Freshman Year Freak Out - Institute for Student Achievement



Freshman Year Freak Out!

11th Grade Advisory

Unit 3

Lesson #7 – Going “away”

5 Minutes

Prompt and share out

Give students the Do Now with the following prompt:

How often does a teacher or administrator from MBA get in touch with someone at home?

Share out responses afterward

10 Minutes

Handout A

Students will complete Handout A individually and will then share out their responses.

15-20 Minutes

Handouts B and C

Read handout B together (or have students read individually) and then go through the discussion questions as a group.

Read the directions for Handout C and then complete the reading. Discuss thoughts afterward.

Handout A

Directions: Answer the following questions individually.

1) When was the last time an MBA teacher or administrator either called your house or sent you a notice in the mail?

2) How often do you approach teachers at MBA for help after school?

3) How often are you reminded by an MBA teacher to make up missing work? If this has happened to you on multiple occasions – how many times have you waited until the end of the quarter to turn in missing assignments?

4) When was the last time an MBA teacher nagged you to complete a multi-step project?

5) When was the last time you were late to school? Late to class?

6) How many times during a quarter are you absent from school?

7) When was the last time you or your parent received a text message or phone call from an MBA teacher to remind you about being to school on time?

8) How often does an MBA teacher or administrator help you with a personal issue?

9) How many hours do you spend on homework? Do you generally begin assignments right away or do you procrastinate?

10) When was the last time you did your own laundry?

11) When you aren’t getting along with one of your friends, what do you usually do?

12) How often does an MBA teacher or administrator help you sort through “drama”?

________________________________________________________________________

Do you think life will be the same when you get to college?

Will you have a difficult time adjusting to a more independent lifestyle?

Will your professors at college know you as well as we do here at MBA?

Hmmm….

Handout B

Going Away to College Means Going Away

My freshman year I had a friend down the hall, let's call her Gracie, who absolutely could not let go of home. Every moment that she wasn't in class she was home or running home to Skype with her best friends from high school. When she was walking around campus she was on the phone with her parents or her little sister. At meals all she could talk about was who from her hometown was doing what these days. Every opportunity she got she bought a Greyhound ticket back home for the weekend.

As a result, her school life suffered. She was a friendly girl and didn't have trouble making friends with people in our hall, but she hardly knew anyone else. She often complained that she felt like she didn't know what was going on on campus. There was even one time that she missed an early class registration because she'd been too busy chatting with her high school friends to check the email telling her that when it was set to happen.

The routine Gracie fell into is an easy one and certainly not uncommon. Going away to college means a new life in a new place with new people and new schedules and habits and responsibilities and expectations. This can be super intimidating. Despite this, it's really important not to revert back to old comfort zones. Obviously there's nothing wrong with staying in touch with your high school friends or having a chat with your Mom on the phone, but making that your entire life at school takes away from your actual life at school. It sounds cliche and silly, but it's true that a huge part of why you go away to college is to go away to college. Finding out who you are and developing your independence are huge parts of what school is all about. This can be really difficult when you're still stuck in the world of who asked who to prom.

How do you strike a balance? As far as I'm concerned, it's different for everyone but a good way to measure is to go with how you feel. Do you feel like you're always running home for the weekend? Do you feel like you don't know anyone on your campus? When the answer to questions like these is yes, cool it with the Skype dates and the phone calls. Reach out to people around you. Go to a party or a free lecture on campus. Join an intramural sport. Walk down your hall and chat with someone who's left his door open. Remember that going away means going away, not being away and trying desperately to be at home. The more you're open to the differences of your life at college, the easier it is to enjoy them.

Discussion Questions:

1) Are you afraid that you will end up like Gracie? Why or why not?

2) What makes you nervous about going away to college?

3) If your school is too far for you to go home on the weekends, how will you cope?

4) If you have a problem with a professor, what will you do?

5) How will you handle a heavy workload? What if your assignments are incomplete?

Handout C

Going to College

|Directions: While reading this article, underline sentences or passages that you think will be helpful. Put a star ** next to |

|sentences or passages that surprise you, and draw an arrow ( near sentences or passages that you don’t agree with or that sound |

|strange. |

A popular student in her small high school, Katie started college expecting to ace her courses and be best friends with her two roommates. But things didn't turn out that way. Psych 101 — the course she thought would be a first-semester favorite — turned out to be a struggle. And her roommates were as different from Katie as the cafeteria's mystery meat was from her mom's pot roast.

