Letter to Incoming Freshmen
Clutching my fresh ID in hand and carrying a heavy backpack filled with supplies I don’t know if I’ll need, I step into the crowded halls of YU for the first time. With each step I take, a new discovery arises. “I guess that’s where I’m supposed to pay for my salad,” and a second later, after I walk up and down the stairs for what feels like forever, I realize that the third-floor entrance is the unlabeled gray door that I walked by three times. Each time my brain computes yet another fact, I’m surrounded by tens of people who I’ve never met, never even seen before. Being a first-year student at YU means one thing: stepping into the unknown. Everything is unfamiliar.
As I am in my second semester at YU, the “freshman experience” remains vivid in my memory. No student in this university has forgotten that freshman feeling. I hope to give first year students some advice on how to push through, feel at ease and make the most out of this transitional time.
A significant part of the “unfamiliarity” of a first semester is a lack of clarity about how to successfully navigate the academic system. How will I decide on my major? How can I figure out what classes are necessary to take? Sometimes, you don’t even know what questions to ask. The entire process is a mystery. Fortunately, YU provides many resources that can help. The easiest way to find information is to speak to career counselors and academic advisors. If you have decided on a specific major, it is beneficial to meet with the advisor of your major to plan what you should be doing right now. Time passes quickly in college and it is important to make the most of each semester.
When I first started at YU, I didn’t know how to use Canvas, and it made it more challenging for me to do assignments and readings with ample time. Despite my confusion, I didn't ask any questions. I thought first-semester students were supposed to be a bit disoriented. If I'm not supposed to know anything, then I don't need to ask. I'll figure it out like everyone does. When I solved my Canvas predicament halfway through the semester, I wondered what the first half of my semester could have looked like if I had dared to ask. While this example may seem trivial, confusion regarding the academic process often manifests in more ways than one: feeling unsure of how to formulate an essay, how to most efficiently study for an exam or even how to take proper notes while listening intently. To that end, in addition to career and academic advising, YU has a writing center, peer tutoring opportunities and the learning success center. It was especially helpful for me to form connections with professors, giving me the opportunity to ask questions to professionals who knew me personally and academically.
Another way to ease yourself into college life is to connect with people in your major. You will regularly interact with these students throughout your years here. However, in addition to making new friends, it’s important to make space for “old friends” who are not in your classes. It’s easy to fall into a cycle of class, homework, class, homework and forget to reach out to your friends who don’t naturally fit into that pattern. Plan to eat dinner with people you haven’t seen in a while, reach out to go on a walk, attend an event together, etc. Prioritize your friends. You need them, and they need you.
There are countless opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities at YU. This can be both exciting and daunting. Despite the vast offerings, remember that you can make a unique difference in this university. By focusing on your personal contributions rather than the collective, you can overcome feelings of intimidation and make your mark. These contributions can be gradual and tentative. When I first arrived at YU, I started by joining just one club. And then another. By starting slowly, I built the beginnings of a path which I am excited to walk.
Not only does gradual integration lead to the best results, it also creates a healthier transition to college living. Allowing yourself to have breaks and free time gives you opportunities to work through emotions and new challenges as you adjust. As much as I could give you advice, adjusting is still adjusting. At the end of the day, becoming acclimated to university life is going to take time. But remember, we are all here with you. Every single student here knows how it feels. If you need anything, there are hundreds of people, just like you, here to help. And we all can’t wait to see all you do during these years in YU. It's going to be amazing.
Photo Caption: Buckets used to transport students’ belongings to the dormitories.
Photo Credit: Ilana Pollak
