You’ve Committed to College, Now What?

It’s a new chapter of life for many incoming college freshman. Many, maybe even you, have committed to college…but now what?

You’re experiencing all the feelings of nervousness, excitement, and everything in between after committing to the college of your dreams. You celebrate, buy all your college’s merch, and feel relief.

All your hard work has led to this point, but now you don’t know what your next steps are. You go online to find out what you should do to prepare for this new chapter of your life, and that’s what has brought you here.

This article will help you navigate this new, exciting chapter! Learn about all the important things to do and receive unique but much-needed advice.

The Boring Part

Before the fun stuff, it’s important to ensure you have taken all the necessary steps to release your registration holds. Many incoming freshmen find this process complicated, and it can be, but starting your college journey on the right foot is crucial.

If you don’t know where to start, consider visiting your college’s ‘After Admittance‘ website page. A college’s After Admittance website page acts as a checklist for what you should do after being admitted and committing to their institution. An example is the University of Florida’s “Freshman After Being Admitted” checklist (Go Gators)! I highly recommend visiting your college’s After Admittance website page and following each step closely.

After the boring part, it’s finally time to connect with your newfound college community.

Connect With Your Community

Most social media platforms (Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Facebook, etc.) will have designated forums for a college’s incoming students. UTILIZE THESE FORUMS! They are a great way to connect with incoming freshmen, find roommates, and learn about your college’s welcome events.

Speaking of welcome events, go to as many as you can. Welcome events are a fantastic place to meet other incoming students in person and get involved with your college community before you even start classes.

Another great way to connect with your future community is to visit your college campus if you haven’t already. Most colleges require all incoming freshmen to attend an orientation to tour the school, meet advisors, and make friends. Because most orientations are required, I suggest making the most out of it.

Put yourself out there! It can be hard, especially if you’re introverted, but it’s always reassuring to go into your first semester of college knowing someone or having a friend. Last, feel free to use the time before your first semester to learn about what your college offers outside of the classroom (student orgs, sports clubs, etc.)

Essentials You Didn’t Think Of

Now, it’s time to start shopping for the college essentials. Buying items that will help you thrive when you’re living on your own is vital. I suggest starting this process early, as the time between committing and starting school will slip away faster than you think. As someone who didn’t shop until the last minute, trust me.

So, what exactly are the essentials? It depends on your living situation, but most freshmen will live in an on-campus dorm. There are general essentials you can find on any website, but some essentials are ones that you may not even think about. Here are some that I didn’t realize I needed until I needed them:

• 10ft+ Lightning Charger: Your dorm bed will most likely be lofted, so having an extended charger will prevent you from getting out of bed at inconvenient times.
• Drying Mat: Most dorms will be communal, which means communal bathrooms, shower caddies, and more! This means you’ll need a small space to store your wet shower items when they’re not being used. I suggest buying a drying mat, similar to one you’d put in your kitchen, where you can place your showering essentials.
• MEDICINE: Trust me, there is a 99% chance you’ll get sick during your first semester at college. Having medicine on hand will be useful, and some medicine requires you to be of age to purchase. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Water Filter/Brita: Having a water filter/Brita will eliminate the inconvenience of buying and hauling water bottles to your dorm. It’s also a one-time purchase that goes a long way.
• Small things you don’t realize you use like nail clippers, tweezers, lint rollers, chip clips, scissors, tissue boxes, and more!

Advisor Advice

Moving along, it’s super insightful to hear a professional’s advice about this topic. Angelique Avelino, an Academic Advisor for the University of Florida’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, gives intuitive advice that all incoming freshman should know!

Regarding outreach, Avelino suggests to “Meet with an academic advisor early. They are a good connection to all the resources your campus has to offer. It can be overwhelming to know what resources are available on campus, and meeting with an advisor can help narrow down the resources that are best for you!”

During this interview, Avelino also stressed the importance of experiencing new things outside of academics/studying. It’s key to create a balance and build meaningful connections with people in other ventures.

Last, a piece of academic advice from Avelino: “Connect with your professors. Sometimes it can seem intimidating but they are just people who are there to help you thrive throughout your academic journey. It’s better to be proactive and get help early.”

Watering Your Mindset

This new chapter of your life can be intimidating. It’s important to remember that all incoming freshmen are in the same boat as you. No one knows precisely what their college journey will bring, but it’s important to start this journey knowing that you are not alone.

Everyone will start this journey with fears and hesitancies. These fears and hesitancies are valid, but it’s important to not let them dictate your college experience. Your mindset has to adapt and flourish in order for you to as well.

College is an entirely different experience from high school. Be open to what the college experience has to offer. Your college experience won’t be perfect, but that’s exactly what makes this particular journey so valuable. Good luck, you’re going to do great!