College is such an amazing experience. You will create life-long friendships, learn to live outside your comfort zone and learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. However, as an incoming college freshman, jumping into this unknown experience can be daunting and uncomfortable. But, if you come with the knowledge of what to expect, you will arrive the first day better prepared for what college has to throw at you.

Today, I am going to give you the tools and knowledge you need in order to, not only survive your freshman year in college, but to thrive! I will help you understand what to expect in college, and how to grow from every experience you can. Okay… let’s get into it, shall we?

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College Freshman Free Printable

Before we dive in, here is a great printable to get you ready for the next chapter in your life: college. It includes a semester preparation checklist and a complete college packing list so you don’t forget anything!

Related: 17 Surprising Ways to Avoid College Burnout

Living on Campus:

Let’s begin with living on campus. Many colleges require students to live on campus their first year, while others allow you to choose where to live. I highly encourage you to live on campus. There are several reasons as to why including building friendships, becoming comfortable with the campus, and living close to classrooms.

Related: Organize Your Life with the Only Student Printable Planner You’ll Ever Need in School

What to Expect:

Living on campus is not like living at home. In most cases, you will be living with at least one roommate (a stranger who will turn into a close friend I hope!), use community bathrooms, and eat at a campus cafeteria unattached to your dorm. When you first arrive, you will be greeted by many upperclassmen ready to help you quickly bring your things to your room (to keep traffic from backing up). You should expect a lot of overwhelming commotion with everyone trying to move in with others trying to get you hyped up for the new year. Do not worry, everyone around you are all new to campus and just trying to move in too.

Once you’re all settled, things will calm down. You and your roommate will finally be able to get to know each other and you will begin to start to learn your neighbor’s names. Try to keep your door open or make conversation in the hallways and bathrooms. Stay open to new friendships from the beginning!

Related: How to Prepare for a Successful College Semester (Plus a Free Checklist!)

Living On Campus Tips:

• Right after you’ve been accepted to college, you should receive a packet full of information on housing options, tuition, etc. Read through everything and fill out any housing/other paperwork ASAP. This will help you get your top pick of dorm and lower the chances of any problems later on.
• You will often have a choice in what dorm and/or room size you prefer. I highly recommend you get at least a double room. Having a roommate is a part of the college experience! Also, keep an eye on dorm prices.
• Before you move in, be sure to have all of your things in larger bins with your name and dorm room number on them. This will prevent anything from getting lost and make move-in much quicker and easier. These are the bins I took freshman year!
• Be sure to bring an eye mask (like this awesome one) and earplugs to ensure good sleep in the dorms. Also, consider getting a vibrating alarm clock (like the one in the Fitbit) to make sure you don’t wake up your roommate and can wake up with earplugs in.
• Be open with your roommate from the beginning. Be honest if you are having any troubles with them or in school. Having a decent relationship with your roommate will make living on campus much easier.
• Find your own quiet place on campus for those times you just need to be alone. No, not the bathroom stall or the deserted corridor in that creepy old building. Perhaps a study corner in the library or a quiet common room in your dorm. This is perfect for those times you have a huge exam coming up or just need to relax with a good book without any disturbances.

Related: The Ultimate College Packing List

Budgeting:

Okay, let’s explore budgeting, money management, on-campus jobs, and everything else associated with living as a poor college student.

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What to Expect:

The freedom of being on your own can be exciting! However, celebrate with caution. Don’t spend all of your money all in one place. Remember that college itself is expensive and to be cautious about how you spend what little money you have left.

Living on campus is much different than living off campus when it comes to money. When you’re on campus, you will often not have to worry about many bills like rent, electricity, water, or even groceries if you have a meal plan. Instead, as a college freshman, be prepared to have to pay for your own gas and transportation (I’ll talk about this later on), extra snacks (if you choose to grab any extra groceries), meals for when the cafeteria is closed (which does happen), textbooks and school supplies, and any spending money for activities or shopping.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Saving Money In College

Top Budgeting Tips:

• The good news? There are countless student discounts out there! And many more other great tips on saving money too! Check out this post for more great budget-friendly tips and how to save money in college.
• As much as you can help it, try not to take out any loans in college, especially private loans! Be careful about how you fund your education and create a plan for when you graduate. If you are careful from the beginning, you will do just fine.
• Many students choose to pick up a part-time job while in college. If you find that this is something you need to do, be sure to find one that does not require that you work for more than 20 hours per week. On-campus jobs are great for this because, in many states, there are laws that forbid going over certain hours.
• Perhaps an even better idea, start your own blog instead. This is a great way to control your hours while making money on the side to fund your expenses!

