How To Not Be An Obvious Freshman: Dos and Don’ts For Your First Year at Brown

Ah, freshman year: a time of innocence mixed with social anxiety and awkwardness like no other. You’ve made it to the Ivy League, kids, and are finally asking the important questions in life such as “Are ya gonna try out for Poler Bears?” or “How do I find Keeney?” Over the next four years, you will burst out of your shells and discover yourselves, but for now you are still scared and lost. You don’t have all of the answers yet. Lucky for you, I do: DO: decorate your roomDefinitely put up some posters to showcase your personality and have an aesthetic living space! You don’t want the first thing you see in the morning to be the boring walls of EmWool. DON’T: be offensive with your dorm decorMovie and rock star posters are cool, naked people maybe not so much. Don’t be “that person". DO: go to parties It’s freshman year and you’re finally away from home! Going out and getting wasted (or not, preferably, you’re underage) is an integral part of the college experience. DON’T: puke outside of Shake Shack and get EMS’edNot cool, dude. DO: leave your door openInviting people to come hang out in your room is a great way to socialize with people on your floor and form a tightly-knit community within your unit.  DON’T: throw a Whiskey Wednesdays pregame when your roommate is trying to workTrust me, you will not have a great year if your roommate hates you. Try to establish a good relationship from the get-go, or at least remain neutral and just set some ground rules. DO: compost at the RattyHere at Brown, you go green or go home. Everyone does it, so it’s cool. DON’T: drop your fork in the compostAgain, not cool, dude. DO: talk to upperclassmenOlder students are a great resource for learning more about Brown and getting comfortable with your surroundings! Don’t shy away from introducing yourself. However…  DON’T: ask stupid questionsThere’s a reason you got into this school, I believe you can be interesting if you really try! Upperclassmen have already had their orientation, so you can skip the required freshman small talk and have a real conversation! Maybe, you’ll learn a thing or two that’s not just discovering that yet another person from Brown is from New York (wow, that’s so cool). DO: do your homework before lectureYes, classes actually matter here! You’re not paying this tuition to socialize (only partly). Stay on top of your readings and homework, and make the most of your first semester. DON’T: raise your hand in the middle of Salomon and tell the professor that you didn’t do the reading Just hang tight. No need to draw unnecessary attention to yourself.  DO: find a good study spaceFor some people, it’s one of the libraries. For others, it’s the lounge on their floor. Regardless, having a reliable place to study will help you stay focused and maintain a healthy work schedule. DON’T: sit directly next to someone at an otherwise empty table at the Rock, pull out your Ratty to-go box, and start chewing noisilyCome on, freshman. You’re better than this. DO: explore more of Providence It’s actually a fantastic city. One of my biggest regrets from freshman year is not going off campus enough. DON’T: rip your pants because you fell from your Lime scooter while speeding down the hillOr do. It could make for a funny story. Wear a helmet, though. The Blognonian takes no responsibility for poor decisions.Images via