freshman year experience essay

College Essay Tips for First-Gen Students

tl;dr: Writing a first-gen student essay can be a daunting task, but it's an amazing opportunity to showcase your personality and be the host of your own immersive world. Start by choosing a challenge you have faced as a first-gen student and then outline why it was significant, what you learned, and how others can learn from it. Make sure to captivate your audience with a strong introduction, add immersive descriptions, and talk about your future in the conclusion. Don't forget to ask for help from teachers and peers to edit your essay for grammar and feedback!

What is a First-Generation Student?

A first-generation student is someone who is the first generation in their family to attend a 4-year college or university. This can encompass many different types of students from diverse backgrounds.  While some of these students' families may have been living in the United States for a long time, others may have been born in the U.S. to immigrant parents 👪 or a naturalized American citizen.

For more information about first-gen students, check out this article from CollegeVine !

What is a First-Gen Student Essay?

A first-generation student essay is different from a regular college essay because the reader wants to hear about the struggles you experience as a first-gen student. First-gen essays are mostly found in scholarship prompts but can be used as your personal essay on the Common or Coalition Application. Being that these prompts are found in scholarships, not all first-gens are required to write them! The prompts tend to follow the guideline of “describe a challenge you have faced as a result of being a first-gen student.” First-gen essays allow you to describe the aspects of your life that have been challenged due to being a first-gen and how those obstacles strengthened 💪 your spirit; in this essay, you have the chance to highlight your culture first hand.

Although these are not first-gen student essays, reading these sample essays can help you understand essay structure and brainstorm essay topics !

How to Structure Your First-Gen Student Essay

Most of the time, first-gen essays are found in scholarship prompts, meaning that other students might face the same struggles as you. What’s important to remember 💭is how you flourished despite those struggles or moments, how the lessons learned have altered your future, and how you can use your growth to benefit others. This essay is more than an “essay”; it's an opportunity to exhibit your personality and be the host of your own immersive world the reader will want to come back to. It’s your moment to pull a Gatsby, throw an elaborate party to win the heart of Daisy–even if you die at the end 👀, at least the party holds your memory.  

The first step in developing your essay is choosing your tribulation or a moment of struggle in your life that has stayed with you. In an outline 📝, describe why this event was significant, what you learned, how others can learn from this, and how you might have approached the situation differently. These questions will get you thinking, and hopefully, you can produce at least five solid ideas. From those thoughts, you can cross some moments out.

During this process, it is essential to remember 🧠 that every moment you experienced has value. Crossing out a moment on a list doesn’t mean it’s being crossed out of your life; these moments have made you strong and better prepared for your future. You know you have chosen the right moment when you can write a “novel long” 📖 description of it; however, if the key lesson you learned is omitted from your “novel,” try again.

Now that you have a topic, it is time to captivate the reader. Just like in every English class, you need a strong opening statement! Your essay can be well written but a waste if there’s no eye-catching, breath-holding, heart-racing 😯 intro. This is probably the most important and equally tricky aspect of your essay, so you should designate a decent amount of time and attention to your introduction. You might not get it on the first try, but it’s ok! That is why the delete ❎ key exists.

Once you have your intro, it's time for your essay’s body, meat, and party. Your reader is your guest and if you don’t have the “perfect” theme, guests, food, music, party favors, they’re going to leave unsatisfied eventually. Although you might have all these party 🎉 plans in your head, they aren’t executed in the “real world” until you make it real! In this step, you describe your story, add immersive descriptions, make the reader feel as though they are living your struggles–the highs and the lows included. Don’t leave them wanting a cake slice 🍰. Although this is your opportunity to write a “sob story,” remember that what will make you stand out is the growth you have learned, achieved, and will continue to follow. How did your growth benefit you, your community, your future? Although you are creating a “perfect” party, you still want the reader to come back to celebrate 🙌 with you again.

As with all parties, your essay must come to an end, so make sure the guests are leaving satisfied! To close off your essay, talk about your future. Don’t stray from the lessons and personal growth 🌱 you have achieved. Talk about how you will follow through and use what you learned to uplift and inspire others. You’re the host of the party, and you always want your guests to leave on a positive note.

Tips to Remember

Continuing with the party analogy, although other people might host the same party, it’s imperative to put your own 💃 spin on it. You and another host might have the same theme, but what do you have that they don’t? These essays allow you to show off your personality and your challenges in a manner of different ways.

Being a first-gen student myself, I understand the difficulty in opening up and revealing your tribulations, pain, and vulnerability. However, readers are eager to read about your life–writing a first-gen essay allows you to present a personal glimpse of who you are 🤩.

It’s important to understand that good writing is not only about grammar; many first-gen students learned English as their second language. What's important is the effectiveness in delivering your ideas clearly and being able to communicate 🗣 effectively. After you write your essay, ask a teacher or a peer to edit your essay in order to better your grammar or receive comments that better strengthen your essay.

During this entire writing process, don't listen to the pessimistic voice 🙊 in your head, no matter how persistent it may be. That voice inside you roots from the unnecessary burden of centuries before you. This process might make you question your life, value, or identity, but what matters is that after every struggle you've marched on with your pride intact and spirits high, shaping who you are today. This may be a stressful moment, but you owe it to yourself to step back and relax 🧘. After all, the best parties always have a host that is enjoying themselves as well. Happy writing!  

For more tips about college essay writing, watch this video !

Next, check out these great TikToks and tweets for advice about the college application process!

Guide Outline

Related content, first-gen: preparing for the college application, what extracurriculars should high school sophomores do, college checklist: what to accomplish in your junior year, 5 goals for your freshman year of high school, 10 goals for your freshman year of high school.

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The Freshman Experience: What I Learned From My First Year in College

Becoming a freshman in college is one of the biggest transitions a young adult will make. Now that I have completed my freshman year, I have some more insight on the differences of college and high school, and I have also learned some things along the way.

The differences of College: The biggest and sometimes most overwhelming difference in college life, is that you are solely responisble for your own education. Sure you should be responsible in highschool; however, college is a whole nother level. One doesn’t neccassrily have to get a college degree, but it is ultimately your decision to attend school, get a job or have a gap year. Instead of your parents, older peers, or teachers telling you to finish highschool or pay attention to your educatiom, it is you that has to motivate yourself to get a degree. You also have to proactive when paying tuition, it’s not something you can just blow off, if you want to take classes then you have to pay. You are also responsible for keeping track of your GE requirments and choosing classes. Instead of a counselor choosing classes for you, you have to pick your own, and decide what is best to take. That is also the hardest part; the whole proess of making a schedule and finding classes that would work for your specific time slots, and making sure you have enough time in between classes. You also have to have copious amounts of back up classes ready at hand, in case they fill up during registration. Suffice to say it is a bit stressful to have to monitor your desired classes to see if they are being filled up, and the following dialouge comes in mind during this procedure,”No, what do you mean Politics 200, Section 1 is waitlisted already? It’s only the first day of registration. People stop filling up my classes! People better leave room for me! Geology 104 is filled, now my whole schedule is going to go up in smoke. What alternative is there?!” Admist scheduling differences in college, the course work is also slightly changed. Instead of having multiple homework assigments and free points for study guides in high school classes, your grades in lectures almost always come down to three or four tests and a final, and some extra credit if your lucky. This not only adds more pressure to doing well, but it eliminates the premise of acing all of your other assignments and blowing off the tests. Even though, I personally never did this, it is a bit worrysome when your grade for instance, all boils down to a few tests. And lastly, a major difference is that you are more free to do whatever you want. Sure you can get away with skiping class more easiluy in college, but if you do miss it, then you miss out on important information and lecture notes. All in all, with more freedom comes more responsibility, since your own choices will impact your experience. 

