Explore, join and establish routine

By Erin Roman

Worried about not making a good impression and starting school off on the wrong foot? Don’t sweat it, here are five important tips for any incoming college student:

Take a stroll around campus. Avoiding human contact and hiding in apartments and dorms is the worst way to start the school year. Grab a few people down the hall and explore what the school has to offer. Take note of good restaurants and hang-out locations in the area.

Locate classrooms before the first day of school and be prepared to jump right into school work. Buy notebooks and writing utensils early, but wait until after class has started to purchase the required textbooks. Refund policies vary by school and there is always the possibility that a class won’t be as enjoyable as expected.

Leave that summer funk behind and establish a routine sleeping, working, and eating schedule. Homework can be time consuming and knowing the best time of the day to do these assignments is key. Don’t wait until the last minute to cram everything in at once. Distribute time so that there is room for relaxation and recreational activities in between. Eating and sleeping regularly will give the desired energy boost to complete other tasks.

Take advantage of study locations and quiet spots around campus. Students might find that they are unable to keep up with their schoolwork in the comfort of their room. Libraries, computer labs, coffee shops and usually quite abundant near a college  campus. Find what works best for you.

Join at least one activity on campus. Getting involved right away is the easiest way to make new friends and have some fun at school. Students shouldn’t let homework run their lives. One might find that their most vivid memories of college were from the sport or club they were involved in.

Get connected:

• Hoopla! – A magazine for young adults in the Cedar Rapids / Iowa City corridor.
• Juice – News and entertainment in the Des Moines area

College newspapers :
Briar Cliff Cliff News
Buena Vista The Undercurrent
Cornell College The Cornellian
Drake Times-Delphic
Grinnell Scarlet and Black
Iowa State Daily
Kirkwood Community College The Communique
Luther College Chips
Simpson Simpsonian
University of Iowa Daily Iowan
University of Nothern Iowa Northern Iowan
Wartburg Trumpet

 Note: Writer Erin Roman is a student at University of  Iowa. Her tips are based on her own experience.