The First 6 Weeks of College: 6 Things I Want Every College Student to Know
- barbbloom
- 2 minutes ago
- 5 min read
The first few weeks of college are exciting, but they can also be really stressful. You're learning a new campus, meeting new people, figuring out your classes, and suddenly you're responsible for a lot of things your parents used to handle.
You don't have to figure it all out at once. A little preparation can make those first weeks much easier.
Here are six things I want every college student to know:
1. Set up your college email—and check it regularly.
I have a friend who works in Housing at a university, and this was her number one request for incoming students.
Once you're accepted and have given your intent to enroll, the college sets up an email account for you. From that day until after you graduate, important information will go to that email.
Orientation. Housing. Class registration. Meal plans. Bills. Deadlines. Changes to your schedule.
Read it. And, she says, do what it tells you to do.
So much unnecessary anxiety can be avoided simply by paying attention to your email. College staff do this year after year. They know the process. They have systems in place to help you.
You just have to read the email.
2. Walk your schedule before the first day.
Almost every article I read and video I watched recommended this—and for good reason.
It's much better to get lost on a practice run than on the actual first day of class.
While you're walking your schedule, look for:
Restrooms near your classrooms
Places to grab a snack or use your meal plan
A quiet place to sit, study, or recharge
The library and other places you might want to study
If you're going to a large university, figure out the bus routes, too. Decide which places you'll walk to and when taking the bus makes more sense.
Knowing where you're going can take a surprising amount of stress out of your first week.
3. Spend some time with your roommate.
You don't have to become best friends with your roommate.
But you do have to live together.
Walk to the dining hall together. Go to orientation together. Go to your hall meetings. Meet other roommate pairs.
Those everyday activities give you a chance to get to know each other and learn a little about how the other person lives.
You may discover some subtle differences that didn't show up on the roommate questionnaire. Maybe one of you needs total quiet to sleep. Maybe the other likes to stay up late with friends. Maybe one of you is super tidy and the other...isn't.
Noticing those differences early gives you a chance to talk about them before they become a problem.
4. Create a communication plan with your parents.
And please include some boundaries.
If your parents were texting you constantly in high school, college is a good time to start weaning them off that habit.
It was easy to rely on Mom for schedule reminders or Dad for help with homework. But college is an opportunity to start using your own skills—and the resources available to you on campus.
That doesn't mean you can't call home.
Please call home. I promise Mom is waiting to hear your voice.
But talk with your parents about how often you want to communicate and what kind of help you actually want from them.
College is a great transition period. You have tons of support around you. Take advantage of it. Let yourself become a little more independent and learn how to do things your own way.
And parents: sometimes the best way to support your college student is to pause before jumping in to solve the problem.
5. Introduce yourself to your professors—or at least your TAs.
Find a quick, simple introduction you can use at the end of class. You can even practice it with your roommate on one of those walks to the dining hall!
Try something like:
“Hi, Dr. Whatever. I'm Student Slone. I'm really looking forward to this class, especially the section on ___.”
Or:
“I'm a little worried about this class because it's not a subject I know well. Can I stop by your office hours next week?”
Yes, it's a little corny.
And yes, they will probably see right through you.
But they'll also learn your name.
And when you actually need help later in the semester, walking into office hours won't feel quite as scary because you've already introduced yourself.
6. Figure out how you're going to manage your time.
College gives you a LOT more control over your time—and that can be both wonderful and overwhelming.
Do you like a paper planner or Google Calendar? Do you need multiple reminders? Do you study well in your room, or do you need to find somewhere else to work?
And remember that quiet place you found on your campus? It might become your new favorite study spot.
I liked to put every syllabus into my calendar so I could see when projects, papers, and exams overlaped. That way, I could spot those really busy weeks ahead of time and work ahead when I could.
Because there will be busy weeks. Knowing they're coming can make them feel a whole lot more manageable.
One more thing: Find the campus resources you need.
If you had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school, find the Disability/Accessibility Office, introduce yourself, and ask about the process for getting accommodations.
If you take medication for a physical or mental health condition, find the Student Health Center and learn how things work. Ask about prescriptions and pharmacies before you run out of medication.
Worried about a difficult class? Find the tutoring center.
Have a big paper coming up? Find the writing center.
Feeling overwhelmed, lonely, anxious, or homesick? Find the Counseling Center.
You don't have to wait until you're struggling to use these resources. That's what they're there for.
Give yourself some time to adjust.
The first six weeks of college can be some of the most stressful.
You're learning a new environment, building new relationships, figuring out who you are, and trying to keep up with your classes—all at the same time.
You don't have to do everything perfectly.
Do what you can ahead of time to reduce the little stresses, so you have more energy for the fun stuff: meeting new people, exploring your campus, finding your favorite coffee shop, joining a club, and figuring out this new chapter of your life.
And if you're a parent reading this, remember: your student doesn't need you to make college stress-free. They need you to help them learn that they can handle it.
Need more advice? Here are some great blogs, podcasts, and posts:
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