What I learned: Professors are not as intimidating and impersonal as some in-coming freshman may think. While I have had some professors that are on more on the strict side, I have had only good experiences so far. Even if they are strict, it is because that really feel passionate about teaching you the topic they love. And if they weren’t passionate about what they were teaching then it would be a pretty monotomous class. And despite have a large class, you can still get help from your professor, and get to know more about them. Too bad highschool teachers do not have office hourse, because that is a really effecitve way to get help, and seek clarification. All of the professors that I have had so far, have been so intersting, funny, and all around fair; which is quite refreshing, since some high school teachers can come down with a bit of senioritos too. In general, I think I have learned more then I have learned in high school so far. Now I’m not discrediting my highschool teachers, they were all wonderful in their own way, yet the classes seem so much more enriching. Perhaps because I’m paying 300 dollars per unit. Nevertheless, I often come out of my classes thinking, “Wow, I have learned so much I feel so much more enriched and eduacted now.” It is nice to just soak those experiences up like a sponge. And lastly, I learned that joining a club or organization is key to making new friends and feeling like your really apart of your college. In joining a club or a study group you meet so many intetesting and diverse people, that you never thought you would be friends with. However, it is nice to have that little change. Since I was apart of my highschool’s French club and the school newspaper,  The Pony Express I missed being involved in something. But once I joined HerCampus, I’ve been able to get myself involved, and make some friends and gain some new experiences along the way, which college is all about.

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The La Salle Falconer

The high school experience: a personal reflection.

Filled with growth and life lessons, the high school experience has been a journey worth the climb.

Anna Waldron , Editor May 4, 2022

High school is arguably the most transformative time of a person’s life. My own experience has been filled with more memories, laughter, stress, and — most importantly, growth — than I ever could have anticipated when I began. 

The lessons I have learned about myself, about others, and about the world in the last four years have shaped who I am today, and that person is far from the naive 14-year-old girl who walked through those glass doors of La Salle nearly four years ago. I was oblivious to the overwhelming emotional distress that I would feel when I started high school. 

In some ways, it feels like an everyday battle. 

As a freshman, the struggle began with adjusting to what felt like a whole new world. I was desperately trying to make friends, considering I had only one. I never knew what it was like to feel alone in a school with so many people. I felt like I had to act a certain way or be a certain person in order to maintain a basic conversation with people in my classes or on my soccer team. 

Every day, my head was filled with an overwhelming concern about how I could manage to make myself look like someone with more friends than I actually had at the time. 

I remember constantly thinking, “I’ll start enjoying this at some point, right?” 

The truth is, I did. 

To anyone who is feeling the way I once felt, please know that those feelings do go away. By the end of my freshman year and into the next, I enjoyed myself. School wasn’t particularly challenging, and I was spending my weekends having fun with my friends and going to basketball games and sleepovers. I had finally created a routine and felt mostly content with my life, aside from daunting thoughts in my head telling me it was all a lie.

I think that’s something that all teenagers deal with. It comes with the age, the questions, “do my friends actually like me?” or “am I enough?” — “do people worry about me or have I tricked myself into thinking they do?” 

I continued to move throughout my sophomore year feeling a new level of comfort with my life. Then, the pandemic hit. 

The original two weeks of quarantine turned into two months, and then two years. The predictable high school experience I had become accustomed to was no longer my reality, and instead, high school turned into an atypical rollercoaster of isolation from all the essential parts of the experience. 

To say it was hard would be an understatement, but after the initial forced adjustment to a remote life, I was forced to be content without relying on others.

Without having to fear other people’s judgments of me or having to conceal myself in social situations to appear more “acceptable,” I gained independence and confidence within myself that I didn’t know existed.

Then finally — after over a year — the long-awaited return to school arrived. 

I rejoiced in my ability to thrive academically again and I was so relieved to feel like I was really learning. I reconnected with my friends, ate lunch outside, took finals, and then — after a blur of two months — the year ended. My junior year flew by like no other. 

When senior year rolled around, I felt out of place. I couldn’t imagine a world where I belonged to the oldest class at the school. In the beginning, it was odd getting used to, but after a few weeks, it was nothing but a thrill as I planned what the next weekend alongside my friends would hold. 

My friendships were flourishing and I was becoming closer and closer with people I had never really gotten to know. 

Unlike the three years prior, my senior year has felt like a stereotypical high school experience, and I could not be more grateful for it. 

I always thought of myself as someone who was above enjoying things like attending soccer games, getting ready for homecoming with my friends, singing karaoke in someone’s basement, or going to a trampoline park for an 18-year-old’s birthday party. 

The truth is, I’m not. 

I regret that I spent so long depriving myself of the things I love in order to fit a narrative that I created for myself. 

I love that I will graduate high school happier and more fulfilled than I ever felt during my other three years here. It feels like everything has finally come full circle, after all these years of feeling so alone. 

So yes, it was transformative. I am finally content with the person I have become and the life I have chosen to lead. I wouldn’t be the same without La Salle and I wouldn’t be the same without the people I’ve gotten to know here. 

I know that I will look back on my high school experience here, not feeling critical of the insecurities I have felt, but feeling grateful for the memories and lessons that came regardless of them. 

Senior Anna Waldron has lived in Portland, Oregon her whole life, in the same neighborhood as nine members of her extended family.  Outside of The...

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College and Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted

What’s it like to be a college freshman during a pandemic students share their stories.

December 22, 2020

The california student journalism corps.

Itzela Tafolla

“i’m missing out on actually meeting new people and having the college experience”.

Taralina Paulo

“i’m kind of scared for next semester because that is going to be 15 units again”.

Robyn Price

“i thought it would be running into a lot of people who you’d know and making friends almost every day”.

“People want to keep it to themselves, at least in the class environment. So there isn’t much conversation.”

Lezette Flores

“i’ve developed depression and anxiety and it’s been very difficult.”.

Michael Loyola

“the filipino club has united me with other college students with the same cultural background as me.”.

Sammy Lemus

“with assigned groups in some of my courses i got chances to bond with my peers.”.

Gladys Ocampo

“i want to take a gap year if we still can’t return to campus, because it’s not really the same learning”.

As an incoming college freshman, Itzela Tafolla imagined California State University, Long Beach would be a fun and exciting and safe place to be. She hoped that her campus community would be welcoming. And bonus: She would get away from home and spread her wings in her own way and fashion — for the first time in her tender life.

“I was looking forward to the whole campus life,” Tafolla said. “Finding where my classes were, meeting new people, getting to meet the professors and wandering around the campus.”

Due to the pandemic, her college dream has a different reality.

Unlike previous freshmen , Tafolla started her first college semester at home, staring at an unfriendly computer screen, waiting for her professor to lecture from within the pixelated confines of Zoom.

Students like Tafolla were disappointed when the pandemic forced Cal State Long Beach — along with the entire 23-campus CSU system — into distance learning.

“I think I’m missing out on actually meeting new people and having the college experience,” said Tafolla. “This is definitely not the same.”

During the summer when Tafolla committed to attending Long Beach State, the administration did not provide a definite answer whether in-person instruction would resume during the fall semester. Tafolla crossed her fingers and enrolled. Soon after, she learned that classes would be virtual.

While some of Taffola’s former classmates from high school decided to pause their college plans, the 18-year-old kinesiology major decided to pursue her higher education goals anyway.

“It’s something that’s good for me whether it’s online or face-to-face,” Tafolla said. “Regardless of the circumstances, I still want to go through with my plans of attending college.”

Tafolla says that she wants to finish her undergraduate studies within four years. After she receives her undergraduate degree, she plans to earn her master’s in physical therapy and eventually begin a career as a pediatric physical therapist.