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Budgeting that Will Have you Saving Thousands!

Tuition:

Speaking of expenses, tuition can be an incredibly cryptic bill to any college freshman. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty about what college tuition is, what to expect, and some tips to pay for it.

What to Expect:

Let’s start with what tuition is.

Tuition is the price you pay to attend college classes. This is usually billed to you per credit hour if you are a part-time student (under 15 credits for semester students and under 12 credits for quarter students) or billed as a flat price as a full-time student. If you take extra credits (usually over 18 credit hours), you will be charged extra per credit hour. You will be charged your tuition bill before every semester/quarter begins and it will be due around the second week of classes. It is your responsibility that it is paid!

If you want to learn more about college tuition, HERE is a great informative article from US News. If you’re reading this from a different country, I highly recommend you google tuition information specific to you.

On top of tuition, you should expect…

In addition to paying tuition, you should expect to also pay for the following on your student account:

• Class Fees: Class fees are additional fees added to your student account when a specific class requires the professor or school to pay for any additional expenses, such as chemicals in the chemistry lab.
• Campus Fees: Also expect to pay additional campus fees that pay for you to use their facilities such as the gym, health clinic, museums, etc. Even if you do not use these facilities, you are still paying for them. And no… this is not included in tuition.
• Housing: If you are living on campus, your housing costs will be billed to your student account as well.
• Meal Plan: Most universities will charge your meal plan to your student account as well.
• Parking Pass: In most cases, if you choose to purchase an on-campus parking pass, you can request to have this charged to your student account. The benefit here is that you can apply scholarship or loan money to cover this before your refund goes through.
• Other Fees: If you are charged any other fees while on campus, such as club dues, you can often request to have them charged to your student accounts.

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Student Accounts 101:

So, now that you are charged for all of these expenses (tuition, housing, etc.) how do you actually pay for it all? These charges should be seen individually on your student account via your online portal. You will probably have the option to either pay for it online or at your student accounts office (or something similar). Be sure to pay for this manually before they are due! You should be able to look up the due date on your university’s registrar calendar.

As for where to get the money? You have a few options.

• Pay Cash: Suck up to your rich aunt and uncle and maybe they will help fund your education.
• Government Grants: After you fill out your FAFSA (open every October and for US students), your school’s financial aid office will notify you if you are offered any government grants (free money to go to college) or government loans (I’ll discuss in a second). Grants are given to students who prove to have financial need (like if their parents make very little money).
• State Stipends: Some states, such as Colorado, offer stipends to in-state students. You will need to apply to these programs on their own websites. Google your state to see if they offer this program. It is usually about $80 per credit hour.
• Scholarships: Each year, hundreds of thousands of scholarships are available to students. APPLY!! Check out my top secrets to winning scholarship HERE and my favorite number one tip HERE.
• Government Loans: Finally, if you haven’t fully paid for your expenses (be sure to take into account any extra expenses you may need for the year), take out a government loan (which will be offered to you based on your FAFSA). You can access this information via your student portal where you have the opportunity to accept or deny any loan money. HERE is more information on government student loans.
• Private Loans: As a last resort, you could take out private loans. I admittedly don’t know much about them but if you are in desperate need, they are a (very bad) option. Research them if this is something you need to consider!

Related: How to Apply to the Right Scholarships (My Number One Scholarship Tip!) 

