By Caroline Gyure

Entering college as a freshman can feel frightening and overwhelming. It’s easy to stress about managing college classes and making new friends. Yet through these challenges, you’ll find yourself growing and maturing as a person in ways you never thought possible. Though ultimately helpful, these growing pains are still painful, so here are five tips to help you thrive in your freshman year.

1. Give yourself some grace. You’ll learn so many new skills your freshman year, both in managing your personal life and your academics! You’ll easily manage these responsibilities eventually, but don’t expect yourself to get everything right every time. You might procrastinate on your homework, take a wrong turn and be late for class, or forget an assignment. Be mentally prepared for these little mishaps, but always remember that is all they are: little mishaps. Take responsibility for your mistakes, learn your lesson, and move on!
2. Schedule in downtime. Mental health is so, so important to everyone at William & Mary! One of the best ways you can keep yourself healthy is by scheduling yourself some downtime. Find a way every week to give yourself a few hours alone to decompress, even if you don’t think you need it – you always do!
3. Ask people to hang out! Asking someone to hang out is always a little nerve-racking at first but always pays off. Everyone at William & Mary is so friendly, and every other freshman is also trying to make friends. Go ahead and ask your seatmate in your COLL 100 if they want to grab lunch at Sadler! You might just meet a great friend!
4. Follow each day where it takes you. Some of my best memories at William & Mary so far have been created in moments of spontaneity. When someone asks you if you want to go grab ice cream in CW right now, say yes! Prioritize living in the moment and grabbing hold of all these little opportunities thrown your way!
5. Read all the emails you get from William & Mary. There will be quite a few emails you’ll be sent from various campus departments – which you can unsubscribe to if they don’t apply to you! But skim through every Student Happenings and department newsletter. They have so much important information in them about guest lectures, fun events, and amazing opportunities!

Caroline is a member of the Class of 2027 at William & Mary, planning to major in English and minor in Management and Organizational Leadership. She​ sings in Barksdale Treble Choir and loves reading and creative writing. When not in class, you can find her studying around campus or at home in Yorktown, VA during school breaks!

By: Ellie McMahon

1. Go all in. As a junior, my first (almost) three years have flown by and I’m not really sure how. What I do know is that this time is too short not to take advantage of all the amazing things W&M has to offer!
2. Prioritize your wellness. In addition to cool FitWell classes, the Rec also has a sauna that works wonders for stress.
3. Dining hall condiments will be your best friend. Trust me on this, especially if you want food with flavor
4. The Sunken Garden is best enjoyed with a picnic blanket, hat, and a group of friends. Maybe even a football and sunscreen if you’re feeling fancy.
5. Never eat a meal alone. This I learned from a W&M alum during an interview; he said that if he could redo anything about his time here, it would be to always eat with new friends.
6. Don’t be afraid. Of the hard classes, the scary professor, the making new friends. We’ve all been there and made it out the other side.
7. Comparison really is the thief of joy; it’s important to run your own race.
8. Don’t forget to call your parents/siblings/loved ones. They’re the ones who helped to get you here!
9. Embrace your inner TWAMP* because life is more fun that way!
10. Learn to bleed green and gold, whatever that means for you. William & Mary was never going to be just a four year thing; we’re all in the Tribe for life.

* Typical William & Mary Student

Choosing a college is an overwhelming decision. Will I succeed in my classes? How will I find my group of friends? Will I be prepared for graduate education or the workforce? William & Mary is a perfect university for students looking for a small community feel, with the resources of a large university. Students and faculty bring innovative and unique ideas that contribute to the diversity of perspectives at W&M. The sense of community flourishes at the university through a smaller physical campus, but a large network of graduates and alumni. 

William & Mary will challenge you academically, socially, and professionally. But within these challenges come irreplaceable experiences that will prepare you for real-world opportunities. Students, staff, and faculty are welcoming and prepared to help you from your very first step on campus through your entire W&M experience. There are many opportunities to give back to the community, participate in research, and explore new interests inside and beyond the classroom. With over 150 student clubs & organizations, you’re sure to find a group of people that share similar interests and goals. 

Our smaller campus offers the benefit of walkability and being closely located to Colonial Williamsburg. Being the second oldest university in the United States, William & Mary has a rich history. Taking a stroll around Colonial Williamsburg to be immersed in the country’s largest living history museum is a unique experience that no other university has to offer.  

While looking at prospective colleges, consider touring William & Mary!