Even though she hasn’t met anyone in person, Tafolla has still made a few virtual connections. She was able to join the CSULB First Gen Club, an organization dedicated to supporting students who are the first in their family to attend college.

She signed up with hopes of getting more familiar with the university and making new friends. It helped that the current club president is an old high school friend.

She liked the prospect of “getting to meet new people that are kinda on the same boat as you, lets you know that you aren’t alone and you have people out there who are willing to go above and beyond to make sure that you’re feeling comfortable and welcome into Cal State Long Beach.”

The club requires that members attend at least two meetings per semester and meet with an academic advisor a minimum of three times. This semester, the club has hosted workshops focusing on time management, motivation and online learning and strategies for online exams.

“Being a first-generation student, you don’t really have a mentor,” said Tafolla. “In this club, they provide you with a mentor and an advisor. It’s really great to have those. It feels really welcoming.” The advisor helped her make sure she is taking the classes needed to graduate.

In addition to club resources, Tafolla has taken advantage of virtual tutoring and library services.

As for classes, Tafolla has had her internet crash a few times resulting in her missing some of her online classes.

“Mentally, I feel like it was a struggle and it still is a struggle,” said Tafolla. “But overall, I think I’m doing pretty fine.”

— Iman Palm

Taralina Paulo has dreams of teaching young children. The 18-year-old freshman at California State University, Dominguez Hills plans on earning her bachelor’s degree in Child Development. She likes to say that her decision was “relatively easy” for her considering she’s one of nine, and she regularly babysits for her family. When Paulo is not doing homework or logged into class, she’s helping her mom around the house or watching the kids.

Add financial and technological problems to the mix and it creates a potentially unproductive environment. With her other siblings logging onto the internet at home for their middle school and high school classes at the same hours, connecting to her college courses became a problem for Paulo. As a result, Paulo missed classes and ended up behind in her coursework within several weeks.

Paulo says that her biggest challenges with online learning has been communicating effectively with her professors, dealing with long homework hours and learning to navigate the ins and outs of college.

“I actually dropped one of my classes because of the coursework, and I was having trouble with keeping up with it because I have the tendency to procrastinate,” Paulo said.

Due to the worsening pandemic in California, Paulo planned to spend the fall semester learning and studying online. But that didn’t dampen her motivation to continue her education despite the fact that some of her peers were putting college off or dropping out.

“I’m a second-gen American and I’m the first one of my siblings to go to college,” Paulo said. “So, I feel like it kind of motivates me to keep on pushing through even though it’s all online and I just want to show all my siblings still in school that even though I’m in college I’m still here and still learning, too.”

With her first semester completed, Paulo is starting to gain a better sense of how to navigate college — from registration to coursework to communicating better with her professors. Part of that is because she’s found it easier to connect with her academic advisor through Zoom.

Paulo’s spring semester, however, is stacked with another 15-unit course load. That’s because she says that she remains intent on making it to graduation sooner than later.

“I thought that taking on that bigger load would help me to continue on and stay on track and push me through it,” Paulo said.

As her first semester comes to a close, Paulo has more of a sense of what college culture is, how to navigate it, but still has reservations for the next semester. To build stronger connections to her campus and keep herself motivated, Paulo said she decided to find a community or club that represents her Samoan heritage. She is considering signing up for the Oceania club.

“I’m kind of scared for next semester because that is going to be 15 units again,” Price said. “But I think I got it.”

— Taylor Helmes

Robyn Price is blunt about her college life situation and the bottom-line is she is having a less than exciting freshman year.

Price, 18, is majoring in Liberal Studies at Sonoma State University and says that she anticipated she’d be on campus, attending school events, meeting strangers who would start off as dorm roommates and eventually become lifelong friends.

“I thought it would be running into a lot of people who you’d know and making friends almost every day, like there would just be all different kinds of events going on,” Price said.

Despite attempts by the university, clubs and organizations to host virtual events and mixers, Price says her freshman year has been a real let down.

The extent of Price’s campus life involves chatting with classmates occasionally on Zoom during lectures and a few group chats with classmates to talk about classwork and assignments. One study group she found interesting was for a course called The Human Enigma, a class for her Liberal Studies program.

“There’s a girl in my class who likes to read aloud, so some people will form a reading group, and they’ll read the books together over Zoom,” Price said.

The group formed after the professor announced to the class that a student was willing to host a virtual study group to read and discuss the many books they would have to read throughout the semester.

Price says that she figured taking a 12-unit course load would allow her to spend hours outside of class reading, writing and staying up late for projects. Instead, she works from her desk in her bedroom at her parent’s house. Making her more stressed out is the fact that her full-time student status was also a requirement for Price to receive her scholarship money and CalVet Fee Waiver, which provides a tuition-free education at the CSU and the other state public post-secondary colleges and universities.

“I had to be fully enrolled for the waiver that my dad gets for being a disabled veteran,” Price said. “So I get free tuition to a CSU or UC which is really nice.”

It helps her to stay focused on her plan to graduate in four years and then go on to earn teaching credentials.

“I will graduate Spring 2024 as long as I stay on track,” Price said. “Which I really hope and plan to do.”

After graduating from high school this past summer, Ian Wong couldn’t wait to start his new life at the University of California, Berkeley.

As soon as he possibly could, he packed up his things and moved from South Pasadena to Berkeley with high school friends who also were accepted into Cal. They got an apartment together and Wong enrolled as an environmental science major, starting his first semester with 5 classes.

He said he tried to keep the load light with economics, environmental history and philosophy courses. He took 14 units this fall semester and is planning for 17 next semester. This hasn’t given him much time out of classes to form a group of friends or connect with classmates.

“People want to keep it to themselves, at least in the class environment. So there isn’t much conversation. And there isn’t much exchanging of information. It just seems like people kind of want to finish class and, like, leave,” Wong said.

Wong added that he missed the opportunities to have the side conversations in class where friendships typically start.

With little sense of community in classes, he turned to outdoor activities that the campus offered, joining a rock climbing group to stay active.

Five days a week, Wong would head out with a small group to climb. His schedule consisted of a couple classes and one club meeting, both online, as he ended up with way more downtime.

“The day is just empty,” Wong said. “I would have been watching TV. I felt like climbing was less wasteful than just kind of sitting on my behind.”

Wong says that the regular workouts have offered him a way to clear his mind as he remains concerned about the coronavirus. Taking advantage of the campus’ health programs, Wong took the coronavirus test multiple times and got his flu shot just to be sure of his safety.

Wong and his roommates have  repeatedly tested negative.

“ In the mental health department, it’s been more of a struggle,” Wong said. “I don’t know. I’m not doing too great.”

He blames his off days on his lack of structure at school and having to attend Zoom classes that tend to fuel his tendency to procrastinate since he knows he has the ability to zone out and watch recorded classes later. Wong said that taking notes in-person was easier to do. But pausing and writing things down made classes feel twice as long for him this past semester.

“It feels like I’m kind of wasting my semester. Like I had a lot in mind and then it just didn’t deliver,” Wong said.

Even though this past semester isn’t finished yet, Wong says that he has already begun to dread doing another semester online. Due to the lease for his apartment, he said he’d have to stay in Berkeley and finish out his first year. Wong added that he wouldn’t know what else to do if he wasn’t in school.

On the bright side, Wong says that some of his professors were very accommodating by canceling classes during exams and leaving online exams open all day for students to take at their leisure.

Wong is on track to finish in four years and is even considering taking up a second major in psychology. He said he felt fortunate in his experience with guidance counselors, unlike his roommate who emailed his counselor four times without response.

While he anticipates a harder semester, Wong said he thinks his grades should hold strong. By the end of this semester, he expects around a 3.5 GPA.

