Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

Before you say, "Not another makeover," listen up! This isn't the "reshape-your-eyebrows/highlight-your-hair" kind of makeover. And it's not like one of those "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" transformations, either. I'm talking about a mind, body, and soul shape-up that'll help you enter College with confidence and achieve campus comfort.

Mind Over Matter
Though you may feel like a little fish in a big pond, this is not the outlook you'll want to bring when you first jump into college waters. Rather, Jennifer Hanson, author of The Real freshman Handbook (Houghton Mifflin, 2002), says you should swim in the college pond free of restrictions. "Be open-minded -- personally, extracurricularly, and academically," she says. "Spend time experimenting while the freedom and resources are available."

Personal Progress: Hanson suggests making friends with different kinds of people -- but try to avoid bonding through complaining about others. "There's a tendency -- especially among girls -- to bond by being a little 'catty,'" she says. "Don't feel like you have to compete for friendships or look down on others to relate to your friends."

Extracurricular Development: It's as easy as getting involved with things that interest you. From clubs to Sports, you'll meet a lot of people to whom you can relate. And it looks great on your resume, too.

Take it from Mathieu Gerbush, graduate of the State University of New York in Brockport. "I wanted to do just about everything," he says. "Eventually, I narrowed it down to playing in the jazz band and doing volunteer work, and I've made the most amazing friends along the way."

Academic Growth: Don't just take required courses. Learn a new foreign language or choose classes on crazy topics to broaden your academic curriculum, Hanson suggests. For instance, Juniata College (Huntington, PA) offers a class on samurai legends, and Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA) has a class called Religions of Star Trek. You can even take up fly-fishing for credit at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT). Check your course catalogues to see what your school has to offer.

Body Guarding
We've seen the freshman 15 happen one too many times to susceptible first-year students. Frosh often come to college with a newfound sense of freedom -- to stay out late, eat what they want, when they want (including those detrimental midnight -- or 3 a.m. -- snacks), and disregard the need for healthy eating and exercise. The result? Unwanted weight gain.

To guard your body and stay campus healthy, Columbia University (New York, NY) nutritionist and Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ) professor, Dr. Audrey Cross, offers the following tips for staying campus healthy.

Real Meals: "Eat real meals," Cross stresses -- and not ones from fast-food joints.

Robyn Heller, a Monmouth University (West Long Branch, NJ) graduate, knows a great way to stick to the "real meal" regiment. "Taking advantage of the dining hall is key," she says. "My friends and I didn't really gain weight because we didn't go out to eat all the time. And since some of the Cafeteria food wasn't too appetizing, I stuck to the salad bar a lot."

Smart Snacks: If the mystery meat frightens you and the salad bar just doesn't cut it, there's a chance you might snack later on to satisfy your hunger, according to Cross.

If you have to snack, she suggests keeping fresh fruit or cheese sticks in your Dorm room to avoid hitting up the vending machine for candy bars and potato chips. But if the junk food temptation is upon you -- because let's face it, it's all over campus -- then munch in moderation.

Get Physical: Though you may be strapped for time, getting in your exercise minutes is as easy as walking or jogging to class, or going out dancing with your friends. "You don't need to work out at the gym," says Cross. "But you do need a sport or some kind of physical activity to participate in on a regular basis."

If you do have time to spare, however, Cross suggests taking up something you can do consistently and enjoy for a lifetime, like running, karate, or basketball for the best impact. These activities are usually offered by your physical education department and require little or no expense in equipment.

Soul Session
Education doesn't only occur in the classroom; learning begins the minute you step on campus. Not philosophy or economics -- I'm talking about the life course known as You 101. You're not just walking down the hall to class; you're also headed toward self-awareness. And what better way to continue on that path than by making the right choices, finding your niche, and doing some good?

Self-Reflection: In College in a Can (Houghton Mifflin, 2004), authors Sandra and Harry Choron list seven ways to tell right from wrong while away from home. Some of their suggestions include thinking about consequences, ignoring what others are saying, and asking yourself if you'd be proud after the action is taken.

Club Appeal: Gilbert Gatchalian, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT, Newark, NJ) graduate, says he found a home away from home in a campus-based organization. "Since I was new to the country, I was in search of people I could share my faith and beliefs with," says Gilbert. "So when I heard about Youth for Christ, I joined because it was the perfect mix of what I was looking for."

Check campus bulletin boards and newspapers to find your niche -- but remember to maintain your individuality, and beware of groups with unhealthy agendas.

Community Service: Another great way to feed your soul is to volunteer. If you're looking to do some good while in college, follow in the footsteps of Rachel Graham, graduate of Union College (Schenectady, NY). Rachel turned a former drug house into COCOA (Children of Our Community Open to Achievement) House, a tutoring and mentoring center. Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY) students also serve their community with CookShop, a nutrition education program in which students visit local schools to teach grade-school kids about healthy foods and give them cooking lessons.

Now it's up to you to find your cause.


http://www.collegesurfing.com/content
Ysolt Usigan is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

Sound Off! Post Your Comments