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Tuition and Payment Tips:

• First, check out your university’s financial aid website. There, you will find tips and tricks that are applicable to your university as well as how much tuition is, what funding is available for your university (grants, stipends, scholarships) as well as how and where to pay for tuition.
• If you’re paying tuition with scholarships or loans, be sure that that is shown on your online portal! It is your responsibility to make sure your tuition is paid on time. If you have more scholarships or loans than your tuition, you should receive a “refund,” or whatever money is left over after your tuition and other fees are taken out. If this is the case, be sure to set up a direct deposit account with your university.
• Don’t forget to file your FAFSA every year!!!
• Be sure to continuously be applying for scholarships! Do not waste any opportunities for free money! If you are interested in more information on scholarships, check out my ultimate guide here.
• Finally, consider getting a part-time job while in school. I can’t say enough good things about blogging as a part-time job but there are quite a few other options as well. Check your campus job board for current opens and check out THIS POST if you’re more interested in why you should blog instead. 😉

Related: The 12 Secrets to Winning Scholarships No One Talks About

Classes:

College classes are really what you’re at college for… maybe? Alright, well let’s finally talk about classes I guess…

Related: 24 Amazing Stress Management Techniques to Try Right Now!

What to Expect:

Well, let’s start with the obvious. College classes are nothing like high school. In high school, most classes revolve around a short “lecture,” little to no notetaking, and most homework done while still in class (or while in another class). In college, none of that will fly.

You will be attending usually two types of classes. One is a “lecture.” During lectures, you should expect to be sitting for the entirety of the class taking incredibly detailed notes on either a notepad or on your computer (see how I take my notes HERE). Most professors will lecture while showing a powerpoint. They range in how long they will last (see your class schedule for more information) but on average are 50 minutes.

The other type of class is known as a “lab.” During labs (depending on the class), you will actually be doing activities, such as computer modeling, scientific experiments, field trips, or group activities. These are usually longer than lectures (again, check your schedule) but are, on average, 2 hours and 50 minutes. You’ll find that labs usually get out early and lectures sometimes go long.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Taking Useful College Notes

College Classes and Study Tips:

• Depending on the professor, do not expect reminders on assignment deadlines, exams, or even if your class will be canceled. It is always your responsibility to know these pieces of information. You will be able to find all this information on your class syllabus. 
• Again, make sure to be taking detailed notes on what your professor is saying both in lecture and in the lab. They will usually be lecturing over a specific chapter in a textbook but will only go over the most important parts in class. This is what you will be tested on later. For more tips on taking college notes, check out this post.
• Yes, you actually do have to read the textbook. The best way to do this is to skim the chapters in the evening before your lecture. This will give you a great introduction to the lecture (again, you should know what to expect from your syllabus).

Related: Discover 63 New Study Tips That Will Have You Acing Every Class!

• Do not wait until the last minute to study. I promise this doesn’t work in your favor. Create a study system in order to always be ready for any quizzes, assignments, or exams. Check out my ultimate guide for studying for an exam for more tips!
• Anytime you are assigned a large project, such as a research paper, start it early! Speaking of, if you’re looking for some great tips on writing a college essay, check out my ultimate guide.
• Always keep finals week on the radar. Check out my ultimate finals survival guide HERE.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Studying for an Exam

Academic Advising:

Academic advising is when you choose what classes to take, what major to pursue, what career field to get into, and how you will graduate.

What to Expect:

Every college student is assigned a college advisor. During your freshman year, you will be first assigned a general academic advisor. Then, as you move further into your college career and declare a major (which you normally do by filling out a piece of paper at the department office), you will be given an advisor based on your major (usually a professor in that field).

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Tips for Academic Advising:

• Be sure to schedule at least one meeting per semester/quarter with your advisor. This will maintain your relationship (they make great recommendations!) and will give you plenty of opportunities to be up to date with your graduation requirements.
• When getting ready to schedule your next classes, be sure to run them past your academic advisor as well.
• Also, when scheduling your classes, be sure to check Rate My Professor. You will quickly find that college class quality is directly related to how well the professor teaches. You will usually find that multiple professors will be teaching the same class so you will get a choice of professors.
• My final tip in choosing classes is to be sure to schedule classes around the times when you are performing well. If you are a morning person, schedule your classes in the morning.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Career

Clubs and Organizations:

Another great way to make friends on campus and to further pursue your career is to become involved with on-campus clubs and organizations.