Katie summed up her first semester as one of "changed expectations." Some things that she thought would be perfect turned out to be a bumpy road, but other things turned out to be much easier.

Katie's advice? Try not to have preconceived expectations of what college will be like. Be open to surprises.

Taking the Stress Out of College

Katie realized that the things she'd been realistic about turned out to be the easiest to deal with. She'd expected to find it hard living away from home, not only in terms of missing her family but also in dealing with practical stuff like washing her own clothes. Because she anticipated these issues, Katie found them less stressful.

Living away from home tends to be the toughest adjustment for first-year students. You've had a clear role within your family all of your life: the family comedian, the mediator, maybe the translator. These roles can help you feel like you belong somewhere. It can be hard adjusting to a new place and a new way of fitting in — especially if it seems like your family is doing fine without you.

You may feel homesick in your first weeks and months. The first thing to know about homesickness is that it's very common. In fact, just about everyone experiences it at some point in his or her life. It might not feel like it when you're in it, but going through homesickness helps us all grow stronger and builds our coping skills. Homesickness can force you to challenge yourself into trying new ways of meeting people. Try joining your campus gym and taking exercise classes or studying in public places like libraries and cafes.

Try to identify your feelings and fears, and talk about what you're going through. The sooner you deal with these issues, the sooner you'll feel better. If you are homesick, it can help to call, write, or email your parents, other family members, and friends from home to let them know how you're doing and to tell them you miss them.

Who else can you talk to? For starters, that person sharing the dorm room with you. Roommates can be great built-in buddies. As first-year students themselves, they're probably experiencing many of the same fears and worries that you're dealing with.

But what if you don't get along with your roommate?

Meeting Roommates & Making Friends

In some cases, it can be a good thing if you and your roommate aren't much alike. A different perspective on things may be helpful. In fact, it's probably wise not to expect that you'll be best friends with your roommate to avoid disappointment. Katie came to college expecting to be best buddies with her roomies. But over time it felt like the two of them made her the third wheel. With a switch in roommates and a change in attitude about what to expect, she ended up having a blast.

Not everyone can switch roommates, though. That's why it helps to start with the idea that you'll respect your differences no matter what.

If you and your roomie don't get along, it can help to find someone you do feel understands you — which should be easy on a campus with plenty of people. Giving new students an opportunity to meet is one idea behind freshman orientation. And many schools have student organization nights where all of the campus clubs gather and promote their organizations, so you can meet people with the same interests as you. You'll also meet tons of people in class or in your dorm.

If you're really having roommate or friendship troubles, make a stop at the school counseling center. All universities have one, and first-year fears are something the counselors know well. The counselors will either talk to you one-on-one or if there is a peer group for students who are feeling like you, you can choose to join it. Talking to others who are in the same situation can be comforting. You can also talk to your RA about any adjustment or roommate problems.

Some students turn to alcohol, heavy partying, excessive sleeping, smoking, or drugs to deal with their first-year problems. Unfortunately, students who resort to getting wasted all the time to cope with their new situation often find that too much partying brings lots more problems, like interfering with their ability to keep up with assignments, papers, and exams. In the worst case, it may mean getting in trouble with the college judicial department.

Staying Healthy Away From Home

Sore throats, sprained ankles, and wisdom teeth that act up are as common among college students as homesickness. It's very easy, especially in a dorm environment, to catch bugs like the flu. People come in and out of your room all the time, and some of those who are sick may pass it on. And who has time to go home to the doctor when they get sick?

With this in mind, universities have created health centers staffed with doctors, nurses, dentists — even nutritionists and counselors — ready to tend to your needs. Check out your student orientation packet or your school's website to find out more information about the health center and where it's located.

Insurance Plans

Some schools require all students to have non-emergency health care insurance. In these cases, the school usually offers a low-cost insurance plan that can be paid for at the time of registration and used worldwide. These plans often cover basic health care and injuries sustained in intercollegiate or club sports as well.

At other schools, however, health insurance is optional and not necessary to receive treatment at the health center. But there is a charge for medical services.

Before you go to school, look into whether your school requires health insurance and discuss with your parents what kind of health insurance you have, if any.

Emergency Care

Knowing about the health insurance you carry or the location of the health center is not all you need to stay well, however. You might need to get a prescription filled, or you might become injured and need emergency treatment.

When you get to school, check to see if your health center offers 24-hour medical attention. If not, make a point to learn how to access emergency medical care through a local emergency department or urgent care clinic. Write this information and any important phone numbers somewhere you can easily find them if necessary.

