The First Few Days: Introductions and New Friends

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"The most common phrase I heard throughout the year was, 'This is so-and-so whom I met at Frosh-O.' I'd say it is the best way to get to know your friends and classmates."

"Bill Andrichik, (University of Notre Dame), speaking about freshman orientation

You're on your own. This fact may not hit you until your parents drive into the distance after helping you get settled. No one will comment on the hours you maintain, the clothes you wear, the company you keep, or your mounting list of chores. (Your R.A. might have something to say if you blast your stereo, but we'll get to that later.)

From now on, the decisions you make are yours. Don't want to do the laundry tonight"or this week? Let it pile up. Feel like sleeping until noon, even though you have class at 9:30 a.m.? Snooze away. Not interested in working more than one afternoon a week at your part-time job? No sweat"tell the boss that's all you can handle.

Of course, while you're free to make those decisions, it helps to think them through.

Doing laundry has never been fun"but the dreadful alternative is running out of clean underwear. Skipping class might seem logical when you've had a late night, but do it often and you might discover the logic behind a C or D grade in philosophy class. And if you choose to work the bare minimum at your campus job, you may not have much cash to spend during your free time.

This chapter explores some of the decisions you'll confront in the first days on campus, from attending orientation and dealing with fire alarms to setting up your room and interacting with your resident adviser. In many ways, the choices made at this point can help ensure that your college experience begins successfully.