Wong said he just misses personal connections. Even reconsidering his living situation: “Maybe I should have chosen the dorm option? But it seemed really lonely as well because you’ve only got one room and you’re limited to where you can go.”

Despite his rock climbing group, he wished he had the simple things like “talking to people in class and forming study groups.”

— Joshua Letona

Like many of her friends, Lezette Flores looked forward to attending her first college semester in-person. But the fact that the pandemic derailed those initial plans didn’t stop Flores from enrolling as a freshman at California Polytechnic State University to study public affairs.

“My goal is to one day work for or develop a non-profit agency that helps guide underprivileged kids by offering tutoring, school supplies, food and counseling services,” Flores said. But as she worked toward that goal, Flores expected to take part in plenty of Cal Poly fun and spirit.

“I thought I was going to join a sorority,” she said. “I thought I was going to join the cheer team.”

Instead, she says, her first semester has been a big flop. There has been little fun, no cheer and she has found in way more difficult to keep up with her online studies than she ever expected.

“I’ve developed depression and anxiety and it’s been very difficult,” Flores said. She finds it hard to build relationships with other students or bond with professors online, adding that it’s been very hard for her to “reach through the computer” and ask for help with coursework or even navigating the university website.

Since the semester began, her mother has become sick, and she has realized that she must start working full-time soon to help the family make financial ends meet.

“But since what happened with my mom, I’m going to have to move back to take care of my brothers, which is why I may not go to school spring semester,” said Flores, who expects to work full time to save money for them.

Finishing this semester has been challenging for Flores. She believes that she is failing some of her classes, “even the ones that I really try my best on,” she said.

Her struggles with her studies have been bad enough, but the lack of campus connection deepens her despair to the point she doesn’t even want to show pride in her college by wearing a sweatshirt or putting up something in her room or on her car with the school logo. “I feel like I haven’t been as involved with my school to put the sticker on. Like a little branding sticker,” she says. “I feel like I’m not worthy of it yet.”

Flores admits that the notion of dropping out has crossed her mind more than once. “It’s beating me up,” she says about college life during the pandemic.

When asked if she will return after this semester, Flores said “Depending on my family situation. Fingers crossed, at least by next fall.”

— Kilmer Salinas

Michael Loyola 

“After graduating from high school, I was expecting a whole new lifestyle rather than following a strict 5 day-a-week school schedule,” said Michael Loyola, a California State University Los Angeles freshman and nursing major.

The Cal State LA virtual orientation helped him get an idea of what to expect from college.

“Ideally, I would have wanted it to be in person, yet the information provided through the speaker and orientation leader was beneficial for my start at Cal State LA,” the freshman said.

Loyola decided to join the Cal State LA Filipino Club, Kalahi, to connect with students and the campus.

“The Filipino club has united me with other college students with the same cultural background as me,” he said.

During the virtual club meetings, the members learn about everything from current events related to the Philippines to the making of traditional dishes from the homeland. They also play online games like Among Us and Skribble.IO.

“I personally wish that these meetings were not virtual for a better engagement and connection with everyone else,” Loyola said. “But even with our current circumstances, I have enjoyed being in the Filipino Club.”

Online learning hasn’t affected Loyola’s academics. He says that he is currently a full-time student taking 15 units and plans to take 17 units next semester. He says the workload is very similar to what was assigned to him in high school.

“The time management and prioritization that came with balancing school and extra-curricular activities is what prepared me for the college workload,” he said.

He has met with guidance counselors, who have helped him pick his spring 2021 schedule and answered questions he had about the nursing program.

“Once on-campus classes resume,” Loyola said, “I will genuinely have and feel that college experience that is different from high school.

— Catherine Valdez

Sammy Lemus 

“I was looking forward to making new friends and starting fresh at a new environment, especially since I didn’t like my high school experience,” said Sammy Lemus, a freshman and pre-child development major at California State University Los Angeles (pictured above with her younger sibling whom she helps with homework).

Lemus describes her high school experience as chaotic because of the personal drama among classmates and the physical fights that broke out during lunch or after school all too often.

Making friends during distance learning has been difficult, Lemus says, but Zoom breakout rooms and group projects have helped offer opportunities meet new classmates if you are open to it.

“I have found new friends,” she said. “At first it was hard to make them, but with assigned groups in some of my courses I got chances to bond with my peers.”

Lemus has also met new friends through a college-based app called Loopchat.

She does say that there have been times when she felt like dropping out because of how difficult online learning has been. Plus, Lemus had to learn to focus on her six online courses while helping her little brother, who is in kindergarten.

For now, Lemus figures the best way for her to bond with her campus and classmates will be through social media. She has begun following Instagram pages like the Child Development Association and a Latino student organization called MEChA CSULA.

However, Lemus is quick to say that she is considering taking a gap year if her college experience remains remote.

The only time she got to see the Cal State LA campus was when she went to pick up her student ID.

Her sister, who is a fellow CSULA student, showed her around the empty campus.

“She showed me the major buildings,” Lemus said, “but we couldn’t go into the buildings on account of everything is locked.”

As long as she stuck to her recipe of studying hard and playing hard, Gladys Ocampo, an 18-year-old freshman studying Marine Biology at California State University, Northridge, expected her foray into college life would even surpass the stellar time she had in high school.

Less than a year ago, Ocampo attended high school at Sotomayor Learning Academy in Los Angeles, where she was president of the Associated Student Body and an active member of various clubs and social justice organizations like Roots for Peace. She says that being heavily involved in high school life is what made her experience memorable.

“The best parts were interacting with the student body,” Ocampo said, “by attending school events, meeting new people and making the school better.”

Ocampo was initially excited to attend CSUN because her older sister graduated from the same university in 2019, and a lot of her family were proud alumni of the university, as well.

But nobody could prepare her for the bizarre freshman year she went on to experience this past semester due to Covid-19.

“When it comes to the transition from high school to college, I always knew it would be a different environment,” Ocampo said. “But with online learning it is more distant and it’s made it harder to get in touch with professors.”

Another big reason that Ocampo decided to attend CSUN was because of the tuition cost was lower compared to other California state universities. However, she says now that she may have made the wrong choice. “If I would’ve known about the pandemic, I probably would’ve gone to community college for my general education courses,” Ocampo said.

Proper time management has become Ocampo’s biggest struggle during her first semester online, she said.

“Most of my classes are online. No professor. No Zoom meetings. So, it’s just weekly assignments and learning on my own.” Ocampo said. “But I am able to get things done.”

Still, Ocampo says that motivation is a big issue and has had a lot of “up-and-downs” since the semester started.

“Sometimes it feels like you’re just repeating the whole day over and over again,” Ocampo said. But as her semester is almost over, she has tried and been successful at finding the positive side of things.

“Virtual learning can give you time to look into yourself,” she said. “Find new hobbies and figure yourself out.”

Ocampo had dreams of living in the dorms and hanging out with classmates. Instead she remains stuck at her parent’s home. “There’s a lot of distractions here. You have to juggle family, school work, pets and other things,” she said. “I had plans to join a sorority and the Environmental Club, but now since we are online. It put my plans on hold a bit.”

Like many students, Ocampo wants to enjoy the campus life she dreamed about while she was in high school but also deals with feeling nervous about having to physically return to campus someday. “I don’t know how to go on from this because my first year was online, my sophomore year will now be more like my actual freshman year.”

Ocampo said that CSUN has been consistent about sending out email announcements about opportunities to connect to others on campus via online activities. She appreciates the effort but so far the experience has been underwhelming compared to high school. Nonetheless, Ocampo says it’s her responsibility to at least try.

“If you don’t take those resources and don’t reach out you’ll most likely won’t meet new people,” she said.

