9 Mistakes Every Girl Makes Her Freshman Year in College ...

Excessive partying is one of the most common mistakes every girl makes in her first year at college. It is understandable why freshman party so much. They are excited to be in college and away from their parents' watchful eye. But drinking too much is not the way to start off your college career. Not only is it bad for your health, but it can also have a horrible impact on your social and academic life. And drinking to fit in is never a good idea. My advice is to keep the weekdays for school and the weekends to socialize.

If you skip out on class, this isn’t high school where you can get the notes from your teacher. You are on your own in college. You may think that ditching one class here and there can’t hurt, but you would be wrong. Those days add up fast and can leave you helpless when it’s exam time. Make sure you are going to class and paying attention, no matter how tired, bored, or hung-over you are.

If you never leave your dorm room besides classes, how can you expect to get the full college experience? There are so many clubs, organizations, and events to be a part of on campus that it would be a shame to let it go to waste. On most campuses, there is a club for literally everything. If you can’t find what you are interested in, why don’t you start your own club? Not only is it the easiest way to meet tons of new people, you will also be getting the full campus experience and making the most out of your freshman year.

On the other hand, you don’t want to spread yourself too thin. I made the mistake of signing up for every club on campus that I thought was interested in. The end result? I was swamped with club meetings and could not dedicate myself to a few important organizations. Pick the clubs that mean the most to you, and focus on getting really involved in them. It is way more rewarding than only being slightly involved in a ton of random organizations.

It can be understandable why so many freshman hold onto high school during their first year at college. It is a hard transition, but an important one. While it is nice to hold onto the memories from high school, you don’t want to be known as that girl who cannot get over it. Try to find a blend between enjoying your time at college while still keeping your friends and memories from high school close to your heart.

All too often, girls associate college with random hook ups, drunken make-outs, and carefree sex. This is a horrible association to believe in. The minute some girls get to school, they throw their inhibitions, and sometimes their standards, to the wind. College is no excuse to be sleeping with every guy who gives you a second glance. Make sure you are confident in who you decide to let in your bed and always be safe.

In high school, you could probably get away with not studying your mind away for exams. That most likely won’t work in college. You have to make sure you are giving yourself more than one night to study for an exam. Spread out your study time and don’t be skipping out on heading to the library for a night. You don’t have your parents to make sure you are getting your work done so you really need to be self-motivated.

Unlike high school, you probably won’t have worksheets of homework to do every night. Most of your work will come in the form of readings, papers, and long-term projects. It is up to you to make sure you are getting your work done on time. Your teachers will not remind you of readings, so make sure you are constantly checking your syllabus and not skipping anything.

It can be very nerve-wracking to go into a new environment, all on your own and not knowing anyone. It can be easy to feel the pressure to make friends the instant you get to campus. But rather than just befriending any girl who says hi to you on your dorm floor, try to meet people you can genuinely see yourself being friends with for the next four years. Don’t hang out with the party girls just for an in at frats, and don’t only hang out with bookworms because you want a study buddy.

College is a time to really find yourself and decide who is the person you want to be. Don’t let these mistakes get in the way of you having the most amazing college experience. What did you think of these mistakes every girl makes? Did you make any other mistakes during your freshman year? What are some ways to avoid making these mistakes?

Sources: lovelyish.com, newswise.com