Starting college in the fall...Advice?

Ah. Well, here is what I recall from own ancient experience:

I went to University of Washington in Seattle. The first year I lived on campus in a dorm. This was a good choice for me as I made friends and didn't have to cook, clean or shop for groceries -- just study and take advantage of all the University had to offer -- like the most gorgeous library I've ever seen and concerts on campus and of course hanging out. Most people I know today think the dorms are lame but I had fun and made life-long friends. I was a working class kid from a working class neighborhood. At the U, I was surrounded by people with more money, better education and of course cuter clothes and better teeth. I knew to hold my head up and be matter of fact about my family and background -- but every week when the dorm housekeeper dropped off my clean sheets I was astonished. I recall always thanking her and I also recall she dusted my room every week. She didn't do that for everyone! Good manners (like I know your family taught you) will go as far as good teeth and cute clothes when making new friends. I did what my mama always told me to do, which is be yourself and remember the Golden Rule and so on.

It was possible to make healthy choices in the dining hall. There was always salad and fruit and veggies. College was the first time I ever saw a steamed veggie. (My mother cooked the veggies about as long as she cooked the meat: till it was long past done and all the flavor was cooked out.) I remember asking the server what they put in the broccoli to make it bright green. Of course there was ice cream and cake and bread pudding and candy machines in the hallway and soda pop everywhere. I understand now dormies have refrigerators and toasters and microwaves. The crap will always be there and it will often look really good. No news there. Choices; we're all making choices.

My school had a huge campus meaning great distances between classes walked at a very brisk pace. and there was a wonderful pool and exercise facility, better than any health club you could ever afford to join. There was swimming and canoeing and Friday night roller skating (with rock music and the lights turned down), and bowling and tennis and rowing and and and.

Back in my day, gym classes were required. That first year I took fencing (the most exquisite muscle soreness I have ever experienced) and swimming. It turns out there's always something to learn. Along with all the brisk walking, there was no "Freshman 15" on this girl. Fact is I weighed 135 (5'4") then but of course thought I was fat and spent all those years cursing my body for not looking like Twiggy. I weep as I recall that body, that smooth skin, that thick hair. Ah well, a girl has her memories.

Hey, good luck! It was fun remembering all this. You are standing at a cross road. Enjoy the journey.

I have an atypical experience, I waited to go back to school until I had a family, and don't bother much with the social aspect, but I can say that between studies/work/my family I gained weight in the beginning because I was just trying to get by with my food choices - lots of easy, unhealthy stuff.

These days I make a point to make healthier decisions, I try to bring little snacks with me to nibble in between classes if it's going to be a long day so I'm not ravenous at the end of it and scarfing everything in sight.

ETA: You'll be going to school not far from me, I'm in western NC right now, but in the next year or two am hoping to transfer to UNCW.

If you live in a dorm, take the stairs every time instead of the elevators. Walk briskly to class. Make good choices if you eat in the cafeteria. Remember that it is most likely institutional frozen and reheated food so it will be loaded with fat and sodium. Like someone else said, alcohol and late night fast food is one of the biggest problems in the freshman 15. Good luck!

So I got accepted into my dream college. ECU. I want to major in nutrition and athletic training. (: My questions are:
1) What is college life like?
2) How do I avoid the "freshman 15"?
3) Tips on getting in shape BEFORE college?
4) How can I make friends and find like-minded people?

First, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

1. College life is different at every college. For me, I loved it so much I now work at my alma matter, love it. I got to take a variety of classes in all different areas: math, physics, chemistry (okay, didn't love this one so much), theater, philosophy, religion, psychology, it was all fascinating to me. I was involved in so many activities. My college offered had an "international cafe" dining option at least twice a week, so I was exposed to new foods. I made friends from so many different backgrounds and locations. I was able to figure out who I was as a person separate from my family. College can be whatever you want it to be.

However, don't lose sight of your ultimate goal: graduating from college with a degree (and a clean student record). Talk with your academic adviser early on. If you don't know what you want to major in yet, take your freshman English, and a few "Intro do ____" courses your first year. For example, if you're thinking about something in human services like education, take an Intro to Ed, Intro to Social Work, Intro to Psych (for a counseling degree later on), and then something totally unrelated such as Intro to Bio (sooner or later you'll need a science course).