You should also find a pharmacy. Although some schools offer a pharmacy on campus, other students may need to venture off campus to find one. It's no fun to go hunting around for these things when you're sick — being prepared can really help!

Prevention Tips

It's great to be prepared if you get sick, but better yet, how can you prevent getting sick in the first place? The usual measures, like washing your hands frequently, also apply at college. But you'll also have to think about community bathrooms, shared computer terminals, and cramped living quarters, all of which make germs way too happy.

If you spend time in the school computer labs, it's a good idea to carry some antibacterial hand lotion in your backpack. When your roommate gets sick, use a germ-fighting solvent to occasionally wipe down shared things like doorknobs, telephone receivers, and remote controls.

And don't underestimate the power of eating well and getting a good night's sleep. As always, the best defense is a good offense.

First-Year Food

You've landed in a buffet-style eating universe and there's unlimited double-decker chocolate cake. Many college campuses have lots of fast-food restaurants within easy reach of dorms or classes. Why not have pizza for dinner every night? Plus, you'll probably find that ordering Chinese food or cheese bread with friends at 2 AM is a common activity after a night out.

Most students tend to eat more than they did when living at home, sampling everything and snacking late at night. Eventually, many gain weight (the "freshman 15").

Studies show that students on average gain 3 to 10 pounds during their first 2 years of college. Both girls and guys do more maturing during their college years, so some weight gain is to be expected. But people who really pack on the pounds may become overweight or obese, increasing their risk of developing weight-related medical problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. And some students may resort to excessive dieting or other unhealthy eating behaviors when they see the number on the scale creeping up, or because they feel stressed.

To help you maintain a healthy weight, eat normally and at regular intervals — usually three well-balanced meals and maybe one or two healthy snacks — at the same times each day. That way, your body knows what to expect. Pay attention to your inner signals and eat when you're hungry and stop when you feel full. Watch portion sizes and try to resist trips back to the buffet for additional servings.

But chowing down when you're bored, munching because your roommate has pizza (even though you've already had dinner), or snacking on chocolate simply because you're stressed, means you are overriding your body's natural signals. This tends to lead to more chaotic eating and weight gain.

So now you know when to eat, but how about what to eat? Eating right is all about balance. You'll want to eat foods from each group every day. If your meals include too many items from one food group, it's at the cost of nutrients from another. Eating from many food groups doesn't just give the body a well-rounded diet — it satisfies your mind's craving for variety, too. So don't worry about eating an occasional candy bar, just don't use it to replace a well-balanced dinner.

A final note about food: It's tempting to pull all-nighters with the aid of caffeine. But too much caffeine can cause anxiety, dizziness, headaches, and the jitters. Caffeine can also interfere with normal sleep. And you can become dependent on caffeine with as little as 100 milligrams a day, which means you may experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches and irritability if you don't get your daily fix. Most people know caffeine is in coffee, but watch out for it in energy drinks, soft drinks, iced teas, and over-the-counter medications.

First-Year Fitness

Staying fit is easier than ever at college — a good thing, because students should aim to get 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise every day. You don't have to go out for a sport to enjoy an hour of Frisbee in the quad, a morning jog around campus, or a game of soccer with people in the dorm after class.

Get started by checking out what's offered at your campus recreation center. Many rec centers rent equipment and offer classes in everything from aerobics to yoga to self-defense. You'll probably have access to a school gym, which may include exercise equipment, a pool, or a track. If you're lucky, your school might have amenities like a rock-climbing wall!

And if indoor exercise doesn't appeal to you, some colleges and universities offer excursions within the area like horseback riding, yoga at sunrise, a ski/snowboard trip to a nearby mountain, or even white-water rafting.

Staying healthy isn't only about what you put in your body, it's also about what your body puts out. That means effort, energy, and exercise to keep you powered up during college.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: September 2011

Discussion:

Any other thoughts about this??

Freshman Year Freak Out!

11th Grade Advisory

Unit 3

Lesson #8 – College Truths

10-15 Minutes

Prompt and share out

Give students the following Do Now to respond to:

Choose one of the following scenarios from below, and respond in a paragraph:

A) It’s your first weekend at college. You’ve just started to make friends and find out about a few different parties on campus. You were never a “partier” in high school, but this is college. Everyone around you wants to go out and let loose. What do you think your options are? What will you ultimately decide? Explain in at least one paragraph.

