5 Pieces of Advice for Your First Year of College
Are you looking for advice for your first year of college? Or if you're already a college student, what advice would you give to a first-time college student? Welcome to our "5 Things I Would Tell My First-Year Self" blog series, where current students reflect on their early days at UNH and share advice they wish they'd had when starting out.
Today, Julia Fichera '26, a Business Administration major, shares five pieces of advice she wishes she knew before going into her first year of college.
This is right after we did an escape room as an icebreaker (we won because we actually talked to each other).
1. It's not awkward to speak up.
It’s actually more awkward if you don’t. Freshman year is a crazy transition, but it is 10 times worse if nobody talks to each other. There are going to be so many icebreakers that seem really silly, but I remember they were only terrible if nobody tried. Everyone around you is going through the same transition, and sometimes it’s hard to remember that. I wish I remembered more and introduced myself first so nobody had to feel nervous or awkward around each other.
2. It's okay to get meals on your own.
The dining hall seems like a beast when you first get here. I remember being really turned around and not really sure what to do. I ate cereal for dinner every night during my first week here! I was so used to eating lunch with friends in high school that it felt wrong to go to the dining hall alone. I had to realize that a universal lunch period isn’t built into our schedules, so sometimes my mealtime wasn’t convenient for anyone else. Don’t let that stop you from getting a nutritious meal; it’s so common to eat in the dining hall alone that I’m not even fazed by it anymore. In fact, sometimes, a quiet meal alone is the perfect break in a busy day.
Sawyer Hall Council '22-'23. You can make some great connections when you aren't afraid to speak up!
3. Bring more tissues than you think you need.
Freshman year was exhausting for many reasons, but for me the main one was that I was constantly getting sick. There are so many more germs you will be exposed to here, and I never really thought about that. I was always tired, and the transition was so much worse because I was constantly feeling off. I went through so many boxes of tissues, and I always needed more. Nothing is worse than having to walk across campus to buy tissues when you already feel bad, so learn from me and think ahead!
4. It's normal to know nothing.
Choosing my major was one of the biggest debates of my life, but I’m happy with the choice now. Freshman year me was panicking, though. I remember sitting in class feeling so behind compared to my classmates. I didn’t take any business classes in high school, so all the information I was learning was brand new. I thought I was going to fail since everyone else seemed to be so far ahead of me. The truth is that it doesn’t matter what level of knowledge you come in with; you’re going to learn the information either way. So, don’t panic. Soon enough, you’ll know the difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics like it’s nothing.
Me with a friend at night instead of sleeping like we should have been doing.
5. Go to sleep!
This is the one thing I wish I actually did. I stayed up way too late way too many times freshman year. Living with friends is new and exciting, but don’t let that keep you from a good night’s rest. FOMO is real, I know, but you will see everyone in the morning, and you’ll be happy you got a solid night of sleep. It’s fun to stay up and get to know everyone, but there comes a point where your brain needs a break. Keep that in mind when exams come up; I wish I did!
related posts:
Choosing a Business Administration Major
Julia '26 talks about enjoying a strong educational foundation and having the flexibility to explore many paths as a business administration major at UNH. read more about julia
