Freshman Year: The Dos and Do Nots
When attending college for the very first time, people always seem to tell you their opinions about college life or prepare you for living at school by sharing their own experiences. While this can somewhat helpful, it also psyches out the new student, especially considering that the rules, structure of campus, and facilities/amenities are different for every institution. If you have heard about others’ college experiences, good! However, hear their stories as simply that: stories. They are not necessary applicable or true when it comes to this college or the individuals you will meet. Yet, as a senior at this school, I can give you some more informed insight about being a freshman at Scholastica (I have lived it, after all!). Some of the dos and don’ts that I have are:
Prior to the Start of School:
- DO communicate with your roommate. By now the school should have sent you a room and roommate assignment (which was sent to you in the mail). In the letter is your roommate’s CSS email as well as their home phone number. Contact them and get to know each other before move-in weekend to curb feelings of anxiety and get to know their interests, home life, and traits.
- DO buy for your room from secondhand stores or garage sales. This will save you tons of money when it comes to furnishing and decorating your dorm! Some great resources include: Ragstock, Goodwill, Savers, and Plato’s Closet
- DO have others help you move. Nothing is worse than trying to move all of your belongings on campus by yourself, so bring a buddy! Of course, worst case scenario, there are many athletes hanging out on campus during move-in weekend who would love to give you a hand.
- DON’T wait until classes start to buy your books. Your professors will expect you to have your books the very first day of class, so make sure that you order a couple of weeks ahead of time so you have them ready to go. If you order them online, make sure they ship to the correct address. Of course the school supplies books on Neebo, so order from the bookstore if you like. Otherwise, some secondhand books resources such as Amazon, Ebay, and Half Price Books are always available as well.
- DON’T miss your orientation. This event is important when it comes to learning about school, learning the Benedictine values, and understanding what resources are available to CSS students. Orientation also gives you the opportunity to network and meet with other freshman students, who you will soon be spending lots of time with! In fact, I met some of my best college friends at orientation.
During School:
- DO use your meal plan. When you register for your classes, you have to purchase a meal plan for your first year on campus. This means you can dine in the Greenview, Storms, or grab coffee at the Port using your meal plan dollars. Utilize this as often as you can, because if you don’t use all of the money in the account, it disappears at the end of the year! :0
- DO use the library for studying and resources. If you need some privacy or quiet study time away from the dorms, use the library. It’s quiet, has three floors for studying, and contains hundreds of thousands of books you can’t view online.
- DO make use of the dorm floor kitchen. Each floor of the dorms is equipped with a public kitchen with a stove, microwave, and table/chairs. Don’t shy away from cooking in the kitchen or baking cookies and treats in the oven. This can spark new friendships from the hungry passerby! Just ensure that you clean up after yourself and the others who are cooking with you to stay in good standing with your peers.
- DON’T leave your laundry in the washer or dryer after the time is up. If you do, there may be consequences (such as people stealing your clothes, throwing them on top of the dryer, or simply cramming them back into your hamper).
- DON’T leave your door unlocked. While most students in the dorms are considerate and will not walk into a dorm that is not theirs, there is always the exception to this and it is best to use caution when living in a public area with people you don’t know very well. Use your best judgment.
- DO go to organized activities. At numerous times of the year, your RAs will set up “wing activities” to enable you and your neighbors to bond and have a little fun. Participate in these. You will be glad you did.
- DO decorate for holidays and events. School is hard enough to attend every day, but it’s even worse when there is no color or creativity to look at. Add some personality to your dorm and the hallways to brighten up everyone’s day and living quarters.
