Surviving the first year college can be tough, but is not impossible. Upperclassmen know what it is like to be in the shoes of a first-year student and what it takes to make it successful.

Associate Director of Residence Life Joy Schmelzer, who is also an expert in first year experience, said first-year students “should expect to be challenged, educated and willing to go out of their comfort zone.”

To prepare for college, Schmelzer says that orientation is a great way for students to obtain the resources that they will need for the school and learn what the school has to offer. “Something students don’t realize is how many resources they have until they absolutely need it,” she said. “I think it’s important for students to know what the school has to offer.”

The transition into college can be uncomfortable. Junior Kaylee Lima, said she jumped from her comfort zone by meeting new people and learning how to live on her own. She said, “meeting new people from all over the country and moving away from home” were some of her favorite aspects of college.

Sophomore Michael Nuzzo said making friends was an important part of his first year experience. “My first semester I was a music major, and one of the best things about that was there were a lot of students, so it was easy to make friends there,” he said.

Participating in events and joining clubs are two ways students can try to meet new friends or bond with old ones.

“The school didn’t help me much but that is because I didn’t put myself out there,” Lima said.

UMass Lowell also has many events geared towards students’ entertainment, which helps them to meet more people on campus. “I really liked going to the hockey games. That was one of my favorite things for me,” Nuzzo adds.

The first year is also a time where students need to find themselves while also trying to find what to do for a career. Nuzzo said that switching his major was also very important in finding himself because his major is ultimately going to decide what he is about to do for the rest of his life.

One of the hardest parts specifically for current senior Kerry Augusta was trying to juggle personal life and schoolwork.

Having a surplus amount of time away from her mom sometimes meant that her grades would slip because there was not someone forcing her to do the work.

“Well before I figured that stuff out (juggling school work and personal life) I was feeling like I was super lost and that it was sort of a confusing time because I thought I had a different idea of what college really was,” Nuzzo said. “Not having family here and adjusting for the first few weeks [was difficult]. Once I got through that, that is when I started figuring things out.”

Upperclassmen suggest that in order to succeed, first-year students focus on time management and not slacking off on schoolwork. “I would tell myself to focus more on school and not get so stressed out about classes and I didn’t know that you could get in trouble for withdrawing from classes,” Augusta said.

She also recommends that freshmen do not eat as much dining hall food. Since it is unlimited it is easy to stuff yourself because no one is telling you to stop.

Augusta suggests that freshmen take advantage of the library more. There is a plague that many of people suffer from called the fear of missing out, more commonly known as FOMO. “Your friends will always be there every weekend, so don’t be afraid to miss out on weekend festivities,” she said.

Nuzzo’s advice is about relationships and how they can effect your first year.

“Going into college with a relationship from high school in hindsight probably a bad idea,” he said.

Nuzzo said his freshman experience was “basically finding what I wanted to do.”