to find your way around because you don’t want to get lost on your first day. Mini story time — for my first in-person day, I hadn't figured out where my class would be. My campus has multiple buildings but lucky for me I was in the same building for a lot of my classes. Anyway, I had no real idea where my classes were and I ended up using all my data on the first day of school looking for my classes. Don’t be like me, know where you’re going to ease the first day of school tension!

4. Get to Know the People You See Everyday

This goes for professors, classmates, librarians, tech support, lunch ladies and everyone else you see on a daily basis. Getting to know these people or even just saying hi or how are you can help you later down the line. Your professors are there to help you and they are usually on your side, so get to know them and try to visit office hours when you can for help so they’ll be a bit more lenient when it comes to extra time or extra credit. Getting to know your classmates can develop into great friendships to earn you a wholesome college experience. Librarians, tech support and lunch ladies you might not see on a daily basis, but it doesn’t hurt to say hi every once in a while. 

5. You Will Change More in Four Years Than You Expect

Now is the time to try everything you ever wanted to! You heard me! Try that hairstyle, wear that cosplay, join that club, and every positive adventure that would either help you grow or make the four years worthwhile! Everyone is living life for the first time so have fun, but remember to try everything in moderation. Going into the first year, you have all these expectations about the next four years. But, at the end of it all, you may realize that you’ve done so many things you never expected from yourself or you’ve done everything you’ve ever wanted. At the end of it all, you'll come to realize that you've changed in so many ways, and as long as you intentionally took on only positive adventures, you will become a better version of yourself! And, that is the beauty of College/University.

Trust me when I say these next four years are going to shape the rest of your life in multiple ways including personality-wise, relationship-wise, and career-wise. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Study hard, make good grades, get engaged in campus activities, eat good, rest well, make great friends, have fun, and enjoy the ride!