One new thing you will encounter is the virtually unlimited options for coursework. Here, you have the opportunity to specialize in advanced courses related to your major or discover your more niche interests outside your major with general education (GenEd) requirements. The course that came as the greatest surprise to me were those not related to my major. I registered for a winter course studying art history for GenEd, and ended up enjoying myself. I discovered this course by accessing the Schedule of Classes on the Tetsudo website and adjusting the search parameters for the winter session. I got to explore my interests in art and world history as I learned about analyzing art by the movement. I also learned that I prefer writing longer papers over shorter essays. I would suggest that you try using your winter break to complete some of your GenEd classes asynchronously. It will allow you to reduce coursework during the semester and maintain your academic momentum during the break. Of course, some barriers to this opportunity is the cost, limited course options, and winter availability.
This opportunity to customize your schedule also comes with its difficulties. For me, one of those issues is managing my time. I ended up taking the minimum number of credits in the fall and the maximum in the spring. Having experienced the two extremes, I realize the difference in how it affects your “free time.” Unlike in high school, most work is done outside of class, so what seems like an average schedule for high school is actually a lot more work overall. I was not prepared initially, but it became manageable with time. I would suggest estimating the time outside of class you would need to dedicate to the course in order to succeed and align your course load with your desired work-life balance. Both are partly controlled by your personal capabilities which you will have to learn about yourself overtime. You can always readjust your schedule if you have any issues.
I also suggest trying to make connections with faculty and other professionals. It was one of my main goals for the semester and has paid off in ways I did not always expect. I may seem intimidating to advocate for yourself to someone older and more experienced, but you have to remind yourself that they are most likely willing to help. Plus, they are also people! I talked to many people and ended up securing a campus research opportunity and letters of recommendation which landed me a summer internship (referring to Dr. Merck here). Securing the research opportunity was the most involved. I knew about him beforehand from research and signed up to talk after seeing him present at the department colloquium. After making myself known, I reached out to him later to make plans for research the following semester. The biggest obstacle was aligning our schedules. I once missed a class waiting for his office to be open, but my professor was in the same department and understood. Interactions do not have to lead to crazy results though. The most common benefits were advice and confidence. Just keep putting yourself out there, be engaged, and do not be afraid to ask. It will it easier the more times you try.
Out of all the challenges, I would say that personal relationships were the most difficult for me to adapt to. I am still trying to figure out my place on campus to be honest. There are many people you will meet on campus and so many places to meet them, but not all relationships will work out whether your schedules do not align o they are not the person for you. What matters is putting effort into relationships that make you feel fulfilled and supported. On the other hand, let go of relationships that consistently hurt you since quality is better than quantity when it comes to friendships. I am lucky to have entered with a best friend who not see all the time but know will always have fun with support me. She has helped me get through a lot of stressful times since she understands me the most, especially since it took a long time for me to start building a new support network. I suggest you be patient and value those who care about you.
Your freshman year will come with many surprises and opportunities. Take advantage of them, and have fun exploring campus and all of its amazing people!