B) You’ve been in college for almost two months. You have the unlimited meal plan, which is awesome because the food rocks – but you haven’t been as active as you could be. You’ve also been partying more than you ever have before. Thanksgiving break is coming up in a few weeks and you’re nervous that your friends from home will notice that you’ve gained some weight. How did this happen? Will you continue this lifestyle? Is the freshman 15 only a myth? Explain in at least one paragraph.

C) Your campus has tons of attractive people – way more than high school! You’re anxious to get into a relationship but aren’t sure what the right approach is, now that you’re a college student. There’s one person in particular who you’ve had your eye on… what will you do? Should you ask this person out? Wait until you get to a party? Write at least a paragraph regarding the college dating scene.

Have students share out responses when they are done.

15-20 Minutes

Articles

The rest of the handouts are all articles about college “truths.” You can instruct this in multiple ways. 1) Read each article together as a group and have a brief discussion about each one. 2) Distribute all articles to students up front, and have them read/discuss together in pairs. 3) Divide advisory into 3 groups. Give each group one of the topics, have them read the article together, and then teach the rest of the group about what they read. They can then conduct a discussion about each one.

The College Party Scene: The Truth

December 12, 2008 By: Kate Scozzaro Category: Campus Life, Campus parties

College parties. When you hear those words, you probably think of a huge party thrown by a fraternity house with hundreds of kids and lots of alcohol. You envision squeezing your way through crowds of people while music blares in the background. But the college party stereotype that you often see in movies like “Old School” and “American Pie,” isn’t necessarily all there is to do on a Friday or Saturday night.

College campuses are labeled as being either a “wet” campus or a “dry” campus. The term “wet” means that students who are 21 and over are allowed to drink on campus, the term “dry” means that there is no drinking on campus at all. During my freshman year at The University of Rhode Island, I was often asked what I did on the weekends and how the party scene was. My answer was simple: College is what you make of it.

So what are the parties really like? Well anytime you get a group of college students together, you can bet there will be a lot of noise and plenty of things to do. Parties can range from small get-togethers with movies and popcorn to house parties with lots of students. The stereotype that is typically portrayed in movies will almost never be what you actually experience. Because of security on campus, a party will be broken up before it becomes a dangerous situation for the students inside. If partying is your thing– you can be assured that some one will be looking to have a good time also.

What’s there to do if you don’t party? Some people think that a typical college weekend = party, party, party but there are plenty of other activities to do! A lot of colleges have an entertainment committee that will bring in special guests, musicians, comedians, etc. At URI, we recently had Bill Cosby, Will Ferrell, Jay Leno, and Schwayze visit our school! In the past, I’ve seen Third Eye Blind, Kanye West, Gnarls Barkley, and Jack’s Mannequin. Grab a bunch of your friends and attend one of the events your college hosts! Most of the time it’s free or students can purchase tickets at a discounted price.

In the dorms, resident assistants hold events such as pumpkin painting, special dinners, dances, movies nights and tons of other fun things to do on the weekends. They hold these events to help students socialize and make new friends. It’s a great way to meet new people.

Do you have to party? No, of course not! Getting involved in a campus organization will help you find other opportunities to have fun on the weekends. At any campus, you can find a group that is involved in community service. Helping out the community is a great way to network with people and spend your weekends being productive! Besides, you gain a positive experience when you help others! Local service agencies are always more than happy to welcome a new volunteer into their family. I currently work for the Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need and I love serving at their food pantry every Wednesday.

So like I said, college is what you make of it. Take advantage of what your school has to offer and you will surely be busy all weekend! Don’t forget that homework has to fit in there somewhere, too!

Know the Facts About College Binge Drinking

By KELCI LYNN LUCIER

November 2, 2011 RSS Feed Print

With National Drug Facts Week taking place from October 31 to November 6, 2011, it seems timely to discuss a serious and important topic: college binge drinking.

Part of being a college student—or the parent of a college student—is learning to live an educated, informed life. Ideally, one's time to learn and grow doesn't stop when a person steps outside of the classroom. So when it comes to understanding binge drinking, it's important to know the facts.

[Learn 7 ways to ensure a healthy college experience.]

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is "a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAV) to .08 grams percent or above. For the typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks for men, or for our more drinks for women, in about 2 hours."

The NIAAA also reports that "approximately two of every five college students of all ages—more than 40 percent—have reported engaging in binge drinking at least once during the past 2 weeks."

You may think your drinking behavior doesn't count as binge drinking. You may believe your student doesn't drink while away at school. Or you may think that this kind of drinking is so normal on your campus, when you were in college, or when you are among your friends that it's not really anything to be worried about.

