I LOVE COLLEGE!

I hope you will take away some helpful hints on how to have an amazing college experience! The last piece of advice that I will leave you with, is to not let your laptop fall and hit the corner of your desk, because the screen will crack, leaving the word document containing your entire blog project gone forever. This will result in you having to stay up all night to re-write the entire thing.,. but thats college for you!

"College is the best time of your life."- Author unknown

Top 5 Things You Should Do On Campus For Fun!

1. Go to a sporting event that isn't football: Some people go their entire college careers without going to a sporting event besides football. All colleges and universities have more sports that don't get the attention that they should, and the athletes are just as talented as football players! I went to my first basketball game this year, and I had a blast! I definitely recommend doing this during your freshmen year!
2. Go to the on-campus movie theater: These theaters are free with a student ID and show multiple movies a week. The movies range from the classics, to newly released. Check out your schools website for movies and showtimes!
3. See a performance: This can range from watching the band, to the theater productions, to the schools orchestra! There are always performances going on around your school! FSU has a high-flying circus, which is one of only two on-campus circus' in the world! I had the opportunity to watch it, and I can say that it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen!
4. Visit your student life center: Activities range from college to college, but most student life centers include a bowling alley, a food court and a movie theater.
5. Hang out on the green!: Whether you want to lay out, read a book or throw the frisbee with some friends, laying out on the green is one of the best social places on a college campus. You might be wondering what "the green" is. It is a large, open spot on campus with just grass and wide-open spaces, just waiting for you to put it in good use!

My Top 10 List Of Things You Have To Do In College

1. Go to a Football Game: Nothing screams school spirt like a football game! It's fun to see alumni come out to support their school, and you would be suprised at how fast you get into the game! I was never into football before i came to college, but now I can't imagine missing a game! Also, tailgates are always a lot of fun to go to before the games!

FSU band playing at half time



Me and my roommate at our first FSU game!

2. Join a club/Greek life: I think this is the MOST imporatnt thing you can do in college. They have clubs for literally anything you are interested in ,and it's definitely something that will keep you busy and help you meet new people. I joined a sorority at the beginning of fall semester and it was honestly the best decision of my life! I have met so many people that I know will be in my life forvever.

My sorority on bid day!

3. Go to a Frat party!: The first time I went to a frat party I felt like I walked into a movie! They are so much fun and so decorated according to the theme of the party!

TOGA TOGA!

4. Study abroad: I think this would be a great cultural experiance before graduating and moving on to the working world.

I think it would be amazing to travel to Spain!

5. Pull an all-nighter: You need to do this at least once in your college career!

Energy drinks are a must for all-nighters

6. Go to a philanthropy: These events are so much fun and they involve everyone on campus. (Plus you feel really good about yourself after!

Dance Marathon 2011

7. DAY GLO: It's just something you have to do (even though you'll NEVER do it again after).

Before my first(and only) time at day glo

8. Take a course just for fun!: Whether is has to do with your major or not, it's important to take a class for fun to even out the fun courses and the boring ones!

Apparentely there's a class devoted to Harry Potter at FSU

9. Go in the fountain on your birthday: This is a huge tradition at FSU, along with many other universities!

My first time in the fountain for my roommates birthday!

10. Graduate: Hard work and motivation will get you there!

TOGA TOGA!

1. Do something spontaneous!: I'm not saying end up in the back of a police car, but do something that you consider crazy! As a freshman in college you are obligated to do something that you will remember for the rest of your life. (Examples include crowd surfing, riding a mechanical bull (I've done both of those!), taking a random road trip, hitting all the bars in one night. etc).


Me riding a mechanical bull!

 2. Pace yourself: As a freshman in college, you don't know how much alcohol your body can handle, so it is important to pace yourself so you don't end up throwing up, blacking out or passing out.


Please don't let this happen to you!



3. Don't except a drink from someone you don't know.

4. Make sure you try out all the bars and clubs at least once!: There are so many college hangouts around campus, it's fun to try them all and meet a lot of people.

5. Take taxi's!!: Never drink and drive. I have the number for Yellow cab in my phone and I call it every time I go out no matter what!

6. YOU DON"T HAVE TO DRINK TO HAVE FUN!: There are endless things to do on and off campus that don't involve drinking, so if thats not your style don't worry about it! 

How to Avoid the Freshman 15

Don't let this happen to you!

1. Take advantage of the gym on-campus: There are so many great things about the gym! I know, I might be biased because I love working out, but it's one of the greatest things to do on campus! The on-campus gym offers fun classes (where you can meet new people), personal trainers and dietitions, and all the equipment that you could ever need to stay fit!

2. DO NOT order food every night at 2 a.m: I don't care how drunk you are, or that you're up late studying, DO NOT order greasy food late at night (even though it might taste the best). If you're hungry late at night, try to eat an apple or a bag of popcorn, this will fill you up but won't put on the weight!

3. Walk to class: this is th easiest way to get a little bit of exercise in every day!

4. Be smart about alcohol consumption: Ever seen a beer belly? Not a pretty sight if you ask me.

5. Don't sleep all day

6. Join an intermural sport: Great way to meet people and stay active!

7. Make healthy food choices: Try to stay away from fast food and pizza! Also, always keep fruit and healthy snacks in your dorm :)

More tips on how to avoid the freshman 15

Dorm Life 101

1. Live in a dorm: do not miss the opportunity to live in a dorm! It's a great way to meet people and make new friends. Most of my friends that I met my first semester of college came from the dorm.
2. DO NOT freak out about rooming with a random: yes i have seen The Roommate and NO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE! Over half of the college population who live in dorms, live with a random person. You don't have to become best friends with them, you just have to be able to get along with each other. My mom had her random roommate in college in her wedding if that relives some of your stress! Also, you are allowed to move rooms if you absolutely cannot stand your roommate! All you need to do is talk to your R.A. (Sorry guys I had to post the trailer for my own amusment).

