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Throughout the first 13 years of anyone’s schooling, higher education is built up to be a monster no one is ever prepared for.
The advanced coursework, new living spaces and different environments can be overwhelming.
But some freshmen at the University of Idaho say their high school expectations were drastically different compared to their freshman experience.
Bailey Rikstad, a freshman computer science major from Kuna, Idaho, said his self-made expectations were more to handle than the classes.
“I expected it to be a lot harder. When I got here, I started psyching myself out when it came to all my classes,” Rikstad said. “And my first semester ended up not being that well, but this semester is going a lot better … classes are actually easier than what I expected.”
Different, but not difficult. This is the message Rikstad and other freshmen circled back to when explaining what their first year of college is like.
“As far as college compared to high school, they are different. So, keep your mind open to new things, because the school is different, teaching can be different, the homework is different,” Kyler Skinner, a freshman political science major, said. “The people are a bit different, but everybody’s really nice up here so it’s an easy adjustment. Doesn’t take long at all, just a couple of weeks and a year flies by.”
Having new living arrangements and responsibilities often correlate to having less time.
But an obstacle laid out by Sage Davis, a freshman double majoring in business management and psychology, is utilizing newfound and unexpected freedom.
“I have a lot more free time. In all of my classes, I have like two hours to spare to do homework and everything,” Davis said. “Once you hit exams and whatnot, you’re done and (it’s) so liberating and nice.”
Skinner and Davis initially lived in the Wallace Residence Center.
While Davis stayed at Wallace, Skinner made a switch, going to Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Skinner said he not only enjoyed the social atmosphere and support system of Greek life, but he also enjoyed the focus put on schoolwork.
“I would 100 percent recommend it. You have a lot of people to support you when you’re in a fraternity. They keep your grades in check. They make sure you get your work done,” Skinner said. “You have a lot of friends close by all the time and people that help you with anything.”
But regardless of living arrangements or majors, Rikstad said college can be stressful at times, but what it boils down to is: “It’s school with just a couple more responsibilities.” One thing Rikstad recommends to all new Vandals to conquer the monster higher education is built up to be is:
“Go to class. Just go to class,” Rikstad said.
Zack Kellogg can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @kellogg_zack.