Ocampo holds onto her plans of possibly making a run for student government when campus life returns. Yet, she finds herself increasingly contemplating the idea of taking time off from college.

“I want to take a gap year if we still can’t return to campus,” Ocampo said. “Because it’s not really the same learning, so I may use that time to focus on myself.”

— Brenda Verano

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Gerardo Herrera 4 years ago 4 years ago

I really enjoyed this article and the stories and can relate to them a lot. 10/10 would read again.

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Articles & Advice > Student Life > Articles

Helpful Advice for First-Years From College Students Who've Been There

What better college advice can you get than from students who've experienced it? None! Here's what first-years need to know to make their lives easier.

by CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Nov 9, 2023

Originally Posted: Feb 2, 2012

It’s no secret: College isn’t easy. It never has been for anyone. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by it all, don’t stress. Anyone who has been through college has felt the same feelings you are having right now. So who better to get advice from than those people who  have  been through it? From getting involved to balancing snacking habits to finding your study zone to prioritizing fun, these college students share their essential advice for incoming undergrads so you can make sure you start your first year of college as prepared as possible.

Understand that you'll learn to adapt 

"Don’t stress out about how much extra studying and reading a student has to do in college compared to high school . Yes, in college, there is a lot more work that needs to be done, but there is also much more free time in college to do the work. The first week of entering college, enjoy becoming a college student and get a feel for what is required for each class by listening to the professor. Let the study habits and techniques come to you." — Jake Sanchez, Texas Christian University

"Don’t be afraid to be yourself! When I first started college, I was worried about finding the right group of friends who shared similar interests as me. I made a lot of new friends during my orientation days and the very first days of school. Don’t worry about making new friends; there will be a lot of people that share similar interests." — Victor Barcenas, Lewis University

Stick to a personal schedule

"Try to set a schedule for yourself with everything you do during the day. Include your class schedule, when you want to eat, breaks, everything! It takes discipline at first, but it keeps you organized and soon it will become a routine."  — Isaiah Moore, Morehouse College

"Freshman year is fun, and you get to make tons of new friends, but don't forget to study and do your homework . Getting an education is the reason you're in college. Whether you're paying for college [or] you've got tons of scholarships, loans, or funds from your parents, remember that you are in college to learn things. Be safe, do your homework, and live a little. Time flies faster than you think."  — Sarah Crane, Trevecca Nazarene University

“Learn how to properly manage time. In college, you might not be in class for that long, but you will have far more work and many more responsibilities. It is important to be organized and always know what you have to do so you can properly allot time for each task. Planning things out ahead of time or creating a schedule can be very helpful. Proper time management will lead to less stress and allow more time for fun things like hanging out with friends or extracurricular activities.”  —   Andrew Hoing, Trinity University

Related: How to Manage Your Time Intentionally as a Student

Have an open mind and a good attitude

"You need to have a strong, positive, forward-thinking attitude to be successful in your college experience. From going to class with an attentive mindset to actively meeting new people to working off some stress at the gym to caring about how you present yourself to the campus community—your attitude matters."  — Katie Fritsch, Seton Hill University

"I literally looked for open doors in my residence hall and found that those who left their doors open were among the most friendly and approachable students. I started leaving my own door open whenever I could, which encouraged people to stop by and say hello. Just like keeping an open mind is important, I would suggest that a new freshman consider keeping an open door."  — Domenique Ciavattone, Stonehill College

"College is one of those opportunities in life where you can completely start over. I encourage everyone to go into college open minded, whether it comes in the form of meeting different types of people or taking a class that sounds interesting but you know nothing about."  — Jake Dodd, Ohio Wesleyan University

Get involved and follow your passions

"Definitely get involved on campus ! Looking back on my college experience, the major aspect that helped me with the transition to college from high school was getting involved in campus activities. By getting engaged in various clubs, activities, and volunteer opportunities within the campus community, many doors opened for me as a student."  — Jessica Szumski, Misericordia University

"Join those organizations as a freshman that you are passionate about, especially those that have a direct connection to academics. If you have declared a major or have a specific academic discipline in mind, look for those clubs, groups, and organizations that are linked to your field of study."  — Erica Tomaszewski, Franklin Pierce University

“Explore your interests and be open to new opportunities! Freshman year is the best time to put yourself out there and find what you love to do. Make sure you ask lots of questions and learn from your peers. I also suggest being super organized right from the start to get oriented with your new classes.”  — Katie Nunner, Ohio Wesleyan University

“Get involved, whether through a club sports team, academic club, or entertainment network. It’s the best way to meet new people. Not only will you have more things to do around campus, but you’ll also feel more a part of your college as a whole. I first got involved by joining the swim team at my school, which helped me meet a ton of new friends. I was extremely intimidated to go out for the team, but after talking to some upperclassmen prior to trying out, I felt so much more comfortable. Contrary to popular belief, upperclassmen are not out to pick on freshmen. If anything, they want them to get involved in their clubs and are there to help.” —   Sarah Beron, Roger Williams University

“I was so busy questioning myself during my freshman year at college that I missed out on opportunities to meet people and learn more about my university. I never joined an organization or a club and didn’t bother getting involved because I didn’t have the confidence that I have now. I was afraid of failure. Had I let my fear paralyze me my sophomore year as it did my freshman year, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have a passion for politics and being a leader. I wouldn’t have discovered the importance of social justice, and I certainly wouldn’t have learned about teamwork, relationships, and how to inspire people. The important thing I learned is that you have to trust yourself and your instincts and seize the moment. One small decision could lead to bigger and better things.”  — Chris Mosier, Santa Clara University

Related: How to Discover and Pursue Your Passions as a Student

Prioritize your academics

"Academics come first. Sometimes it’s hard to remember why you are really at college—everything seems so fun—but try to manage your time in an efficient way that allows for some work and play."  — Shane Miller, Lebanon Valley College

“Sometimes you just have to say no. Whether it is an invitation for dinner at the dining commons, getting coffee, or a trip to Target, these time-consuming excursions will take a toll on both your schoolwork and your wallet. While socializing during freshman year can seem especially important to establish friendships, remember that there will be more opportunities to bond with your fellow freshmen after your research paper is turned in. And guard yourself against your social media use. If you have an essay to complete or an exam to prep for, have a friend change your account password until you are finished. This will both eliminate the ability to procrastinate and give you an incentive to finish your work.”  —   Kari Vandraiss, University of Puget Sound

“Take morning classes. You may think you want to steer clear of the pre-11:00 am classes completely, but you’ll be surprised by how much more productive you are when you wake up earlier. To save yourself from total insanity, I’d suggest having a few busier days, preferably at the beginning of the week, and minimizing your Thursday and Friday classes. An added bonus is that the week feels a lot shorter. Even though it’s not a long weekend because you’re ‘doing work,’ it will feel like one. Just make sure to take classes you like; otherwise, you won’t want to wake up no matter the time. Trust me.” —   Annie Brown, Pitzer College

Be intentional when making friends

“Make as many friends as possible! You will be surprised to see how many people are so similar to you and even more surprised to see how people are totally different from you. I strongly suggest making friends with international students, because they will bring you amazing perspectives about life, and they will definitely enrich your cultural knowledge.” —   Elbin Keepanasseril, University of Tampa

“You might not find your closest group of friends on the first day, the first month, or even the first year. Good relationships take time to form, and those are the ones that last. Before coming to school my freshman year, I met a fellow Marist student online. We clicked really well and continued talking throughout the summer. At the beginning of the semester, we were incredibly close. Everyone assumed we were best friends, and for a while, it seemed that way. Unfortunately, as time passed, our personalities started to clash. Our interests collided, and we started falling apart. There were no arguments; we just drifted. I actually ended up forming stronger relationships with my roommate and neighbors from down the hall.” —   Helen Chang, Marist College

