When I first started college, I didn’t know what to expect. You never really know until you show up for that first day, in all its glory, and see for yourself what college is all about. But if you’re looking for some tips and tricks of the trade, I hope my two cents into my first year of college life helps you have a great freshman year at SUNY Cortland.
There is nothing more stressful than trying to move in and unpack your entire life into a room that is a fraction of the size of your room at home. It is even more stressful when you are trying to do it at the same time as hundreds of other students in the heat of August in an un-airconditioned building. But don’t worry you will get through it! Take a few deep breaths and make sure you know where you packed your fans!
Now at orientation and on campus tours they tell you it’s rare to get assigned in a forced triple right? Wrong. First semester freshman year, I could count on one hand how many friends I had that weren’t tripled. As stressful as this may sound, the SUNY Cortland does their best to de-triple students as quickly as possible, and you never know, you may love having two roommates. Some students even choose to stay tripled because they become so close with their roommates!
Even if you’re the person who can’t wait to leave home and live on their own with no one telling you what to do (that was me!), you will get homesick! As amazing as SUNY Cortland is, there is no better feeling than your own bed, a home cooked meal and being able to shower without shoes on. Whether you live twenty minutes or five hours away from college, you will find yourself missing home every now and then!
Depending on where you’re from, Cortland might feel like you chose to go to college in the tundra. It snows A LOT in Cortland and it gets pretty windy on some days! Just make sure you have a warm jacket and snow boots come winter time!
At SUNY Cortland, the library is open until 1 am Monday through Thursday, and if you’re the type of student that likes to cram for a test, you’ll definitely find yourself closing the library! All nighters are also really common among college students, although I don’t know how effective they are! Bottom line – try to study as far in advance as possible! Work piles up fast too so try not to procrastinate either!
College students change their major almost as often as they change their clothes. Not really, but remember that it IS okay to change your mind! Remember to choose a major for YOU; not because that’s what your parents want you to do or because that’s what your friends are doing. In the long run your major is most likely what you will be doing for the rest of your life, so make sure it’s something that you’re passionate about! If you don’t know what you want to do, that’s okay too – you have plenty of time to decide!
Fear of Missing out. It is very real in college, especially when you’re the one friend who stayed in to study that night! Watching the endless snap chat stories makes FOMO worse so don’t do it, just remember that the good grades will be worth it in the end!
College is such an amazing experience, especially at SUNY Cortland! As hard as it is to adjust to a new environment and have to make all new friends, it is so much fun. Being away at college and living on a college campus is an experience that everyone should have, and although it may not be for everyone, you should at least give it a shot! It doesn’t get any better than having your own little space and being able to live with your best friends!
SUNY Cortland students are obsessed with Cortland apparel. Our college store is awesome and always has something new! From Under Armour leggings and Nike shorts to the classic Cortland hoodies and t-shirts, everyone has A LOT of Cortland clothes and we wear them all the time!
Never heard of cold cheese pizza? At SUNY Cortland you will! Cold cheese pizza is normal pizza with cold mozzarella on top of it! It’s a great late night snack after a night out, and the pizza places down town have the best!
Real food: Anything that isn’t Neubig or Bistro. Whether you go to one of the many awesome restaurants downtown for dinner or have a meal from home, “real food” is THE BEST. SUNY Cortland has great food in the dining halls, but it does get a little repetitive, so when you have the opportunity to have some “real food” take it!
SUNY Cortland students walk almost everywhere! We walk to class, the gym, downtown, to parties – your primary mode of transportation is your legs! In the fall and spring walking everywhere is awesome because the weather is beautiful, but in the rain and snow it isn’t quite as fun. Cortland is also pretty hilly, so make sure you are always wearing comfy shoes!
The first thing people will tell you when you say you go to SUNY Cortland is, “ohhhhh that’s a big party school!”. That is true, so if you’re someone who likes to go out and have a great time, make sure you don’t let your grades suffer because of it! It’s easy to neglect your school work when you have no one telling you to do it and everyone is telling you about a great party that night, but remember that you are at college to learn and get a degree, and partying isn’t a major!
Don’t think it’s possible to gain the freshman 15? Wrong. With pizza and Chinese food a phone call away, pizza and fries in the dining hall every day and the occasional drink or two you wouldn’t believe how fast calories add up! Make sure you are eating some fruits and veggies and making use of the amazing student life center to avoid the freshman 15.
Freshman moments are anything you do that makes the upperclassmen think “oh there’s a freshman”. These can include, but are not limited to: wearing your lanyard around your neck, running to class, running to try and catch the bus, and raising your hand to ask to go to the bathroom in class. Most of these moments are inevitable, but don’t be too embarrassed – we’ve all been there!
Whether your roommate is your best friend from home, your brother/sister or someone you met on the Cortland Facebook page, you will have roommate problems. They could be as simple as different sleep/studying schedules or as difficult as serious disagreements, but don’t worry they happen to everyone and you will get through them! Never be afraid to talk to your residence hall director or your RA – they’re like your guidance counselors for any housing problems!
At SUNY Cortland, the majority of people you meet will be from Long Island. So if you’re one of the few people from “upstate” (whatever that is), you will always be having the debate of what’s upstate and what isn’t. Some people think that upstate is anything that isn’t Long Island, and some people that you’re only upstate if you can see Canada. Everyone has a different opinion!
Whether you’ve declared a major or are still undecided, there are a lot of general education classes that you have to take, and as a freshman you don’t really have much of a choice as to what general education class options you take (make sure that when you fill out your preference sheet you don’t just click the first options!). Taking a class that you don’t like is inevitable, but it makes the classes you do like that much better!
Being on your own is one of the best parts about going away to college. You are your own boss, you decide what you want to do and when you want to do it. Becoming independent is such a good feeling and it makes you feel like you can conquer the world! Independence also requires some discipline though so be sure to stay on top of school work and sleep.
As close as you are with your friends from home, college is all about meeting new people. Everyone always says that your life long friends will be the ones that you meet in college, and that couldn’t be more true. Your friends at college are the ones you spend all night cramming with, going out and partying with, and having sleepovers on Monday nights with. You will make more memories in one semester than you did in your senior year of high school. Friends from home are irreplaceable and unforgettable; but you will be asking yourself how you ever went eighteen years without your college friends and you know you won’t be spending any more years without them.
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