Key Strategies for a Successful Freshman Year

Heading to college for the first time is exciting and likely a little nerve-racking, and that’s okay! You have so many new experiences to look forward to: new freedoms, new friends, new knowledge, and new adventures!

But all this newness can create uncertainty, stress, and anxiety. Your college or university has resources for you to lean on — find out what they are and use them. Meanwhile, here are some other tips to help you soar and thrive in your first year (and beyond).

Initial transition

Celebrate your acceptance! Take time to acknowledge the payoff for your hard work in academics, extracurriculars, and application essays. This achievement deserves recognition before you start preparing for that first semester.

In fact, resist the urge to begin prepping immediately. Summer is the perfect transition period for preparing mentally. Use this time to strengthen your existing relationships, as college significantly changes these dynamics.

Monitor your email and portal regularly for crucial information about housing assignments, roommate matching, required forms, and orientation schedules.

Orientation

Even if orientation is optional, it provides essential campus navigation skills, policy understanding, and institutional knowledge. You’ll learn about academic resources, health services, counseling, and other support systems available on campus.

Orientation often includes guided course selection with your new advisor’s input to ensure you have an appropriate first-semester schedule. Finally, this time allows you to create new social connections via small group activities and shared experiences with other incoming students.

Academic changes

Your college schedule offers much more flexibility than high school but also requires self-discipline. For example, you may have an 8 a.m. class and then a three-hour break until your next class. As you adjust, find ways to use that time productively instead of procrastinating.

You’ll find that there’s less daily homework but more emphasis on self-guided study and independent reading, research, and preparation. Many courses have fewer small assignments, with grades often determined by two or three major exams or projects.

Intro courses often have large lectures, while upper-level courses are smaller, which can impact participation and professor interaction. Larger classes often have TAs (teaching assistants) who help with labs or lead study sections. Get to know your TA and find out your professor’s office hours, especially if it’s a class you’re worried about. In bigger classes especially, there’s typically less personal attention than what high school teachers provide. It’s up to you to initiate interaction through office hours.  

Study habits

You may have breezed through high school with little effort, but expectations in college tend to be high. Avoid procrastination by breaking large assignments into smaller tasks. Start projects early to avoid last-minute cramming.

Regular engagement with course materials improves your understanding and reduces exam stress. Have a two-hour block between classes? Use that time to read ahead and review past assignments.

Take advantage of study groups. Explaining concepts to others reinforces learning and reveals knowledge gaps. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new friends and help each other gain a deeper understanding of the topics you’re learning.

Have trouble focusing for long stretches? Try the Pomodoro method. It’s 25 minutes of focused study followed by 5-minute breaks. This strategy prevents mental fatigue, maintains productivity, and helps prevent procrastination.

Are you a morning person? Night owl? Know your peak productivity hours. Avoid studying when you’re exhausted. Schedule your study sessions during your personal high-energy periods.

Speaking of studying, try the OKRs method — it’s a systematic approach combining overview, key concepts, reading, recall, reflection, and review.

Health and wellness

While you may think that pulling an all-nighter is the norm once you get to college, your studies will benefit when you prioritize sleep. Good quality sleep improves learning, memory, and overall health. Will an occasional (super) late night mess you up? Probably not. But try not to make it a habit.

Make time for physical activity, too, especially if you don’t play a sport. Campus gyms offer equipment, classes, and opportunities to learn new activities. Check out your college’s intramural sports programs, too. They’re great for getting exercise, stress relief, and social connection.

Your campus also likely has many different dining options. Choose wisely and make conscious choices to eat balanced meals. Hydrate regularly — drinking water consistently positively affects your cognitive function and energy levels.

Finally, stay in tune with your body, and learn to recognize and respond to physical and mental health needs. College campuses have medical facilities to provide routine and emergency care. Counseling services also offer professional support for adjustment, anxiety, and stress management.

Campus support systems

All colleges and universities have support systems to help students succeed. 

• Academic advisors: Guide course selection, major requirements, and academic planning.  
• Office hours: A dedicated time when your professors are available for questions, discussions, and mentoring.
• Teaching assistants: Typically graduate students who can provide additional instruction and support — especially in larger intro classes.
• Counseling services: Professional mental health support available through individual or group sessions.
• Multicultural centers: Spaces and programs supporting students of various ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds.
• First-generation support: Specialized services for students whose parents didn’t attend college.
• LGBTQ+ services: Dedicated support staff and programs for the LGBTQ+ student community.

Other useful tips

You’ll lose track of all the new experiences and opportunities that come your way in your first year of college. Feeling a little uncertain or off-balance is completely normal. Remember: college is about self-discovery and exploration.

When you investigate student organizations you’d like to join, think about the communities they foster. Are some easier to join as a freshman? Is it a tight-knit group that does everything together? Does the club have a defined meeting — but people tend not to hang together outside of meetings? Do you want a more intellectually or socially focused group (or something in between)? Look around, ask questions, and find a group that makes you feel comfortable and accepted.

Take advantage of study breaks! Many colleges and universities schedule study break activities, especially during midterms and finals. Some colleges may schedule weekly drop-in study breaks as well. Often the biggest draw? Free food. One of the best things about these breaks is the chance to meet other students who aren’t necessarily in your classes or regular study groups. 

Befriend upperclassmen. They may have useful “hacks” to help ease your transition. They’ll also have the inside scoop on classes to take, professors to avoid, the best places for food, and everything in between. Another benefit of these friendships? They may develop and grow long after everyone graduates, and it’s a great way to develop your network.

Four years will pass in an eye-blink. Take advantage of the incredible resources and opportunities available at your institution as you chart your own path to achieve your goals.