Six Ways to Get Off to Great Start at DePaul

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Welcome to DePaul, Class of 2018!!!

I asked a few friends from the Class of 2017 about the top things you should know as you jump into your first quarter at DePaul. Between their thoughts and mine, here are some helpful nuggets that can make your entry into college life be economical, healthy and fun!

Explore Chicago

Whether you are from the Chicago area or new to the city, EXPLORE! This is a great city and DePaul considers the urban setting to be part of the classroom. So, take a field trip! Use your student ID to get discounts at the Art Institute and other museums. Walk around Lincoln Park, discover the zoo, take a walk along the beach (at the end of Fullerton). Walk up and down Clark Street and marvel at the delicious places to eat and the pick one! And don’t forget to check out ALL of the UPass discounts. You’ll be amazed at the deals at your fingertips.

Develop healthy habits

Take it from someone who is horribly un-athletic and ate nothing but Chipotle over summer: be healthy. The Freshman Fifteen is real and it’s coming for you. Start good health habits NOW!  You don’t need to be a gym junkie to keep fit. Run or work out or pick up some basketball with friends or SOMETHING at least once or twice a week. Make the Ray your friend and figure out how to fit some workout time into your weekly routing. Also, fruits and vegetables aren’t that bad. Neither is water. You might find the meal plan to be a LOT different from mom’s cooking, but you can choose healthy options. Your body will thank you. The sooner you start, the better. Trust me!

Play the book game

The book game is the game you play when you aren’t sure if that book is ACTUALLY required for your class, especially once you see the price. Look at your book lists as soon as you know your classes so you can find the most affordable option. In some cases, it’s best to buy, or even better rent the book. If you can get a copy for a good price on Amazon, go for it. If you do buy or rent a book you don’t wind up needing, you can sell the book back or, better yet, return it (KEEP YOUR ECEIPTS!). It’s a big juggling game, deciding what you’re really going to need and whether to buy books, so keep on top of it.

Get a job or internship ASAP

Get a part-time job if you can. This is a time commitment that will help you learn to manage money wisely and build your job experience. If not a part-time job, get an internship. Internships in your field will help you determine if the career path you’re on is the one you want, and if it is, it also builds job experience. Do something, preferably paid, because you’ll want to enjoy the city and that costs money!

At least try to get along with your roommate(s)

You already know that there is that awkward period when you feel somewhat obligated to be best friends with your new roommate(s). Well, here’s a great piece of news: No one expects you to be best friends or maybe even friends at all! While friendship does happen sometimes, it’s not necessarily the norm. Your interests may differ or your personalities may clash. Odds are you’ll disagree over a lot of things. For example, your roommate has to get up at 6 am to go to work and you want to be up ‘ til 3 am. Figure out how to make it work! You could go to a study lounge and hang out and then expect your roommate to do the same when you need to get up early and she/he wants to be the night owl. No double standards allowed! The best way to get along is to clearly communicate. Let one another know expectations, likes and dislikes, and what pushes your buttons. Communicate a lot. This starts the minute you meet!

Get Involved

Nothing starts friendships like, “Hey, you like that too?” So get plugged in. If you’re a commuter stay on campus sometimes and join a club or group you’re interested in. If you live on campus, fight the urge to go home every weekend so you can get involved. DePaul has over 300 student organizations so there’s a group for everyone. Some people join sororities or fraternities. Some people get fired up with community service organizations through VCSO (Vincentian Community Service Office). Some people get plugged into faith-based organizations like DePaul Christian Ministries or Catholic Student Union or Jewish Life. Some people play club sports. Some people like things like gaming (DeFRAG), Otaku/Japanese culture (JMAC), movies (DCCS), or poetry (POETS). Maybe you like to perform? DePaul has multiple choirs like DePaul Gospel Choir or try out for a play, brush off your iimprov talents or find one of many groups on campus to dance your way through school. Try something you never thought you would be interested in. You’ll make friends and learn more about yourself in the process.

Whatever you are into, one thing you will definitely learn (if you haven’t already figured it out): DePaul loves acronyms. Whether you work for UMIN (University Ministry), dance with DCD (DePaul Dance Club), serve with AIRE (Achieve Immigrant Rights and Equality), or help out with DAB (DePaul Activities Board), you are entering into an endless sea of acronyms. Don’t worry though, if you don’t know what someone is talking about, there’s no harm in asking. There’s certainly no test, so there’s no need to feel obligated to remember all of them. But ASK when you don’t know because there are probably others who are clueless also!

Class of 2018, we’ve got you covered! The good news about being a freshman is that you are in really good company…we’ve all been there! So, welcome to DePaul! Have a great start to a great college adventure!

Lindsay Echito is a Sophomore at DePaul who worked with University Ministry during her Freshman year.