Video: What to Expect When Entering College | CollegeXpress

Video: What to Expect When Entering College

The college journey can often feel like an expectation vs. reality meme. Get prepared for freshman year by learning what to expect from vlogger Jordan-Paige.

College and campus life are different for each student, of course, but there are a few general things that every new college student will definitely experience. Student vlogger Jordan-Paige explains what incoming freshmen should expect before entering college. Check out the video below!

 

5 key things to know before starting college

  • There are going to be college parties, and at times, you may feel pressured to do something you’re not comfortable with. Always remember you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, and keep in mind whether or not that decision you’re about to make is going to help or hurt you on your path in life.
  • Find new friends but keep the old. You’ll be meeting many new people and making new friends in college. Be open to getting to know these new people, but don’t forget to keep in touch with your old friends from back home too. The more friends, the merrier!
  • College isn’t going to be a piece of cake. You have to work hard to do well in college, but if you’re excited about your path, the hard work will be well worth it.
  • College isn’t for everyone. It’s okay if you start college and realize you want to take a gap year or decide to do something else. Not everyone takes the same path.
  • You will get homesick. It’s normal and okay to miss your family and friends. But make sure you still get out, get to know your surroundings, and meet new people, even if you’re pining for home. It’ll help you become more comfortable being away. 

Related: 5 Ways to Prepare for Freshman Year of College

You might be nervous to start college—you may even question your final college decision. But remember, this is a chance to try new experiences and find new opportunities. Just dive in and submerge yourself in a new atmosphere with new people. Good luck! 

Find more great advice from students just like you on the CollegeXpress YouTube channel!

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About CollegeXpress

CollegeXpress

Welcome to CollegeXpress, your one-stop college shop! We’re a free college planning website used by millions of college-bound students, parents, and counselors—anyone who needs help navigating the college search and application process, financial aid opportunities, and more. 

You’ll find comprehensive College Search and Scholarship Search tools, tons of articles and expert advice, unique college Lists & Rankings, and lots of other resources to help make your life easier. Teen Vogue even named us one of the 7 Best College Search Websites!

Current college students and recent grads also love CollegeXpress for our Graduate Program Search tool and endless information on student life, internships, and beyond. We really have something for everyone, no matter where you are in your college journey.

Create a free CollegeXpress account to start connecting with colleges, winning scholarships, and simplifying your life as a student!

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Stevenson University

Stevenson, MD


Lexie Knutson

Lexie Knutson

High School Class of 2021

This whole website has helped me overcome the attitude I had before. I was scared to even approach the thought of college because it was so much. I knew it wasn’t just a few easy steps, and I panicked mostly, instead of actually trying. Without realizing it, CollegeXpress did exactly what I usually do when I panic, which is take it one step at a time. With college I forget that because it’s more than just a small to-do list, but this website was really helpful and overall amazing. So thank you!

Heather McCarty

Heather McCarty

High School Class of 2020

CollegeXpress has helped me with the college application process. The tips and tricks for important essays were so helpful. I also gained useful knowledge about college life. Even though I’m fully online, CollegeXpress has helped me develop a sense of how college is in person. The experiences from college students that were featured on their Instagram page have shown the good, the bad, and the “secret” life on campus from a reliable perspective. Not to mention, they relieved my feelings of anxiety about the workload. I can now understand how it can be stressful, but it takes self-control and willpower to get assignments completed on time and with quality.

Kory Gilbertson

Kory Gilbertson

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me explore my views on college in that "why do I wanna go to a certain school" way. It’s helped me explore the best fits in all of these outstanding choices. All these college admission counselors can access my accolades showing them how I could help their college. This source of information helps me show these admission directors who I am and what I'm interested in. Thanks to this platform, my experience for education will be better than most, and I'm so grateful for all that it has provided for me.

Jenna

Jenna

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress has helped me greatly during my college search. I used their college search feature often and it helped in comparing schools I was looking at. Now that I’ve found a college the scholarship search feature is helping me find a way to find my college experience. CollegeXpress has many helpful features and resources for anyones college search, it truly is a wonderful tool for anyone entering college level!

Joan Franklin

Joan Franklin

Counselor

I love this website and have been using it for years with my students. I originally bought products through Wintergreen Orchard House and appreciated having key facts at my fingertips when advising students. Your site is easy to access and offers a wide array of topics I need as a busy college counselor.