10 Things You MUST Do During College Orientation

College orientation is one of your first tastes of life at the college you’ve chosen to spend the next chunk of your life at. No pressure, right? While college orientation is always fun, it’s also very stressful. I mean, you’re on the grounds of your future home, meeting dozens or even hundreds of faces you will be surrounded by for the next few years while also trying to put forth a great image for yourself.

Did I stress you out enough? Great. Turn your stress into positive energy and enthusiasm! These college orientation tips will help you tackle the day with your head held high and a smile on your face.

1. Ask all of the questions.

There are a lot of people who genuinely want to help you at these things, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Also, be sure to actually write down your Orientation Leader’s e-mail or friend them on Facebook. Over the summer you might think of something else to ask and they’ll surely be open to answering, whether it be what to pack for college or which dorm is closest to the library. Don’t worry about being “too annoying,” the job of your OL is to answer your questions and provide you with guidance.

2. Take notes.

While there likely won’t be too much to take notes on because you’ll get a ton of info packets, take note of what others are saying. You can do this subtly on your phone. If your Orientation Leader mentions a club you want to remember to check out in the fall or a local ice cream shop that’s popular, write it down! If they mention any important tips or places you want to be sure to remember, be sure to jot them down in a note on your phone.

Speaking of important tips, here are some tips on preparing for your first year of college!

3. Network a little.

This isn’t a business event, but it is a very social one. You’re meeting people you will be spending the next four years yet, it’s definitely beneficial to make some connections. Strike up conversations, follow each other on Instagram, friend each other on Facebook or swap numbers. While you may not ever message them or use their number, it’s definitely handy. If you meet someone who’s close to your hometown, arranging to meet up over the summer is a perfect idea. The truth is that everyone is just as nervous about you are. Even if you’re a bit more of an introvert, make a point to turn on the socialite charm for the day.

Everyone will be relieved by someone making the first move to strike a conversation. I met one of my best friends at Orientation because we later found each other on campus and remembered talking about prom dresses and my college-themed nails at Orientation!

4. Make a lot of small talk using common ground.

This is closely tied to networking. Since all of you guys are the same age and going to the same college, there is so much to talk about. Even with a ton of topics in common, some people are like talking to a wall and it’s fine–move on and talk to someone else if you can’t crack their shell. Here are some topic suggestions to keep in the back of your mind when you’re not sure what to talk about:

•  Prom – It probably happened or will be happening soon before or after the orientation. Talk dresses, after prom, etc.
• Why you chose this college – Are your parents alumni? Is it near your house?
• Dorms – Which one do you want to live in? Do you think the showers will be gross?
• The weird orientation games – You’ll see what I mean.
• Majors/Where people are from – These can be dead end if you let them! Be sure to have follow up questions like, “Oh, have you always wanted to be a teacher?” or “Oh, no way! Have you ever been to the famous cupcake place the town over?”
• Favorite TV Shows – These are great to talk about! Everyone watches some, unless of course they have no TV, in which case, that’s a conversation in and of itself.

These topics were what I found myself most often discussing during orientation. Be sure to be honest and real. Bonus tip: saying or having something memorable always works in your favor. I was recognized for my school mascot themed nail design. It’s easier to be remembered if you have something to be remembered for whether it be as the girl who is a triplet or the girl who watches all of the same shows as you, etc. This can be used to strike up a convo later on down the line.

6. Make rounds.

Avoid sticking to the same 1-2 people the entire time. It’s nice to find someone cool and stick with them, but make sure you also talk to many other people–you’ll have even more familiar faces when you get to campus. While making rounds, this also means get a good feel of your campus and your surroundings. Become at least somewhat familiar with the campus itself while you’re on it.

7. Take advantage of the freebies.

There’s almost always a free t-shirt involved. Enjoy the free pens, bags and other school logo covered goodies. Free stuff is always the best.

8. Participate in the cheesy games.

Yes, you can do so while joking about how ridiculous they are to the people around you. Honestly, the jokes about the games and mutual dislike of them is what generally brings people together, not the game itself. You will be forced to play a lot of “get to know you” games. Just play along with a smile or make some jokes. Don’t roll your eyes at everything and refuse to genuinely participate, though, it’ll put out a bad vibe.

9. Take pictures.

Even if it’s just of you on the campus, you’ll definitely want to look back on one of your first official moments of college.

10. Look good.

Obviously. There are SO many reasons for this. You want to make a good impression and typically, orientation is when you have your ID photos taken. Your ID photo is stuck with you for four years. Also, ladies and gents, keep in mind your necklaces. Due to an oversight on my part, my ID has the tops of a “MEOW” necklace. Classy.

I seriously encourage you to check out The Incoming Freshman’s Ultimate Guide To College, it’s got everything you need!

Be sure to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Don’t put too much effort into your look, but don’t look like you just rolled out of bed. You can’t go wrong with a pair of jeans, a simple top and sneakers.

What are your best college orientation tips?