Unfortunately, underage drinking, binge drinking, and general irresponsible drinking can lead to some pretty unfortunate consequences. The NIAAA lists a wide range of negative outcomes experienced as a result of excessive drinking, including an estimated 1,700 deaths of college students—not young adults, but college students in particular—between the ages of 18 and 24 from "alcohol-related unintentional injuries."

Additionally, each year, "more than 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking;" "more than 400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 had unprotected sex as a result of their drinking each year;" and approximately "25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking."

[What should college students who need academic help do?]

That extra beer, one last cosmo, or wine glass top-off can clearly have larger implications than many students realize. Being a college student or the parent of one involves making smart decisions about one's life and future.

Do students drink in college? Of course. Is it your choice to drink when and how you want to? Within some limits, yes. Do your drinking choices and behaviors have to cross the line into unhealthy actions that can lead to long-term, irreversible consequences? No.

One simple but often understated aspect of college drinking is that college students always have a choice about how much alcohol to consume and when to consume it. Next time you're at a campus party, think twice about taking that extra drink. What do you have to lose by not having just one more? But what do you have to lose if you do?

[Read about a possible connection between binge drinking and memory loss.]

If you're a student who wants more information about how to change your own drinking or even the culture of drinking on your campus, there are undoubtedly quite a few resources available. Check with your campus health center, student activities office, or even the dean of students office.

You've probably seen programming in your residence hall or on the campus in general about alcohol awareness; see how you can get more involved in future events. Lastly, if you're seriously concerned about your own health situation, reach out to someone in the campus health or counseling center to schedule a screening and heart-to-heart conversation.

If you're a parent and have concerns about your student's drinking patterns or just want more information, there are some great resources available for you, too. College Drinking—Changing the Culture (part of NIAAA) has specific information for parents of college students.

The U.S. Department of Education also has a Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention that can help a parent understand the larger issues affecting unhealthy college drinking and the initiatives hoping to combat this trend. Lastly, the famed Mothers Against Drunk Driving always has resources and support available online.

November 7, 2011, 4:59 PM

The Truth About College Weight Gain

By TARA PARKER-POPE, Editor

It’s popular wisdom that college students put on 10 or 15 pounds their first year of school, a phenomenon often dubbed “the freshman 15.” But new research suggests that the notion of early college weight gain is a myth.

Most people gain between 2 and 3 pounds in the year after high school, whether or not they attend college, according to new research. As reported in Science Times:

Researchers at the Ohio State University reviewed data from 7,418 interviews with subjects ages 17 to 20 and found that first-year students, both men and women, gained about 3 pounds during the year. Heavy drinkers gained more, and those who had a job gained less than those who did not. But income, poverty and living in a dorm had no statistically significant effect.

The study, published in the December issue of the journal Social Science Quarterly, also found that young adults who do not go to college gain weight — about a half pound less than college students of the same age. In other words, college attendance has almost no effect on weight gain.

Food was my only friend

College Weight Gain Story

"Before college, I was never the thinnest person on the planet. I was in shape, but I was curvy. I had boobs, and a butt, and I worked it.. I didn't care that I wasn't a waif. Then, I graduated and went to school at SUNY Purchase, a small liberal arts school a little north of New York City.

I really didn't make any friends, and basically became a recluse. I was always social but just didn't fit in at Purchase. A formerly light eater, I developed a crazy appetite and ate constantly. I had a big meal plan and plenty of free time, so I ate my way through my days.

I was depressed because I wasn't making friends, so M&Ms made me feel better. I put on about ten pounds that year, which didn't bother me that much at all, but I knew I had to transfer schools. Then, as it was too late to transfer for the fall semester, I went back to Purchase for sophomore year. That summer, I had lost an aunt to cancer and my puppy was hit by a car, and I started to lose the weight I had gained at school because I wasn't eating. I wasn't dealing with anything properly. So I went back to school, and there were the dining halls, the constant access to sugary foods whenever I wanted. I still had no friends, so I spent my time hoarding food into my dorm room. I was so sick of being alone and so sick of the way things were going, I just ate. If I couldn't talk to someone to feel better, I always had cupcakes and chips to rely on. They were always there when I needed them.

I finished the fall semester and transferred to NYU for the spring. NYU is the right fit for me, but living in New York City isn't great for my waistline. I am currently the heaviest I have ever been, having gained almost thirty pounds since I graduated high school. I'm so happy with my life and the way things are going, but it kills me inside everytime I have to look in the mirror. I hate seeing people from high school because I can see it on their faces.. they're thinking, "Ooh, she's gotten heavy." I know I'm heavy.

