Beginning your first year of college can be exhilarating — making new friends, living on your own for the first time and studying what you want to study are all exciting opportunities.
However, the new environment and workload sometimes lead to situations that can be intimidating. Here are a few tips on how to navigate some of the key issues freshmen might run into during their first year of college.
All-nighters
First, let’s be clear: All-nighters are not worth it. A lack of sleep can exacerbate other problems. However, if you’re up late studying or doing homework and you realize the clock ticked a bit farther than you expected, don’t panic.
After pulling an all-nighter, make sure to take a shower, eat a good breakfast and get plenty of sleep the next night. Finally, consider why you had to pull an all-nighter and figure out a change you can make to better complete homework, study or socialize to avoid another one in the future.
Study habits
Most people graduate from high school without experiencing a workload as heavy as a college workload — meaning your first semester’s homework, research papers and studying outside of class might catch you off guard when you begin university. Try to figure out which times of day you are the most focused and always use a planner or calendar to keep up with assignments. Building a schedule will help you stay on top of your workload and remember that it is okay — and often encouraged — to speak to your professors about concerns you have in their class.
Changing majors
If after a few classes you begin to realize that your major might not be exactly what you want to study long-term, don’t freak out. Many college students end up changing their majors several times. Since you will likely be knocking out most of your general education requirements as a freshman, there’s no need to worry about degree requirements if you think you want to change your major. Remember: The University of Mississippi offers plenty of programs to choose from, so there is no shame in being unsure of your degree path as a freshman.
