Chapter 1: Top Five Tips To Surviving The First Day of College

Opening the door of the classroom to your first college class, you feel your heart racing and your hands dripping with sweat. With the presence of these physical and emotional responses, it must be the first day of college! In this chapter, you will learn how to combat your first day of school jitters with key tips of having an effective and stress-free first day.

The first day of college can be the most nerve-wracking and daunting day of your life. You have officially closed the chapter on your adolescence and opened the chapter on your adulthood. However, the first day of college does not have to be nerve-wracking or daunting.

Based on my first day of college experience, I have developed the following top five tips to surviving the first day of college:

1.  Read the course syllabus before attending class.
2.  Introduce yourself to professors.
3.  Have a planner or some method of keeping track of assignments.
4.  Turn off all distractions.
5.  Calm yourself.

Below, I will cover each tip in further detail.

Tip #1 Read the course syllabus before attending class. 

The course syllabus represents a guide for the course, including instructions and a schedule of upcoming assignments. Personally, I have noticed that reading the course syllabus, prior to the start of each semester, relieves me of my first day jitters. After reading the course syllabus, you will have a full understanding of the course and the professor's expectations of you, making you better prepared for the course and eliminating any surprises. 

Tip #2 Introduce yourself to professors. 

This is a great way for you to break the ice between you and your professors. Introducing yourself to professors on the first day makes it easier for you to approach and communicate with professors throughout the semester. Moving forward, your professor will know who you are, opening the opportunity for you to build a healthy student-teacher relationship with them. 

Tip #3 Have a planner or some method of keeping track of assignments.

Throughout my college career, I have kept a planner to keep track of my assignments. Using a planner has helped me to feel more organized and confident in the plan of accomplishing my tasks. By having a planner or some method of keeping track of assignments, you will have a stress-free first day and avoid falling behind on homework from the start of the semester.

Tip #4 Turn off all distractions.

This is probably the most difficult tip to implement into your first day, but it will reap significant benefits. When your phone is readily available to you, you are constantly checking it for text messages, phone calls, or social media notifications, so, if anything, your phone may make you even more nervous on the first day. Turning off your phone and other distractions will help to keep your mind focused on the course, freeing yourself from another source of nervousness.

Tip #5 Calm yourself. 

Prior to entering your classroom, take three deep breaths. This is a sure way of slowing down your heartbeat and clearing your mind. Remember that everyone else in your class is experiencing the same feelings as you are, so you are not alone. 

Through these top five tips, I hope that you feel more confident about the first day. So, breathe a sigh of relief. Keep calm and conquer the first day of college!