Women in College: Freshwoman Primer
by Sonia Inamdar

Originally published Aug. 21, 2000 on studentadvantage.com.

This is the fifth in a series of articles and columns on the lives of women in college today.

Insomnia. Cold sweat. Loss of appetite. You've either caught the West Nile virus, or you're an anxious freshwoman (a.k.a. female freshman) getting ready to leave the nest for the first time.

Odds are you're the latter, and I don't blame you if your nerves are on edge. Many of you, after all, are about to leave behind a way of life that's all you've ever known.

Although it's a daunting task, preparing for this difficult transition is possible. And the outcome? Hopefully by the time classes start the adjustment to college life will be almost complete, and you'll wonder what you were so nervous about in the first place.

A Week or Two Before

Orientation's about to start, but you decided to put off packing and selecting classes in order to relish those last few days with your high school friends. That's fine, but take a few small steps to get yourself mentally ready for the college leap.

Have you contacted your future roommate yet? Some students firmly believe there's no need to find out they're living with a deranged psychopath any sooner than they have to. But the chances you'll end up with a clinically insane roomie are rare, and your nerves will be put at ease when you hear a perfectly normal voice at the other end of the line.

Plus, this is the perfect opportunity to plan out who will bring the phone, fridge and other shared equipment. Make sure you both agree not to choose beds or rearrange furniture until the two of you have arrived. Otherwise, the frenzy to settle in could make one (or both) of you greedy, and could create tension that lasts all year.

It's easy to get sucked into the back-to-school shopping craze, but don't go overboard spending your life savings at Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond. You'll regret having bought those 40 stacks of computer paper once you realize there's no room for them in the car, they're too heavy to carry up three flights of stairs, and the same exact paper was being sold in your campus bookstore for 30 percent less. It may be easier to shop for school supplies, computers and bulky dorm furnishings once you arrive at school — and once you've gotten yourself a steady cash flow.

Days Before You Leave

It's time to start packing! Ladies, let me give you some advice:

1. If you haven't worn it for a year, don't bring it.
   
2. You don't need ten pairs of shoes.
   
3. Yes, you will go to a few formals, but not that many. And you'll probably buy a new dress for your first freshman dance anyway.
   
4. If you're going to school in the northern half of the country, listen to your mom: Pack those ugly snow boots. You'll need them if you want to actually get to class in a snowstorm (yes, you probably will have class even if it snows).

As women, many of us have a serious fear of separating with our clothing; we're afraid that, if we leave that sweater behind, we'll realize later in a flash of horror that we needed it to complete a killer outfit. To compensate, we pack our entire wardrobe and bring it along wherever we go.

Huge mistake, ladies. What are you going to wear when you go home for vacations? Leave some stuff behind — you won't have enough closet space in your tiny dorm room for everything anyway. And besides, you'll usually end up wearing jeans, t-shirts and sneakers to class every day.

In addition to nonessential clothing, there are a few more things you should leave behind before starting school — like your high-school sweetheart. Leaving for college still attached to a boyfriend back home is going to be more painful for both parties in the long run, so be careful before you decide to give it a shot! Also, don't go overboard with high-school memorabilia and childhood mementos. Bring the teddy bear if you must, but a photo album and a couple framed photos of family and friends should be enough to remind you of home.

For a comprehensive list of what to pack (in terms of clothing, school supplies and stuff for your dorm room and bathroom) check out Pack It Up: What to Bring to College. The article also provides information about items usually banned from dorms, saving you the hassle of lugging that halogen lamp up to school only to find you can't use it.

The First Week in Your New Home

So you've arrived at your new campus, settled into your room and met a few people on your floor. What next? Orientation week will provide a wealth of opportunities to get acquainted with other frosh and involve yourself in campus activities. Now's the time to meet with advisors, sign up for extracurriculars, find out about student employment and learn your way around the school.

In the excitement of it all, you may be tempted to join the crew team, tae kwon do club, Amnesty International, school newspaper, Recycling Committee and any other group you have a vague feeling you may possibly be interested in. Don't overestimate how much time you'll have to spare, though — the amount of work you'll have to do will overwhelm you in a flash if you don't take it easy at the start.

This is the last piece of advice, and perhaps the most important: Credit-card bills will have to eventually be paid someday, so keep those bits of plastic for emergencies only and learn to budget! That spokesperson from Visa, MasterCard or Discover can be very convincing — and you might even get free stuff for joining. But if you fall into the trap, you'll watch your debt level rise while your credit-rating plummets, meaning big trouble getting an apartment or a car after you graduate.

So the bottom line: Use common sense when preparing for and feeling your way through your first first weeks at school, and pursue your own interests rather than overextending yourself with too many activities. The first weeks are crucial, and you'll make mistakes — but just think of it as a trial run for four amazing years ahead.

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The copyright to this column is held by Student Advantage, Inc.

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The New Century's Student Body (on undergrad enrollment trends)
Blatant Lack of Faculty Equality, Female Profs Say
We, the Teachers (column on female profs)
Freshwoman Primer
Why I Hate Men (column on women's studies)
How Women's Studies Was Born
Mourning the Death of Radcliffe
Where Boys Need Not Apply
Life as a ROTC Woman
The Gender Gap Grows (on trends in specific majors)