"When I started college, I never thought I would lose touch with my best high school friends. The truth is, however, it’s very easy to lose those relationships when you are miles, even states, away from each other. Stay in touch with the people you love, whether you call or Skype them once a week, or make plans to spend time together when you are all home on break. Don’t let important relationships fade."  — Nina Pierino, Hilbert College

Take care of your mental health and other needs

"Taking advantage of health and counseling services can be extremely beneficial, especially for time management, stress relief, or organization concerns. I realized about halfway through my freshman year that I was on top of my homework every night, but I missed out on relaxing with friends, calling my parents, or going on a run to clear my head. Grades are important, but your well-being is much more important in the long run."  — Kate Branstetter, Creighton University

"Take full advantage of student services like career advising, free therapy, and tutoring. Your college years are the only time in your life when you are surrounded by people wanting you to succeed and providing all the resources for you to do so."  — Amanda Creech,   Trevecca Nazarene University

Related: 5 Great Campus Resources Students Should Know About

Be smart about finances

"Here’s a scholarship hint: Keep a copy of every application that you fill out. Lots of scholarships ask the same types of questions, so you can re-use your answers. All it takes is a little change here and there, and you’ve got a solid, thought-out answer, but with half the work!"  — Chelsey Meluch, Purdue University

“ Be careful with your money . Personal finances weren’t initially an issue for me, but they caught up with me later in the year. I was able to borrow most of my books from other students, saving me some money. I had money in my bank account for going out and having fun, but that account drained more quickly than I expected. I had to pick and choose whom I wanted to go out to eat with or go to the movies with, and I couldn’t go out on a very regular basis. Near the end of the year, most people were staying in and trying to conserve what little funds they had left. I definitely fell into that category.” —   Mike Petro, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology  

"I used CLEP tests to get a year of college credit prior to graduating high school. Now I’ll graduate college in three years instead of four. Three years at a private college is a lot more affordable than four, especially since tuition tends to climb every year, so graduating early can be a solution to help curb the expense."  — Rebecca Stewart, George Fox University

Maintain your physical health

"Instead of bringing a car or relying on others for transportation or depending entirely on your feet to get around, having a bicycle for transportation, exercise, and fun right from the start is a really smart move. Frankly, there’s no better way to wake up in the morning and arrive feeling great and prepared for class. It’s even better than a cup of coffee." — Ashton Cortright, Baldwin Wallace University

"Cutting sugars and sweets out of your midnight snack options when studying for tests is a major way to keep the pounds off. Choosing to eat healthy will help you concentrate better on exams and have an active college lifestyle."  — Michele Drago, Misericordia University

"Exercising and eating right is critical to your success. When school or the roommates start to stress you out, that’s the time to bust out some push-ups, go for a run, or really just do something active. Stress is an insane force. It can take over your life. Don’t let it. Eat right, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.”  —   Damien Lazzari, Hawaii Pacific University

“Keep your room stocked with healthy, inexpensive snacks like nuts, granola bars, yogurt, fruit, or crackers with peanut butter. Eating more often, as opposed to heavily, will help keep your energy levels and metabolism high!” —   Alex Ragland, Austin College

Related: A Helpful Checklist to Manage Your Health in College

Figure out how you work and study best

“Your class schedule is probably one of the biggest changes you’ll notice at college. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too hard to adjust, and as long as you decide that you want to put aside time to study and do homework every day, you should be able to figure out your best study method pretty well. There is no one ‘right’ way to study; everyone has their own style that works best . You just have to find yours.”  —   Kristen Lear, Ohio Wesleyan University

"My key to a balanced life and academic success isn’t so much ‘time management’ as it is ‘place management.’ I can get more done in a library in 15 minutes than I can in my residence hall in two hours. When you’re distracted, you lose what you learned recently and have to start all over again. So find that special place where you can study and you’ll be more effective, more successful, and much, much less stressed!" — Ryan Price, Drake University

“When you read books and articles for class, don’t just highlight or underline what is important. Make notes to help you remember why that particular sentence or phrase was important and how it applies to the topic you are discussing. Even rephrasing and summarizing what the author has written in that sentence may help you to better understand the text. When writing a paper, do more than one draft. Have a friend edit it. Don’t be afraid to tear your first draft apart.”  — Theresa Chu, Rollins College

“Find the best study spot for you.   The library at my school has a range of spaces, from the dim, deathly quiet ‘dungeon’ to the bright, noisy ‘green room’ and everything in between. I personally need some sort of activity around me to keep me focused, but some of my friends need pin-drop silence. Try a few different places and routines so you figure out what works best.”  — Ilana Kruger, Brandeis University

"There are certain places where I have to go to study. I get the most work done in the library or in a computer lab. You need to have an area where you can get the most work or your best work done. You also have to know when to separate time to have fun and time to get your work done. You have to be able to, first of all, know yourself, and then separate yourself from the distractions."  — Anthony Brown, Defiance College

Related: Our Best Advice for Homework, Studying, and Tests

Build relationships with your professors

"I email the professor at the beginning of the semester to introduce myself a little. Or if I know their office hours, I go pay them a visit so that I become a person in their eyes. This also helps start good relationships with professors . They want you to talk to them, and they are there to help you succeed."  — Amber Thichangthong, Old Dominion University

“Make sure to visit your professors the first week of school during their office hours. You can introduce yourself and get to know your professor so that way you will feel comfortable going to their office for help if you ever are having trouble later in the semester understanding the material.”  — Sarah Cummings, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

“My #1 tip would be to get to know your professors. Not only can it keep you on track, but it helps to develop a sense of security if midterms and finals start to get overwhelming. A lot of people recommend joining college clubs or social groups, but as a fairly introverted individual, I found that task difficult. However, meeting and staying in touch with my peers helped tremendously. Your first couple years in college, you're surrounded by kids with all different majors. Once you hit your junior and senior years, you'll be in classes with the same 30 people over and over again. Knowing people throughout campus will help socially but also give you a nice network later in life.”  — Kasey Lind,   Virginia Commonwealth University

Take advantage of networking and special opportunities

"If your college is organizing any program or event during the summer and you live close by, definitely go. For instance, during the summer, an International Affairs program I’m part of sponsored a day trip to a nature conservatory. I went and, because of it, I already had a few friends when the semester officially began."  — Michelle Consorte, Adelphi University

“ Network, network, network . I cannot stress this enough. Your first years in college are actually the  easiest  to network   than any other semester in college. Why? Because everyone is new. Almost 90% of your classmates who are taking general core classes are freshmen as well. So start talking to them! My personal experience is networking almost instantly the minute I got into college. I have a plethora of friends now who are in all different fields. I've realized that the friends that are the hardest to make would be the juniors and seniors because they're already surrounded by friends. I realized that if I caught them younger in their college years, it would've definitely been easier.” — Mark Anthony, CUNY—Hunter College

“Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. You can never be sure where your ‘big break’ will come from. Time and time again, opportunities are presented to me to go places or meet people, and I always respond with a yes. This has led to numerous job opportunities and a great network of business associates.”  —   Patrick Hillard, Paul Quinn College

Related: Using Social Media to Connect at College

Ultimately, college is what you choose to make it. No two college experiences are alike, so take all this advice with a grain of salt. But there are a lot of similarities from college to college and from person to person in how students get through their freshman year—so if even one piece of advice from this list resonated with you, then it was worth it! 

For more advice to help you prepare for your first year of college, check out our Student Life section.

Still searching for colleges? Connect with the featured schools mentioned above:

Connect with Texas Christian University!   Connect with U of Tampa! Connect with Baldwin Wallace!

Connect with Creighton!   Connect with Trevecca Nazarene!   Connect with Santa Clara!  

