Tips for Sacramento State Freshmen

High school is over and you are about to embark on a new adventure. Whatever you did and whoever you were in high school does not necessarily carry over to the university. You will need to make new friends and adapt to the independence of being a college freshman.

University life is what you make it. So make it fun and make your life as easy as possible at Sac State by following these tips.

Orientation and Friends

Your high school friends went to other colleges or simply didn't go at all. Now you have to start over and make new friends. The thought of making friends can be horrifying to some people. If you fit in this category, go to freshman orientation.

There usually is a lot of interaction in freshman orientation. You will get a chance to meet other people in the same boat. Perhaps you will meet people with the same major (that is if you already know what you're going for). Swap email addresses and find each other on Facebook.

While you are making friends during orientation, take some time to actually listen to the people running orientation. Usually, upper classmen take part in orientation at Sac State by acting as tour guides. Use this time to ask questions. For example, you can ask what restaurants are great to eat at on campus or what places to stay away from.

Orientation is also a great time to learn your way around campus. Instead of being that lost student holding a map on the first day, figure out where your classes are going to be held.

You can sign up and learn more about orientation on Sac State's Web page here.

Go to Class!

Since you are going to orientation and know the location of your classes, follow through and actually go! For many first-time college students it's a challenge to show up for class. For the first time in your life you have the choice to be a good student and show up to class or sleep-in instead of showing up for lecture without mom and dad getting a phone call.

If you get into the habit of not showing up to class at Sac State, you will get dropped from the class. English majors, if you miss more than three classes your professor will either drop you or your grade will be majorly impacted.

Mmm... Food

Either you had classes all morning or you missed breakfast because you were finishing up that essay on a Shakespeare play you didn't even bother to read and now it is lunch time. You are starving. Put some food in your stomach before finishing up your last classes. What is there to eat?

Your best bet is to stay on campus if you only have an hour break between classes. There are a variety of places to eat at in the River Front Center. Togo's, pizza, Chinese food or hamburgers and fries are available at the River Front Center. The River Front Center is located in the north area of the campus near the huge area of green and Douglass Hall.

If you are on the opposite side of the campus, check out the University Union. You can get Mexican food, Burger King, and more Chinese food. There's also a Subway outside the Union. It's located in the same building as the new book store.

There are also a lot of off-campus restaurants to choose from if you have longer than an hour. Just make sure you get back to campus in time for your next class. You don't want to get dropped.

There is a Fresh Choice nearby on Howe Avenue. If you love sushi, Arigato Sushi, also on Howe Avenue, has cheap food. They offer 50% off of rolls every day.

College is what you make it. So make some friends, try some new things, and, of course, go to class! I wish you the best of luck during your first year.