 3. If you are rooming with your friend from home READ THIS TIP!: I know that a lot of people will tell you that if you room with your best friend, you will end up hating each other, but this was not the case for me! I came to college with my best friend and we have been roommates for every semester so far. The experiance of living together has actually made us closer than we were before! You definitely should establish boundaries before you room together though! Like, make sure you always ask permission if you use anything, etc. Also, I would recommend doing things seperately from each other sometimes. Me and my roommate joined different soroities, so we made a lot of different friends, which made us not get tired of each other!

4. Community style dorms can be good!: Yes, you do have to share a bathroom with everyone on your floor (SHOWER SHOES), but this makes your floor more social. My friend lives in a community dorm and has become so close with every single person on the floor!

Cheap $2.00 flip flops are perfect shower shoes

5. Do not buy more food a week in a meal plan than you actually will eat: I guarantee that you will get tired of eating at the same dining hall every day in about a week!

6. Make friends with your R.A: They always have good advice, and in case you get in some trouble, this could prevent you from getting written up!

Wait...I didn't come to college to go to school

Academics

1. If possible ATTEND SUMMER TERM: attending summer term my first semester of college was the best decision I ever made! You get to know the campus before a million people get there in fall, you get to meet people ( the majority of people who attend summer term are freshmen just like you!), the classes are easier because summer is only 6 weeks long, so you get 2 classes out of the way for fall and you have more free time to hang out with friends, and you get the feel of college life, so you're not overwhelmed by everything in the fall.
2. Take an easy, light load of classes in the fall: there are a million things to do fall semester, so you won't want to have hard classes! For most people it's there first semester so they go too crazy and forget about school and end up flunking out! Everybody wants to experience football games, tailgates, frat parties, etc in the fall so the best decision is to take easy classes!
3. DOT  NOT I repeat DO NOT buy your books before the first day of class: this is one of the biggest mistakes that freshmen make their first semester of college. Books are REALLY expensive, so you want to make sure that you need it for the class. Your professor will tell you on the first day of class if you need a book, so don't worry! My first semester I bought the books for both of my classes and ended up not cracking them open all semester. I don't want this to happen to anyone!
4. Do not go to the library if you plan on studying...I know in your head you're thinking that is the point of the library, but this is NOT the case in college. The library is the biggest social gathering place on campus. Trust me, you'll go with a group of friends with the intention of studying, but you'll realize three hours later that all you've done is gossiped with your friends. I personally recomend study rooms in the dorms!



Strozier library at FSU

5. Starbucks is a gift from GOD
6. Study in advance
7. Remember that finals week = a lot of energy drinks and motivation!
8. Go to class: just because your mom isn't there to wake you up and tell you to go to class, doesn't mean you don't need to go!
9. Don't schedule morning classes if you're not a morning person
10. Just because you made good grades without studying in high school, doesn't mean that will work in college.

So what do I bring?

1. DO Bring

• Microwave: you will be living on hot pockets and Ramen noodles for the next year, so get ready.
• MATRESS PAD: unless you enjoy sleeping on a brick wall...
• Things to decorate your room with: trust me its like a jail cell in there, so you want to make it as homey as possible. Bring posters, pictures of your family and friends (even your pets!), colorful rugs, pillows, lamps, etc. Anything that will make you feel more at home!
• Iron: you will thank me for this one later
• SHOWER SHOES: ewww athletes foot anyone?
• Medicine: your mom's not going to be there to take care of you when you're sick.
• Laptop/Computer: obly
• A GOOD ATTITUDE :)

2. DO NOT Bring

• A T.V: you probably think I'm crazy right now, but trust me you DON"T NEED IT. I thought about bringing a T.V my first semester, but 1. it cost $50 a month (ridic), 2. if you have one you'll become a coach potato, and 3. get Netflicks (its only $7.99 a month and its amazing)
• Furniture: trust me theres no room
• A vacuum: most dorms provide them!
• A car: I know I thought I would feel lost without my car, but when you live on campus you don't need it! Pretty much everything you need is on campus, or within walking distance and parking is a nightmare!
•  Apparently these are things people actually think of bringing to college... Don't Bring this Stuff to College!




My dorm room for my first semester of college!

Freshmen, Freshmen!

Hi, I'm Lindsey and welcome to my blog! I started my first semester of college last June and I can truthfully say that it has changed my life. Sadly, I only have a week left of my freshman year, but reflecting back on it, it’s safe to say that I lived this year to the fullest.  From living in a dorm, to pulling all-nighters, or making it to class with 30 seconds to spare, I think that I have truly adapted to the college life. I don’t want to brag or anything, but the things that I’ve done/accomplished my freshmen year are things that most people would only dream of. So far my cumulative GPA is a 3.95, I joined sorority, I’ve lost weight and I’m always active on and off campus. Yeah I know these are pretty high expectations for your first year of college, but obviously if I can do it so can you! I am going to give you tips from my personal experiences on what to do and not to do your freshmen year of college and I can guarantee that it will be one to remember!