20 Tips A Freshman At The University Of Utah Should Know
Being a freshman in college can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. Don’t worry if you survived high school, because college will be easier, kind of. As a freshman, I have learned a lot. Here are some tips a freshman at the University of Utah should know.
1. Live in the dorms.
Even though you might not like the idea of living in the dorms, believe me when I say that it is the best decision to live there when you are a freshman at the University of Utah. You will meet your first friends in the dorms and realize that everyone is open to make new friends since most of us don’t know anyone. Especially if you’re an international student or out-of-state student, I would highly advise you to live there.
2. Go to as many social events as possible.
You might not like to go to many social events organized by the university, but it’s worth a shot. You will not only meet new people but you will get a lot of free stuff!
3. The MUSS.
You can’t miss the opportunity to get a MUSS pass. Going to a college football game is fun, but going and setting in the MUSS section is the best. A lot of students are a part of the MUSS, so it is a great way to get involved on campus.
4. Don’t be afraid of trying new things.
College is the time that discovers more about who you are and what you want to do with your life. Don’t be afraid of trying new stuff. During high school, I never thought about joining the basketball team. When I became a freshman at the University of Utah, I went to the first club practice for fun and now I love it!
5. Make friends.
Don’t be afraid of meeting new people. Believe me when I say that everyone is going through the same change together. You will meet new people every day. Making friends is the best part of college, you will not only meet people from Utah, you will meet people from all around the world.
6. Join a club.
There is a lot of fun activities to do at the U! From joining the chess club to the UN club, and even intramural sports! Some clubs have in-state tournaments with other schools too.
7. Greek Life.
If you are like me, you might think Greek life is not for you, but you can go to some of their events at the beginning of the semester and see how it goes. Greek life has a lot of events and it helps you be involved on campus. I didn’t see myself in Greek life, but now I am a member of a sorority. It has a great social life, and you meet great people and get connections for your future.
8. Crimsons View.
If you ever get tired of the food from the PHC, go to Crimsons View. The food is amazing! They have a different buffet every day, and you can pay with flex dollars.
9. Go to the library.
Sometimes it’s hard to study and get your homework done in your dorm. The library is the perfect place to go. You can rent iPads, computers, and more. There are great resources that you can utilize such as the Writing Center.
10. Plan your week.
Since there is no one that will tell you what to do, it is important that you plan your week ahead of time. This will help you manage your time, especially as freshman at the University of Utah.
11. Attend a gymnastics meet.
Going to a gymnastics meet is so fun when football season is over! The Utes have a very strong gymnastics team. Also, if you are one of the first ones to arrive you can get a free shirt! Don’t miss out on any games against BYU. #GOUTES
12. Student Life Center.
The freshman 15 is real. To avoid it, you should try working out at the Student Life Center. It’s a very nice gym that a lot of the students and faculty attend to. There are many different facilities inside such as a pool and hot tub, weights, and a track.
13. Prioritize.
Going out to parties with your friends is fun, but remember why you are in college. Do your homework ahead of time not one night before it’s due. Sleep more than you study, study more than you party, and party as much as you can.
14. Try to get a job.
College is fun but it is also very expensive, so try to help your parents by trying to get a job. You can apply for jobs on campus that will work with your schedule. There are also many jobs that are close to trax stations, so they are easy to get to if you do not have a car.
15. Take advantage of resources.
The University of Utah is a number one research school. There are many resources at the university that will help you be on top of your game. There are many tutoring centers that you can use for your benefit.
16. Go skiing.
You live in Utah now and you can’t miss the opportunity to go skiing! Utah has the best ski resorts in the USA. I did not know how to ski very well, but that didn’t stop me from going on weekends and trying it out.
17. Rate my professor.
Before signing up for any class you should see what other students think about the professor. This will help you know if you should get a different professor or take a different class.
18. Utilize the school buses.
Even if you have a car, this is very useful. Parking at the U of U is stressful and crowded. If you want to save money and don’t want to waste your time finding a parking spot, take the U shuttles. The shuttles go all around campus. The app “UofU Shuttles” shows you all the bus stops and you can track the bus. You will always know which bus to take.
19. Go to class.
You are not in high school anymore; you don’t have your parents to decide for you. Going to class is important. Many professors take attendance very seriously, and sometimes attendance will be the reason you fail or pass a class.
20. Have fun!
You’re in college and of course education needs to be your first priority. Don’t forget you are young and in college; these are best years of your life. A freshman at the University of Utah needs to enjoy being a freshman while they can, because the years go by a lot faster than you think.