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First-Year Requirements

In addition to your UC application, we take both your academic record and your personal experiences into consideration during the review process . At UCLA, we seek students who have excelled academically and gained valuable perspective from the personal experiences that have helped shape their lives.

Read on to find out more.

The Criteria We Consider

When reviewing an application, we implement a holistic review process, which includes looking at some of the following criteria:

• Achievement in high school or college coursework
• Personal qualities
• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of our campus
• Achievement in academic enrichment programs
• Other achievements in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor, including the performing arts, athletics, community service, etc.

Academic Preparation

You must complete 15 A-G courses with at least 11 courses finished prior to the beginning of your last year of high school. To be competitive in the UCLA admission process, applicants should present an academic profile much stronger than any minimum UC admission requirements.  See below for a listing of the A-G requirements:

• 2 years history/social science
• 4 years of college-preparatory English
• 3 years of mathematics (4 years recommended)
• 2 years of laboratory science (3 years recommended)
• 2 years of language other than English (3 years recommended)
• 1 year of visual and performing arts (if available)
• 1 year of college-preparatory elective

Keep in mind that there is no single academic path we expect all students to follow. However, competitive applicants earn high marks in the most rigorous curriculum available to them.   Each application for admission is reviewed within the context of courses available to that student. If a particular required subject is not available, we’ll consider your application without it.

Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT)

UCLA will not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

UCLA’s ACT number: 0448 UCLA’s College Board (SAT) number: 4837

Personal Insight Questions

These personal questions are just that — personal. This is your chance to augment the information elsewhere in your application and give us more insight into you during the review process.  Our hope is to hear your true, authentic voice in your responses.   As a first-year applicant, you may respond to four of eight questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words. Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. You should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because we receive more applicants than we have room to accept, admitted students usually have academic achievements far higher than the minimum requirements. So, to be “competitive” is to be among the strongest achieving students to apply.

We look for students who take advantage of the academic opportunities available to them. If you have advanced courses, we encourage you to take advantage of them. The University of California adds extra weight to grades received in UC-certified honors, AP, IB and transferable college courses.

We do not require or accept letters of recommendation in our process and we do not collect transcripts at the point of application . However, once admitted, students are required to submit official transcripts f rom any high school or college they have attended . Some professional schools may request a letter of recommendation as part of their supplemental application process.

We do not offer admission interviews. Applicants are considered for admission based upon the information they submit in the UC application . However, some majors in our  specialty schools require a supplemental application as part of their admission process. Supplemental applications may involve an audition, portfolio submission and/or letters of recommendation. Find out more from the supplemental applications page.

Supplemental Applications

Of course, a strong academic performance combined with sustained, meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities is the ideal. But if it comes down to a choice between excelling in your coursework or your extracurricular activities, choose your academics.

UCLA will honor full IGETC certification from a first-year student if the requirements were completed before entering UC. Partial IGETC, however, will not be accepted from entering first-years at any UC campus and IGETC is not recommended for applicants to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

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What to Expect Your Freshman Year of High School

Check out our Just Admit It! Podcast

IvyWise counselors Victoria  and Nat  discuss when and how to start college prep on the Just Admit It! college admissions podcast , giving listeners expert insight from former admissions officers.

Making the transition from middle to high school can be an exciting, albeit intimidating process. Often times the student body is larger, and you’re a new fish in a much larger pond. For others the surroundings might be the same, but the academics are challenging and the expectations are much higher.

Most high schools have four grades: ninth (freshmen), 10th (sophomores), 11th (juniors), and 12th (seniors). Your freshman year of high school marks the beginning of an important high school journey — one that will, hopefully, lead you to a great college education.

Overview of Freshman Year of High School 

Your first year of high school is an important time to consider what classes and extracurriculars you like, what passions you want to pursue, and what might be possible for your future career. It’s also important to learn how to set academic goals that will prepare you for college, if that’s the path you choose to take. This is the time when you truly start building your profile for college, so think about what you want that to look like in terms of both academics and the interests you want to develop further.

Allow Time to Adjust

The start of high school may be exciting, but it will be a big adjustment. There will be new classes, new teachers, new students, and often an entirely new campus to navigate. Your first day may leave you feeling lost and uncomfortable, but give it some time — every big change requires an adjustment period. Rely on friends, teachers, or even older siblings to help you find your classrooms, learn the lunchroom dynamics, find new clubs to explore, and get used to the new academic rigors. Before you know it, you’ll be navigating the new high school scene like a pro.

Explore New Interests

High school holds a wealth of opportunities for freshman students. From new clubs and organizations, to sports teams and other activities, there’s no shortage of extracurriculars for you to explore. Now is the time to get involved, and there will be plenty of opportunities to do so. If your school offers a club fair, go and learn about the organizations that pique your interest. A bigger student body often means a more diverse extracurriculars, so explore what interests you. You never know what you might learn about yourself and your high school.

Embrace New Friendships

And maybe grow out of old ones. The dynamics of high school are much different than in primary and middle school. While it’s common to stay friends with those you have grown up with, new classes and involvement in new activities can lead you to new friendships you may not have considered before. If you’re attending a new school where you know few people, don’t worry — you will get to know your new classmates faster than you think.

Learn to Manage Your Time

As we said before, your freshman year of high school is the beginning of a four-year journey to college, and it’s something that needs to be taken seriously. Classes in high school rely heavily on every minute of classroom instruction, so there will be a lot of homework. Add extracurricular activities and new friendships to the mix and suddenly you have an overwhelmingly busy schedule. You’ll need to quickly learn how to prioritize your time in and outside of the classroom . Balancing schoolwork with extracurriculars and a social life can be difficult at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. Create a homework schedule or keep a detailed calendar to help you keep track of all commitments. Staying organized is key to successfully managing your time.

Start Your College Prep

Colleges look at all four years of academics, not just junior and senior year, so start your freshman year off on the right foot by performing well in your courses. If you’re having difficulty understanding some of the material, don’t be the shy freshman who silently struggles — ask your teachers for help. Not only will this improve your grade, it will also help you foster strong relationships with your instructors  — something that is important when it comes time to ask for recommendations during the college application process.

Enjoy the Journey

The start of the high school experience is an exciting time. There’s no doubt that some challenges will lie ahead as you adjust to new academic and social dynamics, but it will be a fun journey. Remember that high school is meant to be educational, enlightening, and the stepping-stone to a college education. You’ll learn a lot about yourself your freshman year — which subjects you like, which subjects you don’t, which interests you wish to pursue, and how you want to contribute to your high school community. This is a time of great change, so embrace it!

Freshman year of high school can take some students by surprise in both positive and negative ways. By knowing what to expect when you arrive for your first day, you can mentally prepare for the experience and ease into the transition.

For high school freshmen beginning the journey to a successful college admissions process, contact us today to learn what you need to do this year in order to stay on track for senior year!

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Engineering Students’ Well-Being Experiences

A freshman year experience program.

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A Year of Controversy at Harvard Looms Over Freshman Arrival

For many incoming students, the University has been associated with controversy and nonstop national media attention since they first started thinking about attending Harvard.

The class of 2028 began to apply just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled against Harvard to effectively end race-conscious admissions practices, submitted their last applications one day before former University President Claudine Gay’s resignation , and roamed Harvard Yard as admitted students just 10 days before it became the site of a pro-Palestine encampment .

In interviews with The Crimson, 42 freshmen spoke about how Harvard’s turbulent year has affected the start of their college experience. Each one said they paid close attention to Harvard’s leadership crisis and campus protests through coverage in news outlets and social media.

The heightened focus on Harvard over the past year put some students in the awkward position of having to defend its reputation before they had even first visited the campus. In particular, Gay’s resignation and the rise in pro-Palestine student activism in the spring sparked a flurry of concern from friends and family members about the University.

