How am I going to balance my new life at school?
Personally, I think the first step in adjusting to college life is setting your priorities straight. I believe that school comes first, after all this tuition money has to be put to some good use.
Priorities
What I found that works for me is having everything written out whether it is on my phone or written down in my day planner. As a freshman I loved writing everything on paper in my planner, but this year I definitely use my phone more often. I use my notes app in my phone multiple times a day to write out my "to dos" and my assignments due that week. I like to use the open bullets so I can check off something once it's done (this is also very satisfying). Aside from using my notes app I LOVE google calendar. I use this more for events going on and important dates to remember.
Here's a little peak at what my month of October looks like on my Google Calander. I don't go too crazy, but I love noting my priorities and important things I don't want to forget.
Of course, you can choose what works for you, but I highly recommend having something to jot down your priorities or even your "to dos" on. Even if your priorities differ, having something to remind you about things going on in your life can do no harm. This helps me stay organized and on top of my schoolwork because I always know what's coming next.
The Art of Making Friends in College
I know being away from your high school besties seems hard, but finding friends in college isn't as hard as it seems, because everyone is in the same boat.
I got lucky because my freshman roommate turned out to be one of my best friends. We are both from the same state so on some level we always had common ground. But don't think you NEED to be best friends with your roommate, freshman year is temporary, and your roommate can be too. But one piece of advice I do have for making friends is to get out of your comfort zone. Start talking to the person next to you in class or at the dining hall or even in the elevator. You'd be surprised how far a small conversation can go.
As for finding the right friends, I think it's important to find people you vibe with. Don't force friendship. The easier it is to get along with someone, the easier it is to have fun with them. Don't feel like there's pressure to meet your future brides' maids or grooms' men the first week of school. The right people will find you.
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