1. Meet People

I know this one sounds obvious, but it is genuinely the most important thing to do on campus. It doesn’t matter if your hometown is Iowa City or thousands of miles away from campus, meeting new people is absolutely necessary. Obviously, not everyone you meet (especially in the first weeks on campus) will be your lifelong friends, but nothing is more important than making connections on campus. You never know who will have a big impact on your life in the future!

I was fortunate in my first weeks because meeting people was incredibly easy. All of my floormates are very social, so more often than not, they would come up to me and introduce themselves! And I know, approaching people is scary at first. Keep in mind that everyone on campus that first week is in the same boat as you!

2. Find your classes before they start

Take off some of the stress on your first day of classes, by finding some of them before they start! Even acquainting yourself with the walk to the building takes off some of that pressure on the very first day! Some of the buildings are confusing and I guarantee that taking the time to look around is worth it.

3. Go to the Campus Events

I know at face value, things like On Iowa and the Org Fair can seem, well, lame. But I guarantee you there is no better way to meet people who have similar interests as you on campus. There are countless On Iowa events, and the volunteers aren’t lying when they say there is something for everyone. From morning coffee crawls through town to late-night canoe battleships at the Rec or Field House, I guarantee you will find yourself having more fun at the events than you would expect. The Org Fair is a great way to get familiar with some of the hundreds of student-led organizations on campus. There are so many ways to get involved with other people who have similar hobbies and interests as you.

4. Embrace the Campus Culture

You’ve finally made it to college, embrace it! One of the many reasons people choose schools is for the community and culture on campus. It is not lame or weird to partake in campus traditions and embrace the community that you chose to be a part of! My absolute favorite days on campus so far have been football game days. Be proud to be a Hawkeye!

5. Take Pictures!

I cannot stress this enough, because I personally made this mistake, TAKE PICTURES. I know it’s sometimes awkward to pull out your phone and take a picture with the people you make friends with, or the activities you are doing, but it is so fun to look back on them as you continue to settle into college and your time here. You will regret not having more pictures of your time in college. It is fun to look back on all of the memories you make and the people you meet while on campus.