What to Expect:

A list of all clubs, organizations, and activities should be found on your school’s website. If not, many clubs will put up flyers around campus with their information and meeting times. In order to join, you can email any of the club officers listed on the website or flyer and/or attend one of the meetings. It is pretty straightforward! Be prepared to pay club dues (ranging from $10-$100 per year). This is to cover costs of activities, food, club t-shirts, or even national club dues.

The content of each meeting depends on the club. They usually will have guest speakers come in and talk about careers or will go over a specific event that is coming up. They are usually really low key and non-stressful!

Tips for Clubs and Organizations:

• Do not sign up for every club you are interested in. Instead, attend a few of their first meetings to feel them out and pick your favorites. You will not have time to be fully involved with numerous clubs and activities as the school year goes on.
• Once you declare your major and decide on your career path, be sure to add a professional organization to your list of clubs you are actively involved in. These organizations will become a regular organizations you are involved with throughout your professional career as well. For example, as a future civil engineer, I am involved with the Society of Women Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers.

Related: A Colege List of FREE College Resources (59+ Included!)

Transportation and Parking:

Depending on your university, freshmen may or may not be allowed a personal vehicle on campus. However, you may be allowed a vehicle during your sophomore year, or perhaps will be allowed a vehicle but just need to find a place to park it off campus. Whichever boat you’re in, let’s go over some important transportation tips and information.

What to Expect:

Parking on campus will require a parking pass. These are usually pretty pricey, some as high is a couple thousand each year. Be sure to check your parking services website for pricing information and if you can bring a car your freshman year.

Parking lots can also be a bit of a confusing matter. Some parking lots are only for faculty and staff, while others are only for day-time use. Be sure to find a parking lot map of your campus lots. The main things to look for include:

• Are students allowed to park here?
• Are students who live on campus allowed to park here? Sometimes campuses will have “commuter” parking lots that are only for students who live off campus.
• Can you park here overnight?
• Do you need a parking pass to park here? Sometimes campuses will have designated “free” parking lots. These usually have the most rules such as no parking overnight, or no parking on the weekdays.

Tips for Transportation and Parking:

• Get familiar with public transportation. Colleges are usually really great about student transportation, especially if personal vehicles are not allowed freshman year. Popular college transportation includes free campus bus shuttles, public train systems, free bus passes, and even undergrounds.
• If you are not allowed to have a personal vehicle your freshman year but are really in need of one, you could either contact your parking services office and ask for an exception (many will allow this for medical reasons, family obligations, etc.) or you can find a location to park your vehicle off campus. This could either be at a storage facility, city parking lot, or a side street.
• Be sure to bring a steering wheel lock (especially if you plan on keeping your car on or near campus overnights), and good sun shades (like these). They will be real lifesavers!
• If you plan on keeping a bicycle on campus, use two different types of locks (I use THIS combo lock but you can do the same thing using this cable and this lock). Bike theft is the number one crime on campuses and a pain to deal with! I would know, been there, done that… twice! That’s how I learned the combo lock trick, haven’t had a problem since!
• Finally, be sure to check street parking near your college. Many students will just park here for free during class instead of paying to park on campus. But be sure this is allowed! Also be sure you’re not required to have a different type of parking pass. For example, at my university, all side streets must have a city parking permit.

Food and Fitness:

Another huge change for college freshmen is a change in diet and eating habits. Now that you don’t reside with your parents, you are now in charge of finding your own food. I know, shocker!

What to Expect:

If you are living on campus, you will most likely be eating in the cafeteria for every meal. Most colleges will offer different size meal plan options. Start with whichever they recommend (usually the medium plan) but move to the smallest plan possible for your eating habits after your first semester to save money.

Also, most colleges have campus gyms as well as plenty of places to go on a run or walk. You are already paying to use the gym in your campus fees so why not use it?

