How To Survive Freshman Year At The University Of Arizona

Freshman year of college can be intimidating especially when you don’t know what to expect. If you’re planning on attending the University of Arizona, or maybe it’s just one of the colleges you’re interested in it can be hard to know what to expect.

As a student at the University of Arizona, I can tell you from first-hand experience that it’s an amazing school. There were still some things I wish I knew before going into freshman year, and I’m going to share those things with you!

1. Be Confident In Yourself

The first thing that’s important before going to any college is to make sure that you’re confident in yourself and that you know who you are. You are about to enter a whole new chapter of your life and have so many new experiences. It’s important to remember that not everything is always perfect or easy, and that’s why it’s important to be sure of yourself and remain true to you.

College is a huge step with a lot of new people and it can be easy to start feeling lost. Know yourself, know your goals, and remain confident! If things aren’t necessarily going as planned, which tends to happen often in college it’s important to remind yourself why you’re here and who you are. The fact that you’ve even come this far is an accomplishment so be proud of yourself!

2. Learn Time Management

College can get stressful easily, and it’s a lot different than high school. It’s a lot more independent and you aren’t going to have anyone there making sure you go to class or turn in your assignments on time. It’s important to get organized and learn how to properly manage your time.

During college, it’s always going to be a constant battle between managing time for school work and a social life and maybe even a job or internship. It’s important to learn how to prioritize yourself.

I recommend getting a planner, a calendar, and setting reminders on your phone. If that’s still not enough maybe even invest in getting yourself an Apple Watch so that you can get extra reminders from that. Keeping yourself on a schedule would also be immensely beneficial.

3. Learn How To Work D2L

The University of Arizona literally runs on D2L academically so it’s super important to learn the software right away. I remember as a freshman this was so confusing to everyone because you kind of just have to wing it and figure it out the best you can.

I recommend spending the time to learn the ins and outs of D2L as soon as you have access to it because it’ll save you time and hassle later on. You don’t want to be struggling to turn in assignments at the last minute because D2L is so complicated.

4. Join Clubs And Extracurriculars

One of the best and most exciting things about the University of Arizona is the social aspect of it all. It’s a whole new world with all new people and experiences. The best way to start making new connections with people is to join clubs and extracurriculars. This can really help you find “your people”.

It’s also a great way to participate in something you’re passionate about. All the people in that club or activity are interested in the same thing and it can be a great way to bond with people and form strong friendships.

Also if you’re coming from out of state this can be a crucial part to making friends especially since you more than likely won’t know anyone there. If that’s the case I strongly encourage you to join a club or to join a sorority.

5. Put Yourself Out There

It’s important to learn how to get comfortable being uncomfortable during college. What I mean by that is that you need to start putting yourself out there and participate in things that you normally wouldn’t. There are so many fun things going on at the University of Arizona all the time so putting yourself out there will be easy.

Even if you aren’t necessarily the social type try even doing just small things that are out of your comfort zone. Not only will this make your college experience more fun, but it will help you learn more about yourself and your character. College is all about pushing the limits and growing as a person.

6. Utilize The Library

The library at the University of Arizona is a great resource academically and socially so learn to utilize it! This is the one-stop shop for everything you need academically. All the research you’ll ever need located in one place. They have books, computers, and study rooms at your disposal.

Not only that but this is a great place to just have some peace and quiet to focus on what you have to get done. If you prefer to study with a group then you can rent out a study room also and do work that way. Either way it’s a great resource that you’ll always have.

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7. Have A Study Group

If you’ve ever needed any help with homework then it can be important to have a study group with people all working on the same class or subject. It’s also a great way to be social but still remain focused and getting things done.

During college, it’s important to know that you aren’t alone and to get help when you need it! A study group is a great way to casually study and remain productive.

8. Have A Support Group

This is one of the most important things to have during college. Freshman year at the University of Arizona brings a lot of new experiences. Not everything is going to go perfect all the time and things can get a little rough. It’s a period of life where we are really growing up and experiencing a new stage of life.

These changes are sometimes amazing and sometimes not so much, but either way, it’s important that you have a group of people who love and support you to fall back on. Everyone needs someone to talk to, and someone who has their best interest at heart. That could either be a best friend or a family member but it’s important to have regardless.

9. Participate In Campus Events

One of the best things about the University of Arizona is all the events that take place on campus regularly. People are always coming together and there is always something to do so take advantage of it and participate! There’s a whole new fun world out there waiting for you!

10. Enjoy Freshman Year

The most important advice I could give you is to just enjoy yourself. Don’t put so much pressure on trying to have the perfect college experience and the perfect year. Also, don’t forget to stay true to yourself and know what you’re comfortable with. If you aren’t ready to completely put yourself out there your freshman year that’s totally fine!

At the end of the day, you can make your freshman year at the University of Arizona whatever you want! You make the rules!