Tips for the college-bound freshman

Typical preparation for a college freshman involves an intense bed-in-a-bag selection process, and the purchase of a shower tote and a “must-have” panini press. But really, the best prep work for college doesn’t involve linen coordination or small appliance purchases at all. Rather, it’s learning how to meet, learn from, and work with others who are different from you in any number of ways.

College naturally provides an environment to meet different people, and it is in every student’s best interest to take advantage of it.

According to US News & World Report, five out of the 10 crucial talents you need to launch any career directly relate to skills you can learn and perfect in college just by getting to know those around you: transferable skills (ie. teamwork), the ability to ask, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to be curious.

Of course, it’s natural that many of the fears college freshmen face involve exactly this concept, meeting new faces: roommates, floor mates, classmates, professors, etc. The good news is that almost every freshman has these fears, and college administrators often work with students to help them make the most out of new relationships.

Thomas Chew, director of The Center for Student Success at Nazareth College, agrees that going after relationships with others who are different from you is incredibly important.

“We’re trying to develop inquisitive minds and active learners. If they’re doing it outside the classroom in their new community as they get comfortable with their learning environment, they’re more likely to do it in the classroom and vice versa.”

Students are encouraged to enter college with an open mind, but Chew finds that students don’t always know exactly how to do so or what actions to take.

“It's okay to ask questions. It's encouraged. Ask where people are from, ask what their high school was like and what they were involved in. Share your own experiences; even if you don't think they're as cool or glamorous, most people actually connect through the mundane. ‘You love pizza and football? I do too,’ ” says Chew.

This year, the University of Rochester’s 1,280 incoming freshmen embodies 47 states, four U.S. territories, and 83 countries, representing a diverse mix of faith, culture, ethnicity, academic and social interests, and economics among other things.

The Rev. Canon Dr. C. Denise Yarbrough, director of Religious and Spiritual Life at University of Rochester, encourages first-year students to join extracurricular activities as a way to meet and interact with those not like them, adding that interfaith activities on campus offer a safe and welcoming environment to do so.

“I challenge the students to see the religious and cultural diversity of their campus as a banquet or smorgasbord from which they should happily taste a lot of different dishes while they have the opportunity to do so,” says Yarbrough. “It is also important to form friendships with people who are different from themselves through which they will learn a great deal about another culture or religion or race or ethnicity, while learning even more about themselves.”

College is also a great place to learn more about international studies, even if it’s not your major or you can’t study abroad.

As the number of international students who study in the U.S. continues to climb, many colleges employ staff to not only help international students adjust to American culture, but to help U.S. students work with international cultures, arming them with tools relevant in today’s career force.

The overall number of has grown 72 percent since 2000, and the U.S. hosts more international students than any other country according to the 2014 Open Doors Report on International Education and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.

When it comes to meeting students from another country, Molly Jolliff, director of international student engagement at University of Rochester encourages students to engage with one another. “Be curious and ask each other questions. Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know much about where they are from. Ask them where that is and what it’s like. Look it up on a map together.”

Students from one country will tend to group together and speak their own language. Jolliff encourages for American students to not be put off by that. “It’s only natural. You’d likely do the same thing if you were in another country.” She also encourages students to actually stop for a moment to see how the person is actually doing rather than a drive-by hello. “You may be surprised at what you learn about them!” Jolliff says.

Meeting new people is not always a walk in the park. But with the right support and smart choices, building new relationships in college can be amazing.

“You can choose to surround yourself with people who support you and make you a better person or people who distract you and pull you away from your goals.

Always know what you want to get out of your college experience (building relationships and making friends is an absolutely valid and important aspect of being a college student), and share those goals with your support system and listen to their goals,” says Chew. Resources include resident advisors, residence life staff, instructors, orientation leaders, first year seminar courses, first-year dean, chaplains, and so many others on campus.

“If you know what you're worried about, accept it and find the resources to push through. Most importantly is not letting things build up. If you feel like something is going to be difficult, ask for help. If you're feeling behind, ask for help. If you don't then you really will fall behind and playing catch up is much harder,” says Chew.

Haverly Erskine is a freelance writer.