Are you a Freshman or a "Freshman"

There are many types of college students. These are our types of freshman:

 

  • The  athlete- you can tell these freshman by the fact they cling very heavily to the team they are a part of for at least the first couple of weeks in order to avoid looking like a freshman. They talk like they’ve been at college for years to other freshman because of their time in preseason, but in fact they are still a freshman at heart.
  • The “I’m actually a Sophomore” – These are some of my favorite. When you ask if they are a freshman they triumphantly proclaim that they are in fact a Sophomore by credits and by saying this they expect you to treat them as a Sophomore. These students however are still “freshman” to college itself and therefore are still Freshman. Sorry to burst that bubble.
  • The Clueless – This is the poor freshman who just looks lost. When he/she passes by everyone just sighs and thinks, “Bless her heart.” You might see this freshman running across campus with a look of shear panic on their face at least twice a day for the first week.
  • The Free ones– This freshman is one you just love to see. This is the freshman whose mom did not leave their side during every orientation event, meeting, meal, and stayed way too long in the dorm room to “help move in.” The moment his parents leave, however, this student’s appearance changes as he realizes the freedom he now possesses.
  • The Late Bloomers – Some of my best friends in school were late bloomers. These students come into school nervous, quiet, and usually pretty shy. They then find a group of friends that they hang around and then over time they slowly emerge from their shell. These students are my favorite because by the time they are juniors or seniors they are almost unrecognizable from their freshman self. I also like to call these freshman, “the unleashed beast.”
  • The Normal – non-existent. If you find one, let me know.

 

Now before you go and think I am just making fun of people, believe me that is not the case. I would not have a job without freshman, and therefore they are some of my favorite people.

 

There is a common theme among all of these freshman, though. All freshman come in to school unsure about some things. I have never met an honest freshman who says otherwise. College is new, and therefore uncertain in areas. Here’s a fun fact: ITS OKAY TO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING.

 

On the contrary, freshman who admit they need help can pick college up faster than those who try to act older than they are and struggle through.

 

I remember my first year on campus. I came in somewhere between a late-bloomer and a freshman athlete. The best preparation I had coming into college, though, was having my brother already at college. I got all the information I needed through the whole process from him.

 

Not everyone has a sibling already at school there to help though, so what do you do if you have a question?

 

Maranatha Admissions is the office that can help, and we now have a blog and website that is dedicated to that very thing: Helping incoming and current students. We want to help you with everything from what you need to pack for college to what kind of internships you should be looking for while at college.

 

More will be said about what questions we will answer and even how to get a post written about your own question, but for now just know this; you now have an older sibling at college ready to answer all your questions.