Also, it's not a race, usually you have to stay full time (which is usually 4 classes, or 12-13 hours), which is what I recommend for your first and last two semesters. That last semester when you are applying for jobs and/or grad school, you don't want to have to juggle 6+ classes to graduate "on time". Talk with the college and see if you can take summer classes either at ECU or a community college. I also encourage students in their very last year, to save some "easy" courses, like PE, or a few electives. Those last few major courses are usually HARD, you don't want to be taking 5 HARD classes at once. Now, if you're taking 1 HARD class, and 3-4 easy to moderate classes, you'll be less stressed, especially do this your last semester.

2. I actually lost weight at college (I went away overweight), because I scheduled my classes really far apart. I was placed in the farthest dorm from the main campus, about 0.9 miles to breakfast and my 8am class, which was close to my 9am class, but then .9 miles back to my 10 am class. Then I had a break. Then one afternoon class. Then .9 miles back to my dorm. And finally .9 miles back to the dining hall. LOTS of walking, and the weight fell off. My senior year, I lived about a mile off campus, with a 8am and 9am class, and then a 3pm class every day but Friday. So that was 4 miles of walking 4 days a week, minimum. (Student parking was awful.)

On top of that, I took a PE course almost every semester, just because they were free, and fun, and fairly easy (i.e. GPA booster). I did weight training, yoga, several different types of dance (folk, international, historical), and aerobics.

Alcohol was never an issue for me because I was underage for my undergraduate career (lots of dual enrollment credits), and alcohol violations DO go on your permanent college record, so future employers might find out about that. There are so many ways to have fun in college without alcohol, like late night movie marathons with your friends. The 10pm runs to Sheetz for a soft pretzel during the week before finals (not super healthy) when everyone is trying to finish the final assignments for courses. Club activities. Visiting pet stores to play with the puppies. Participating in college sponsored events, like the professional protocol dinner, college dances/parties, holiday celebrations, the fall festival, convocation ceremonies, awards dinners, etc. pay attention to the college calendar, and you will never run out of things to do.

3. Getting in shape before college, just move more, and limit junk food.

4. For making friends you should get involved. Most colleges have a club fair in the first couple of weeks of the fall semester starting, GO TO THAT. Talk to people representing the clubs that seem interesting. Attend the first meeting to get a feel for the group. Attend the open student government/senate meetings so you know what's going on at the school. If you do really well in math or English, after your first semester, find out what it takes to be a tutor. As you progress in your major, look into being a TA. Become an admissions ambassador. I did two years at a community college before transferring to a four year school for my junior and senior years. During those last two years I was: a math tutor (both years), a religion tutor for international students, senior class vice president, on the judicial board, a club treasurer (for two different clubs), a leader for one of the dance clubs (did that both years), I TA'ed for a PE course, a math course, and my Ethics prof.

Don't get pregnant.

First... congrats. One thing i'd add on to the advice re. keeping up with the reading that I told my friends daughter when she headed off to college... the low level gen ed courses will likely be more difficult due to their being very general. You get a lot of info thrown at you in a semester. I had a prof. actually tell the class that if someone can't get through the general classes, then they don't belong in college. Get past that & once you're in your area of interest you'll do fine.

The college experience all depends on the college and the person, so that would be more difficult to give an idea of (plus my 1st trip to higher education was quite a while ago). I wouldn't worry too much about meeting people; i'm sure there are a number of clubs and the like. Walk wherever and whenever possible and avoid temptation (ie. late night pizza and beer) and you can avoid the freshman 14 (I gained 4 my first year, then i started hitting the parties).

Good luck! :happy:

So I got accepted into my dream college. ECU. I want to major in nutrition and athletic training. (: My questions are:
1) What is college life like?
2) How do I avoid the "freshman 15"?
3) Tips on getting in shape BEFORE college?
4) How can I make friends and find like-minded people?

You should have plenty of time to workout and plenty of facilities to workout in. Just make good choices at dining facilities. Lean protein and fruits and veggies.

When Theodore Roosevelt went off to college, his father told him:
Take care of your morals first, your health second, and then worry about your studies.
I think that was pretty good advice.

lol be yourself
wait for fate to happen and lead u to ur friends
dont eat boxed mac n cheese or ramon noodles everyday..
play a sport lol