Late night trips to the dining hall. Endless lecture halls filled with people you don't know. Club rush. Dorm room meet and greets. You name it.
Think about your own experience…
Students everywhere are walking around campus the first week wondering how long it takes to feel "at home".
Wait…there's hope
Truth is most students feel totally lost during that first week of college. But if you know what to expect and come prepared, you'll feel a lot better. Way better.
In fact, by the end of this article you'll be strolling through your campus with the best of them.
Ready?
Here's What You'll Learn
- Why Wayfinding Plays Such a Big Role Your First Week
- Dining Halls Aren't What They Used to Be
- Making Friends as Quickly as Possible
- Classes Will Feel Completely Different
- Mistakes You Should Avoid Your First Week
Why Wayfinding Plays Such a Big Role Your First Week
Picking the wrong hallway in a campus cafeteria can send you on an hour-long adventure to nowhere.
College campuses are huge.
Students everywhere are lost their first week trying to find the lecture halls, library, dorm rooms and even the cafeterias.
But that's actually a good thing
See, each building on campus serves a purpose. That student center? Where most friendships are made. The library? Where all the studying happens. And the cafeteria?
That's where it all comes together.
Dining halls have changed.
Gone are the days of hard plastic trays and cafeteria seating lined up in long rows. Schools are pouring millions into their cafeteria experiences creating campus destinations with food bars, lounge seating, and of course…school lunch tables.
Cafeteria seating for sale is also commonly searched by institutions because they know how important the furniture is to keeping students engaged in the dining hall.
How students interact with each other at lunch is determined by how the tables are arranged.
Dining Halls Aren't What They Used to Be
If you've never set foot on a college campus before walk into the dining hall your first week and you'll see what I mean.
Panic.
It's not uncommon to find groups of students clutching plates and cups while frantically searching the room for somewhere to sit. I mean where DO I sit?
I know, I know. Please stop us if you've heard this one before.
You don't think it's a big deal, do you?
Students literally decide who they befriend based off where they sit in the dining hall.
According to one study, 54% of students say the dining hall is their go-to place for spending time with friends.
The style of tables and chairs along with the layout of the cafeteria either encourages or discourages students from making conversation with others.
Those cafeteria school lunch tables aren't just there to hold your food. They are the cornerstone of community and interaction on a college campus.
Students who find a seat quickly typically find friends quickly as well. Students who grab something to eat and go back to their dorm rooms never learn about the friendships that form all around them while sitting at school lunch tables.
Sidenote The facts don't lie:
- 75% of students said they "rarely" or "never" feel lonely when they eat with other students
- Students who ate more than 11 meals per week in the dining hall had an average GPA of 3.4. Students who ate less than 7 meals per week averaged below a 3.0 GPA
- Dining hall food continues to be the number one reason students visit campus
Mind blown? I thought so.
Making Friends as Quickly as Possible
Here's a fun fact most new college students don't know…
Almost 65% of students feel lonely while they are in college. Can you imagine feeling lonely your first week?
That's why your first few days on campus are crucial to your college success. Making friends seems like an easy task, but where do you even start?
Joining groups during the first week:
- Attending orientation and campus tours
- Meeting your floor at the dorm
- Visiting club fairs and activities
- Meeting roommates and neighbors in the dining hall
- Studying with strangers in the library
The students that immerse themselves in everything during that first week will have an upper hand. Even if you think going to an event is boring, you should still go. It's more about getting out of your comfort zone and familiarizing yourself with others.
You'll want to follow this pattern:
Show up > introduce yourself > ask questions > repeat.
Asking questions and getting to know others at the school lunch tables in the dining hall is one of the best ways to start a conversation with new people. You never know who you may sit by throughout the week. Open up your horizons and sit with someone new each day.
Classes Will Feel Completely Different
Expect to feel way underprepared when you sit down for your first lecture.
Senior year of high school did NOT prepare you for a syllabus that is 15 pages long. Teachers will talk faster. There will be more reading assignments. And just like that… that first big project is due next week.
Here's what to expect…
- Reading the syllabus is your number one job. Where assignments are found, due dates, and how you'll be graded can be found here. Trust me, it's good to go over everything.
- Your professors have office hours for a reason. They want you to show up! Make friends with your professors. Drop by their office and say hello.
- Everything is on you now. Wake up when you want, go to sleep when you want. The only structure in place is the class you decide to attend. Pro tip: Studying, eating, sleeping and having fun are just as important as that first lecture.
Feeling overwhelmed your first week is NORMAL.
Try your best not to worry. Every single person on your campus is feeling the same way you are feeling. What separates the kids who fall behind and the kids who don't is one simple thing: asking for help.
Mistakes You Should Avoid Your First Week
You'll want to steer clear of these rookie mistakes.
Spending too much time in your dorm room is number one. Avoiding the dining hall because you "don't feel like sitting with people" is another. Sure you'll eat your meals in your room your first week, but what happens when midterms come around? You've created a habit you'll never break.
Signing up for every club and organization that interests you during the first week is tempting. But easy does it. Trying to do everything at once will burn you out. Remember: You don't have to join everything now.
Not studying the map before move-in day. Just do it.
Don't spend your first week lost on campus. Download that campus map app on your phone. Take a walk around campus Saturday during orientation weekend.
Comparing your college experience to others.
Social media is messed up. Everyone feels like they have their group together on Instagram and Tiktok. News flash. They don't. Making friends doesn't happen overnight. Take the time you need.
Skipping meals. Starving yourself your first week because you don't know where to sit is ridiculous. Sure, you can grab something to go and eat in your room. But what about when you're tired of eating in your room? You'll have created another bad habit.
Wrapping It All Up
Okay, let's wrap this thing up.
Your first week of college is going to suck. But that's OKAY!
Everyone feels lost that first week. It takes time to figure out where your classes are at. Not to mention it takes time to find the same seat in the dining hall every day.
Just remember these 5 things:
- Show up to as many orientation events as you can
- Eat lunch (and dinner) with others in the dining hall
- Show up to class (especially the first day)
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors and roommate
- Ask questions when you're lost or need help
College feels less scary when you talk to others. Everyone at those school lunch tables were once in your shoes. They will welcome you with open arms if you just say hi.
You'll start to recognize familiar faces when you walk across campus. The buildings on your way to class will become nothing more than decorative. Welcome to college!
