Freshers Week Experience at a US College
Freshers Week Experience at a US College
First-Year Fundamentals
Hi everyone! I’m Chelsea, I’m from Southern California, and I’m a rising sophomore at Harvard University studying Sociology and Educational Studies. A year ago, I went through the wonderful, wild mess that is moving into college for the first time, and going through the crazy events of orientation week. If you’re wondering what those first few days are like at an American college, hopefully this guide can give you some insight :))
Quick Note
As this article is being written, the move-in and orientation process, and campus life in general, have been changed dramatically because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these tips may not apply to this upcoming year, but if you’re an incoming freshman, keep in mind that the ultimate goal of orientation is to help adjust you to what will ideally feel like your new home for the next four years. Your advisers, administrators, and campus staff have been working really hard to give you the best first year possible under these circumstances. While it feels like restrictions and rules take a lot of the fun away, just remember that everyone with you is likely feeling something similar. So, don’t be afraid to reach out, and talk with your advisers about socially-distanced or online activities!
Moving In
It sounds trite, but truly, less is more. Keep in mind that your college life isn’t going to be exactly the same as your life at home, so you might not have time to cultivate your mug collection or reread your favorite books, and those would probably be best preserved while at home. However, here are some essentials I would say everyone should definitely acquire before coming to campus or early on in the year:
Seasonally appropriate clothing. If you’re like me and don’t really know what brand would be a good quality winter coat that isn’t overpriced, feel free to wait until you get onto campus and ask the many Northeasterners who have years of experience in the harsh winters. Harvard and other schools may have a stipend available to financial aid students to help you purchase a good winter coat!
A good lamp. Mine was foldable into a flat-ish rectangle, unlike the bulky shade you might be picturing. Usually the college-provided lighting isn’t the best for studying at your desk, so a nice lamp can set the right ambiance to help you study through long nights.
A mattress topper. I am not kidding when I say this is a game-changer. I got a pretty inexpensive foam one online, and it helped me fall asleep within seconds on top of the old, springy mattress (although getting up in the morning for my daily 9am Japanese classes became much more difficult).
Organizers/storage containers. Usually you’ll just get a few drawers, so I purchased some cheap plastic drawers to keep cleaning supplies, skincare, and miscellaneous tech items neatly tucked away, and my wonderful roommate got larger tubs for us to keep snacks in.
Orientation Events
You’ll likely be thrown into a fully packed schedule of meeting new people, listening to inspirational speeches, and too many icebreakers for you to keep reusing that same fun fact about yourself. As an introverted person myself, it felt pretty overwhelming at times to feel like I never had any time to myself for several days, and was always surrounded by strangers. Here are some tips for making the most out of this busy time!
Rules and Resources
First of all, know when to pay attention. Sometimes certain speeches are really meant more for your parents than for you, so sit back and relax as they get to be proud of you and all your hard work you’ve done to get here. Other times, it can be really valuable to take in the rules and new information, especially concerning emergency situations. You’ll hear about mental health resources, campus police contacts, sexual health tips, and how to take care of yourself and your friends in cases of using drugs or alcohol. College is often the first time many students have exposure to new experiences away from any adults, so it’s important to be safe while enjoying this time.
For me, one of the most important things I did was keeping certain emergency contact numbers in my phone, especially my resident adviser (RA, which is called a proctor at Harvard). It was extremely comforting to know that even if I felt like I was in huge trouble, I had an adult who could help me at any time.
Finding Friends
Second of all, use this time to meet new people. Everyone jokes about how the standard introduction is always just name, hometown, dorm, and major, but I think this can be a really great opportunity to ask people more about themselves and find other things you might have in common, like music, hobbies, etc. One guy I met from New Jersey actually had a mutual friend with me from elementary school before he moved from NJ to CA! Small world.
Oftentimes, I felt like the constant introductions and small talk felt fake, but I realized that really, everyone just goes through this period, and inevitably, you will find people you connect with and feel comfortable opening up to and going places with. I was really lucky that my roommates and I all got along really well with each other, so even when we spent the whole day apart, we’d come back to the room and tell funny, crazy stories for hours.
Taking It All In
Third, take advantage of the free things. It feels like being at an amusement park sometimes, with so much food and games, so be prepared to enjoy it. After an orientation event where we volunteered in small groups at various locations in Boston, we came back to campus with an outdoor barbecue and some tables with free small canvases for us to paint on! Two of our dorm room’s signature decor pieces came from that night.
And finally, take some time to yourself! Most of the upperclassmen aren’t on campus yet, so if you can find time to explore campus on your own, I highly recommend it. Harvard and so many other schools have a lot of history, and I found myself really caught up on how many lives had come and gone the same way mine would be as I walked through the beautiful libraries and sidewalks.
Convocation
At Harvard, this first week ends with Convocation, during which all first-years dress up nicely, pose for lots of pictures, and are officially declared to be students of the college. I felt like it was nice to not only celebrate graduations, but also entering the institution as formal members—it solidified us all as part of the community.
Closing Thoughts
The first week for many people passes by in a blur, but it really does serve as the foundation for the next four years. I think the mission of orientation as a whole really captures what Harvard and other American universities emphasize for having strong residential life on campus, which is that when you live next to, eat with, and celebrate with people from various backgrounds, you learn from each other in ways you never could only inside a classroom. Very soon, you’ll be thrust into worrying about extracurriculars and classes and balancing it all, so take this first week to really be proud of yourself for all you’ve done up until this point. A new chapter is about to begin!
As the new Operations Manager for Harvard’s campus and a believer in the power of education to transform lives, I truly hope you go into college seeing how gratifying and exciting it can be. I love talking about higher education, campus life, and student culture, so if you have any further questions on this topic, feel free to reach out at chelsea.guo@projectaccess.org! If you’re about to start college, congratulations—we are so lucky to have you! If you’re in the application process, keep up the good work :))