How to make the best of your first year in college
The first weeks of college are a huge life change, and can be both exciting and overwhelming. This resource has some fantastic tips for staying on top of your academics, finances, social life, and more. Use these tips, curated by the Backrs community team, to stay on top of your academics, finances, social life, and more!
Welcome to our Resource Roundup!
We often answer important questions posed in our #BackrsCommunity with extensive research. Here we offer articles, videos, and podcasts that align with the Backrs philosophy of investing in young people. All media is sourced and curated by the Backrs team.
Join our community to gain access to even greater resources and guides on topics ranging from academics, careers, health and wellness, and more.
Don’t reinvent the wheel—ask for help, in person or online.
Sites like Scholly or Character Lab can be a great resource if you don’t have adults who can advise you through this time of transition. And if a team of mentors is what you’re looking for, Backrs has you covered 😉.
Scholly’s The Incoming Freshman’s ULTIMATE Guide to College is a great starting point. This guide can help you:
Plan your academic life
Build good study habits
Navigate your college campus
Prepare for dorm life
Create a fun and supportive social circle
Stay on top of your physical and mental health
Manage and make money
2. Check out these tips specifically for first-generation students.
Are you a first-generation student heading to college this year? Check out this Tik-Tok video on tips on increase your success as a first-generation college student, including:
Find out if there is a first-gen resource center on campus. If not, check to see if there are any clubs.
See if you qualify for TRIO or CAMP, and take advantage of their programming—and see if there is a local center. Try multicultural or spiritual centers as well.
Most important: don’t be afraid to ask for help and support!
3. Pick the right classes—and don’t be afraid to shop around!
This guide from Best Choice Schools has 21 tips for choosing the right college classes. There are a solid variety of tips for thinking about class options, especially as a freshman.
Our favorite tip is #3: Take a Writing Course.
Communication and writing skills are critical skills throughout life and investing in these types of courses during college is critical, not only to future college success, but also once you enter the workplace!
We also recommend this TikTok from college guide HelpMeHarlan if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a college class you were taking. For your self-care and success, it's okay to ask your advisor about how to withdraw from a class. This video will give you the reassurance to put your mental health and success first!
4. Practice self-care.
Are you wondering how you accomplish self-care in college? Hear from current college students on how they're accomplishing self-care on their own for the first time in this YouTube video.
We recommend trying a meditation app!
Learn more about these options in this article from wizeprep.com.
Calm
headspace
Insight Timer
The Mindfulness App
Let’s Meditate
5. Don’t forget to take care of your body, too!
Sometimes it's hard to stay healthy in college. Are you struggling with making affordable, healthy, and tasty meals? Check out this video that teaches you four cheap and nutritional recipes. Additionally, this Medium article has a few more tips and tricks on how to stay healthy while in college.
Are you looking for things to add to your college shopping list? Check out these tips on things you should buy for your first year of college! Buying items for college can get expensive, so it’s important to know what the essentials are. This is a great way to use those financial investments from your team of backrs.
And for even more tips for starting college, join the Backrs community!
6. Stock up on the right supplies.
