Attending college is commonly framed as the be-all, end-all goal after high school. After seemingly endless effort prepping for standardized tests and polishing your personal statements, you’re finally here! You made it! However, the effort you made getting into college doesn’t necessarily prepare you for your life at the University. Here are some helpful tips on how to adjust to your new reality and how to make the most of your time here.

Adjusting to College

1. Increased Personal Freedom and Responsibility. This may be the first time you’re on your own. No longer are there restrictions on what you get to eat or when, when you go to sleep or for how long, how hard you study or how you spend your time overall. This new freedom can be liberating and should be enjoyed; however, it also means that the decisions you make are your responsibility, as well as any consequences that may come from them. Try to be honest with yourself about how much time you need to dedicate to things like sleep and studying to stay healthy and meet your goals. Knowing your priorities in the short and long term can help you maintain balance.   
2. New Environment and Relationships. Being in a new place can be exciting as well as scary and disorienting. It’s a big adjustment, and many of your peers are experiencing a similar challenge. Fall can be a great time to connect with other new students by exploring Eugene and campus together. Student IDs give free access to the EMX, which can take you downtown or further afield. Having a roommate may also be a new experience. It can take time to adjust to sharing a small space with another person. Setting boundaries and communicating needs calmly and respectfully is essential. Keep an open mind and be willing to compromise when necessary!
3. Changes in Existing Relationships. While meeting a flood of new people, you may also be trying to maintain your relationships from back home, whether that’s friends, family, or a romantic partner. Give yourself permission to pursue new interests and friendships here. Your friends from home are likely in similar positions. With your family, you may call home often early on, and then less so as the year goes on. Be open with your family about your needs and boundaries around calling home. If you’re in a long-distance romantic relationship, it’s important to set clear boundaries, expectations and ground rules. That way, neither party is taken off guard or suffers hurt feelings. Managing any kind of relationship takes effort and can be stressful. Be sure to check-in with yourself and to take care of yourself too!

Making the Most of Your College Experience

1. Advising. Go see your advisor! You’ll hear this over and over, but sometimes it can be hard to know who exactly your advisor is. Some students will have multiple advisors — one for a major, maybe one for a specific scholarship (Pathway Oregon, or CMAE’s Diversity Excellence), and for new students, an advisor based on the Flight Path selected. Taking the time to meet with advisors can be really helpful in answering questions about classes, resources, and even figuring out who should be your primary advisor. It’s helpful to have a person to touch base with throughout your time here to avoid things like taking a class that you later discover doesn’t count toward graduation requirements. Bottom line, advisors are there to support you in your academic journey. Utilize them!
2. Get Involved. Fostering a sense of community can make your time on campus much more enjoyable. One way to do that is to get involved with different student groups and organizations. Student groups exist for almost anything: pre-professional interests, service, social justice, passions and hobbies and more! You can browse them on Engage. If there isn’t something that suits your interests, start your own club! You may find adding these things to your week can also help with consistency in your schedule and time management. It doesn’t hurt that down the line, these activities demonstrate your well roundedness and can help with job and grad school applications. Most importantly, spending time with people who share an interest is a great way to make friends and to build a community.
3. Socialize to Your Heart’s Desire. In the media, the typical ‘college experience’ is portrayed as very social, most often including alcohol and other drug use. This doesn’t have to be the case! Whether you’re an introvert, and ambivert, or an extrovert, spending time with friends feels nourishing. In general, it’s okay to prioritize your academics, your job or your overall wellbeing over socializing. On the other hand, if spending time with friends feels nourishing and helpful, make it priority so that you have the energy to keep up with school and/or work. Regarding substance use, you may be surprised to learn that about half of new students entering UO have abstained from alcohol and other drugs. It’s true that you may find you have more access and/or exposure to these substances here, but it is entirely your decision how much you’d like to partake or not. If you decide to use substances, check out this Be Well Blog entry about maintaining a healthy relationship with alcohol.

Overall, college can be a wonderful time in your life. Take advantage of the fact that your main focus gets to be learning in an intellectually stimulating environment. You get to explore your interests — and maybe even reinvent yourself. Get to know yourself, and listen to what your mind and body are telling you that you need. If at any point, you find yourself struggling and your inner voice is telling you that you could benefit from some support, come visit Counseling Services, where you can discuss your concerns and needs confidentially with a supportive, affirming person.

Kyra Ortega-Schwartz, ‘19
Education and Prevention Outreach Assistant Coordinator