Tips for Food and Fitness:

• Learn to eat healthily. College is a great time to learn what foods you truly like or dislike. Create your own personal healthy diet filled with foods you love. Don’t just grab whatever food look amazing each day. You will have the opportunity to eat a burger for every meal of the day. Resist!
• The biggest tip I can give for on-campus eating is to be sure to grab a cafeteria calendar! They WILL be closed a few days out of the year and almost everyone will not realize it. Plan accordingly and be sure to stock up on some food in your dorm or have a plan B for these days. This will usually happen on holiday weekends or even some days during finals (I know, cruel).
• Workout! Push yourself to workout at least three times a week. Get outside and take a nice hike. Run through campus in the mornings when no one is there. Check out the campus gym that you pay for and never use. Really, don’t be afraid to workout in the campus gym! No one really cares what you’re doing in there (as long as it isn’t dangerous). So grab a treadmill and run like no one is watching because, news flash, they aren’t.
• Don’t forget to bring your own yoga mat (this one is my personal fave), a great water bottle (like this one that fits in all the equipment), and a great pair of running shoes (these ones are great for the indoor gym)!

Related: How to Eat Healthy in College (cheap, quick, and easy meal planning!)

Career and Travel Opportunities:

As a college freshman, you will be bombarded with amazing opportunities. Take them! Say yes to the ones that interest you! Set yourself up for a summer internship or a study abroad experience.

What to Expect:

Most universities will have career fairs and sometimes even separate study abroad fairs as well. ATTEND THEM! Wear nice clothes, bring copies of your resume, and begin networking! I know, this can seem daunting but even if you think you don’t want a summer internship, they are the best way you can set yourself up to land your dream job!

Career and Study Abroad Tips:

• Use your career center. After all, college is truly all about landing your dream job and the amazing people at your career center are there to help you see that happen.
• Talk to your academic advisor about career and internship opportunities. Even if you don’t know what you want to do! That is totally normal!
• Visit your study abroad office or representative and ask about study abroad opportunities. Studying abroad is one of the best experiences I have ever had and I hope you can enjoy a similar experience too! However, keep in mind it is best to study abroad at the beginning of your junior year, but starting your research early never hurts. PS: It’s WAY cheaper than you think!!

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Studying Abroad in College

Final Words of Advice:

After suffering through freshman orientation and reading this article, I am sure your brain is on overload and ready to just chill. Never fear! College really isn’t that crazy. Here are my last bits of advice (and some things that just didn’t fit in anywhere else…)

• Find a relaxing hobby or activity. Perhaps this is just vegging out to Netflix, or doing yoga on the hill behind your dorm. College can be stressful but don’t let it drive you insane!
• Bring shower shoes because… okay I won’t get into it. Just trust me. Bring them and wear them in the shower.
• Find a primary care doctor near your university. Especially if you plan on staying there over the summer! This is something I really wish I had done sooner. Yes, your university probably has a passable health clinic but not all take your parent’s insurance (or any at all) and many do not have full-time doctors ready if you become ill.
• Speaking of health insurance, some states (like Colorado) have laws that require that every college student has health insurance. If you don’t, you will need to get insurance through your university (that is around $2,000 per year). In my case, this fee was automatically added to my account until I brought in my insurance card and even then, it had to meet certain requirements. Be aware of this and double check your college to see if this applies.
• Pin this post to refer to in the future!

Well, that is it! I truly hope this survival guide was helpful and has given you enough (probably too much…) information to be prepared for your freshman year in college! You are going to do just fine, I promise! Don’t take it too seriously, yet serious enough to set yourself up for your future. Have fun!

Ready for some more freshman year tips? Check out these awesome posts:

• The Ultimate College Packing List
• A Complete Resource Guide for College Students (59+ FREE Resources!)
• 20 Essential Things You Must Do The Summer Before College
• 22 Back to School Organization Hacks You Have to Try
• The Ultimate Guide to Studying for an Exam
• Discover 10 New Secrets to Student Productivity
• The Ultimate Guide to Writing an A+ Research Paper
• 17 Surprising Tips to Avoid College Burnout
• The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Finals Week
• 11 Tips to Save Crazy Money on College Textbooks
• How to Maintain Study Motivation Throughout the School Year