Ali Sediqe ’28 said he usually tried to laugh off comments about Harvard’s reputation.

“People would ask me: ‘Do you think they’re going to try to indoctrinate you there?’” Sediqe said.

Still, most freshmen said that their opinions of Harvard did not change amid the controversies of last year and that their own enthusiasm for starting college has not wavered. And despite everything, the more typical concerns about moving to Cambridge remained top of mind for some members of the class of 2028.

“Disagreement is just a part of going into a new environment with all sorts of people from different backgrounds,” said Nylah N. King-Boyd ’28. “I think the only thing that’s different is that I need to buy more winter clothes.”

‘Having My College in the News’

When Angelene Nvella Gorniak ’28 posted a TikTok video in December expressing her excitement about being admitted to Harvard, she was jarred by one response amid the other congratulations in the comment section.

“Are you a current antisemite? Or just an aspiring one?” an anonymous user commented under her post.

Gorniak said that she struggled to understand why she was being labeled as antisemitic merely for gaining admission to Harvard.

“It was just crazy because I was just super excited that I’d gotten in,” she said.

While several students said the negative comments about Harvard mostly manifested online and on social media, many others said they also fielded in-person questions about the University’s decisions well before the start of their own Harvard experience.

Sarita Y. Popat ’28, who was accepted early to Harvard in December, said people with varying political views approached her to discuss the University’s response to campus protests and antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. The initial comments were usually critical of Harvard, she said.

“I just avoided speaking about it if I could, because I didn’t want to put myself in an argument or to be a representative of anything to do with the school,” Popat said.

“It was almost described as a concession, where it’s like, ‘Oh it’s an amazing school, but did you hear about all this weird stuff going on?’” she added. “And that comes from both sides.”

Some students said those who approached them to talk about the potential campus activism in the fall seemed to do so out of concern for their own safety.

“A lot of people in my hometown were like, ‘Try to be careful when you’re on campus, and maybe steer clear of that,’” said Chantel A. L. De Jesus ’28.

Johnny H. Perkins ’28, an incoming student from Kansas, said he has thought a lot about how the tensions on campus over the war in Gaza will color his first semester of college.

“As first years, being right next to the Yard, which is where a lot of the protests were going on, it’s definitely something you have to think about — how will you interact with what’s going on?” Perkins said. “You get asked that question by a lot of people.”

Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain declined to comment for this article.

Alex I. Drǎghia ’28, who spent a gap year in Romania after being admitted to the Class of 2027, said he had extra time to prepare to enter an institution that “always has a magnifying glass over it.”

“I just got used to it, from that point forward, to having my college in the news,” Drǎghia said.

The global headlines sparked by Gay’s resignation elicited questions from “everybody, everywhere” about the turmoil on Harvard’s campus, according to Drǎghia.

“I haven’t gone there — I wouldn’t know what to tell them,” he said.

Several students said their firsthand experiences at Visitas — the College’s admitted students weekend — showed them an encouraging alternative view that contrasted what they had seen online.

Upon visiting campus, Hudson L. Byrd ’28 said protests and political tensions had less of a presence than he had expected.

“Once I got to campus, I was like ‘This is really cool,’” Byrd said. “Like, it’s not as big of a deal as the media sometimes makes it out to be.”

For Luna Y. Yin ’28, the chance to visit campus showed that students and faculty are “really separate” from the administration’s actions, she said.

“When I was on campus there was a lot of excellent community, solidarity, and kindness that I saw there, and that has stuck with me more than the decisions of the administration,” Yin said.

During Visitas, Kim S. Cortes-Martinez ’28 followed Harvard student groups like The Harvard Crimson on social media — a move she said proved helpful in the following weeks, when she began to hear “misinformation” in discussions and media portrayals of the encampment protest that took place in the Yard.

“It was refreshing knowing that I was getting more accurate information from student-run accounts and from the students themselves that were protesting,” Cortes-Martinez said.

‘When We Speak, the World Listens’

Though Harvard’s newest batch of undergraduates are already familiar with the intense scrutiny on the University, they may find themselves directly under the spotlight as their first semester begins.

The class of 2028 are members of the first admissions cycle since the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action, and many are waiting for Harvard to release the demographics of its freshman class to determine how the decision has impacted the University’s efforts to admit a diverse student body.

Many politicians are also closely watching how pro-Palestine student activists at Harvard will organize campus protests. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) wrote in a letter last week to University President Alan M. Garber ’76 Garber that he must detail how he is preparing to handle campus protests this fall.

Last semester, pro-Palestine protests on college campuses across the country made headlines, including the 20-day encampment at Harvard.

Nick D. Best ’28 said the pro-Palestine protests at Harvard were frequently brought up by family and friends during his process of applying to attend Harvard — which one of Best’s family members called a “liberal training ground.”

“They were like, ‘Oh, you’re not going to start protesting now, are you?’” Best said.

In an apparent anticipation of a resurgence of protests, the University updated its campus use guidelines earlier this month, prohibiting chalking and unapproved signage. Several incoming freshmen said reading about the new restrictions led them to wonder about the continuation of pro-Palestine organizing at Harvard.

Anthony C. Bynum ’28 said he is “curious” to see whether more protests unfold and will be “on the lookout” for them this fall.

“That’s not something that I would be a part of, or anything like that,” Bynum said. “I just kind of want to be at school, and I don’t want to see people get expelled or anything.”

Some students, like Yin, said they hope to get involved with campus protests.

“It really seems like a great opportunity to make those connections, to show up for something meaningful. Especially because Harvard has such a huge spotlight on it, I just have the feeling that Harvard students, when we speak, the world listens,” Yin said.

“It’s an important position to have, and I think we can do something useful with it,” she added. “That’s a really great privilege.”

Though Hanah Kim ’28 said she was “in disbelief” when she heard about the suspension of pro-Palestine protesters, she said she still intends to participate in student activism.

“I do believe that I will be partaking in protests, regardless of whatever cause they may be for,” Kim said. “I am concerned that my partaking in something that represents my beliefs will have me facing consequences that Harvard deems acceptable for those actions.”

But the global platform granted to politically outspoken Harvard students is less attractive to some freshmen, even deterring them from engaging with campus activism.

Tigran Sahakyan ’28 said that while he fully supports “who want to make their voices heard if they care about the issue,” he personally would not participate in order to avoid “being the center of attention.”

“I would probably consider being more active if the protests didn’t make national news,” Sahakyan said.

Alex S. Jun ’28 said the attention on Harvard made him more apprehensive about joining politically oriented student groups.

“Your affiliation with groups can cause consequences, or you to be grouped in with people who you don’t necessarily agree with, or who do things you don’t agree with,” Jun said.

“I now don’t — necessarily, in the start — want to join groups that are really committed or have really solidified ideals,” he added.

Sediqe said he expects to be “more cautious” about how he acts on campus.

“Really anything anyone does there can be subject to more scrutiny in terms of media and people who are looking in on it,” he said. “So just for me personally — being more careful what I do, what I say, and how I present myself.”

The fall semester also marks a new start for Harvard’s central administration. Earlier this month, the Harvard Corporation — the University’s highest governing body — permanently installed Garber and Provost John F. Manning ’82 in their roles.

Pointing to Garber’s and Manning’s appointments, Perkins said he found it “exciting” that the class of 2028 would be “entering Harvard at the same time” as new members of top leadership “look for an identity” for the University.

“In the end, it is a good opportunity for this class to realize there is a time of change going on — but we get to help decide what that change is,” he added.

—Staff writer Azusa M. Lippit can be reached at [email protected] . Follow her on X @azusalippit or on Threads @azusalippit .