The Freshman Year Problems You Can Prevent Before and After Choosing a College

Freshman year for most college students is one of the most exciting times of their lives… but it’s also one of the most stressful if you experience certain problems that could hurt you for the whole year. Everything from roommate compatibility, transportation, feeling homesick, having course availability, academic support, accessibility, the size of the campus, feeling the distance from home, and your regular social environment. These are all circumstances and feelings that freshman deal with, and we know the experience of helping students plan for this.

In this blog, we will give you a comprehensive guide for students to prepare for the freshman year problems that you can prevent before and after choosing your preferred college to attend.

Understanding Your Environment Before Arriving on Campus

Living With a New Roommate

One of the first things most college students want to accomplish when they first start college is establish some friendships with other kids on campus, and one of those key relationships is with your roommate if you plan to dorm. Before moving in, you will want to touch base with your university about roommate questionnaires, roommate selection programs, or surveys that come with what people look for the most. This can even be important during the semester, and you may want to switch out roommates with someone else.

Transportation Needs

The next most important question when it comes to understanding your environment is: can you get where you need to go? Depending on the distance between your dorm and the main campus, this will be a bigger deal than you realize. Some campuses are walkable, but don’t let that be your first option. 

Check to see how transportation works with regard to parking, public transit, and any other options that will allow you to also do other tasks. For students attending college here in Buffalo and Western New York, winter weather deserves way more attention. Plan ahead, and you will be in great shape!

Big vs Small Schools

We have talked before about how the size of the campus you attend can play a major role in your experience with academic work and other experiences like on-campus activities with your friends. This is why on-campus tours are important because they will give you an idea of what you like best. Think of it this way: how comfortable would you feel every day when navigating around your environment if the college were big or small? 

Read more about this in our blog analyzing the cost of colleges from big to small schools!

Managing Your Academic Expectations When Classes Begin

Registering For Classes Before They Are Full

Most students will want to get their class registrations done in advance to find a seat, but sometimes you may run out of luck and just miss out. The availability of the courses you want to take will affect the timelines of other events like graduation down the line or just managing a good schedule during the year. Research your college’s enrollment limits, the waitlist policies, and prerequisites. 

If you can’t get into a class, contact your academic advisor as soon as you can. Using the University at Buffalo as a local example, they provide students and parents with a course waitlist guidance page. Even if you join a waitlist, nothing is guaranteed for you to get in. Policies like this will vary between colleges, so make sure you know the basics before enrolling.

Accessibility and Asking For Help When You Need It

College can be fun, but it can also be VERY stressful! Not everyone is able to handle the adjustment to a new life so easily. This is how some students develop a homesick feeling and get burnt out. You shouldn’t have to feel like you need to do everything on your own. Expectations are set upon you that are not always going to be attainable. Colleges have a wide range of resources, from tutoring, study groups, and other forms of academic coaching. 

Remember this, the accessibility features that come with being on campus don’t always equate to getting into a class; there’s so much more to school than just that. The Student Success Gateway page for the University at Buffalo is the perfect accumulation of everything that comes with these circumstances. We highly recommend that you look into this kind of resource no matter where you attend.

Getting Help From College Planning Experts

The final thing we want to leave you with is a sense of hope for what we can offer you. A successful college experience depends on much more than what we discussed in this blog! We have resources for everything you’re looking for. If you’re a freshman getting ready to start or if your semester is already underway, this blog will help set some expectations, but will also help you during the semester if you need to make a change around your academics or your living situation.

For students in Buffalo and Western New York, these considerations are just as important as they are for students attending colleges across the country when it comes to how we help you. We are here to educate you on anything you need, so if you have any questions about this or anything else we provide, give us a call or reach out through our contact form!