Freshman year in college can be scary, with a new location, new people and new schedules. For me, moving from Maryland to Michigan was exciting and intimidating. I was excited to embark on a new adventure and meet new teammates and friends. But I was also afraid that people might not like me, my classes might be too hard and (most importantly), the food in the dining hall might not be edible. Good news – I survived, and as I start my last undergraduate year, I'd like to share some tips and tricks that helped me prepare for a seamless transition into college!

1.    Make your planner/calendar your best friend

It's now a habit for me to sit down with my syllabi, meeting times and skating schedule and put them all in my Google calendar. With Google calendar, I get notifications sent directly to my computer and phone (with the app). I usually try to set reminders for a week before a big assignment is due or a test is coming up. I used this great tutorial to set mine up!
 

2.    Take advantage of student discounts 

Many of your favorite things will involve college student discounts (i.e. Apple Music, Spotify, etc.) and can save you money in the long run. There are also lot of free things that you can get around campus or that your school might cover for you. For example, the University of Michigan allows students to have access to the Microsoft and Adobe Suites, which can be super helpful in many ways. 

3.    Advisors

Many people know that my advisor is like my best friend. I go to my advisor at the beginning of each semester and toward the end to make sure that my schedule is on track. I also ask questions and discuss potential problems. Getting to know your advisor is such an asset because they can support you by writing letters of recommendation or giving you the right contacts to do so. I always look forward to my appointments. My advisor was a huge help during my freshman year in mapping out my class schedule and my four-year plan. 


4.    Maximize your living space 

For this academic year, "Zoom University" will be the most prevalent mode for classes, so it is important to have an individual space for you to stay focused on your work. For me, having enough desk space, lots of pens, pencils and highlighters is so important. Forest is an app that I like to use to keep me focused, maximize efficiency and stay away from my phone. It lets you set a defined amount of time to focus and then a defined amount of time for breaks. I follow the Pomodoro method with 25 minutes of work and a 5-minute break. It helps me a lot! 
You also want to make sure your living space is an environment where you can unwind at the end of the day. This is so important. For me, that includes decorating with pictures of my friends and me as well as some cute plants and, of course, my comfy bed. 
 

5.    Embrace your individuality

Your freshman year is a year to figure out what you want to do with your college years and determine your career aspirations. Sometimes that means joining a club that you find interesting, or maybe registering for a class with a topic you're interested in learning more about. Either way, take your freshman year to find out what you're passionate about. It may not always lead you on the path that you once thought you should take, but everything happens for a reason and you will end up where you are supposed to be. 
 

Hopefully some of these tips will help you embark on an amazing freshman year of college! 

- Kailyn <>

Kailyn Geter is a 2020-21 Collegiate Ambassador and member of the University of Michigan Collegiate Synchronized Skating Team.