This fall, I am returning to Bridgewater as a junior, so I know what to expect, but as a former Orientation Leader for the campus, I know there is a whole new class of Bears who have a lot of questions as to what college life is like. Here are some helpful freshman year tips that I wish I knew when I first got here…
Invest in some Rain Gear
BridgeWATER really is an appropriate name for this town since it seems to rain every week here. Investing in a pair of rain boots and a waterproof jacket is a good thing to do- and by “invest,” I mean spending less than $30. I wouldn’t recommend using just an umbrella. The campus is basically a giant wind tunnel, so umbrellas are prone to being turned inside out when you least expect it.
Do NOT wear your Connect Card around your Neck
Every student at BSU has a Connect Card but not everyone wears it in a lanyard around their neck. It seems the freshmen class always wears their card around their neck as if to say “I belong” but really it just looks silly… and it increases your chance of losing it. No one wants to spend $25 to replace it. Leave the lanyard in your pocket, safely secure it into your wallet, or just throw it in your bag.
Use your Meal Plan Wisely
It is wicked hard at first getting used to all the different dining halls on campus. I know you want to investigate all the different places and find which hall has the best food, but it is NOT a good idea to spend $100 dining dollars the first week and use 20 meal swipes. You will run out by the time finals come around. Do you really want to revert to the Ramen and Easy Mac diet?
Actually GO to Class
College classes are A LOT different from a high school class schedule and it can be a big adjustment. I know it can be tempting when your professor doesn’t have an attendance policy or you REALLY don’t want to wake up for your 8 AM class, but seriously, you are paying to attend college. For every class you miss, that’s basically money wasted. Also, since classes are only for one fifteen week semester (not year-round like in high school), you can fall behind quickly and mess up your GPA.
Is there anything you wish you knew as a freshman that you know now? If you are a new student, how do you plan on getting involved? Are you nervous or excited for the upcoming school year?