My doctor told me to lose weight and that she was concerned because of my rapid weight gain. So what did I do? I left her office, cried in my car, and went to Starbucks and got a cookie. I need to learn how to control my cravings and not eat when I am emotional or upset. I'm ready to get my physical being back to where it was, on par with my mental being. I'm ready to make the change. I just need to know how."

AS, 
New York University

Beer Was My Achilles Heel – Freshman College Weight Gain Story

"Well last year, I began university in another city so I was living in residence. I know it sounds stereotypical, but I never thought it would happen to me.

I was the bane of many girls' existence, it seemed like. They slammed my thinness because I was thin and very sociable, calling me a bimbo (Though I earned high honors).

I wasn't used to having to feed myself and worrying about nutrition as is the usual case, and so I ate poorly. I didn't notice at first, I just always came up with alternate reasons for my clothes being tighter (Shrunk in the wash, the new jeans don't fit because they haven't been "broken in", I just drank a lot and was temporarily bloated, etc).

But then there was the faithful trip home. Apparently I had gained a lot of weight, because my mom kept asking "Are you SURE you want gravy on that dear?"

I went from 115 lbs. to 134! The beer was definitely my Achilles heel, and my stomach had gotten quite ample. I couldn't face my friends they were all thin and pretty and I felt wretched. I have continued to slowly gain weight. I regret my pride now. Don't drink!"

D.L.
, UNBSJ (University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Saint John)

Entered College a Healthy Guy - College Weight Gain Story

"I had entered college a healthy guy at 5'11" 180 lbs and in pretty good shape, I played tennis in high school and always went to the gym.

Well, the dining halls are all you can eat here and I pretty much did just that. I didn't have a scale until I went back for Thanksgiving break, I knew that I put on some weight since my pants were pretty tight but they still fit. I was shocked it said 198lbs, so I gained 18 lbs in what two months!

Well I didn’t think much of it but now I am at 208 lbs and can't seem to stop putting on the weight, but that is what I get for just eating as much as I want of whatever I want.

Just watch out because it will sneak up on you!"

S. M.
, Iowa State University

the dirty truth about college dating

You've aced dating in high school — now get ready for a whole new class of relationships in college.

Remember your first day of high school?


The new guys seemed so cute, and your love life seemed so full of possibilities. But soon you knew all their names, who was cool, and who was weird. And now you've dated everyone you wanted to, or you don't click with the guys at your school, or you're tired of the high school drama — and you can't wait for college. You've heard the basics about college dating: more types of guys, more freedom, and more mature relationships (hopefully). But with close living quarters, no parents, and stressful classes, things get intense, and college has its own soap operas. Read on for the inside dirt you'd have no way of knowing until you're on campus — and need to know if you already are.

truth #1: hookups outnumber boyfriends
"The atmosphere is so charged with opportunities to hook up. Girls on my floor define a night's success by how many people we kiss.” 
—LISA, 19, BOSTON COLLEGE
 With so many different types of guys around, it's tempting to sample them all! Why not, right? Hookups can be fun, but a lot of times they're mini bombs that explode in one of two ways: into a relationship (rare!), or into misunderstanding, hurt, or just thin air. At the typical beer-soaked party (even if you're sober), you can't always tell which guys want a one-night thing and which ones truly like you. If you've been drinking, there's not always a trusted friend there to stop you from going too far with a guy you just met. Just like there might be things you're not telling him about your life, he could be hiding stuff too. What if that hot econ major has anger issues or a closet cocaine addiction? Meet guys and have fun, but stick with your friends at parties so you can watch out for one another. And don't make it a contest!

truth #2: things get way more intense
"I told this guy everything about me, so when he broke up with me a month later, it hurt that much worse." 
—JENNY, 21, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
 Relationships move faster in college, physically and emotionally. Basically, three months of college dating (where you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night pizza with a guy if you want) is like a year of high school dating (when you're living with your parents' restrictions). New college couples tend to rush from the getting-to-know-you stage to the practically-living-together one. It's like they're addicted to their new freedom. And the more intense it gets, the more it hurts when it ends. So hold off before stocking your guy's shower caddy with your Venus razor. Not only can you lose yourself if you spend all your time with a guy, you also lose the time you'd spend meeting other guys and potential lifelong friends. Be sure to make room in your busy love life for the rest of your college experience.

truth #3: there's a new dating vocabulary "After some awkward mornings and 'walks of shame,' you realize you have to start setting new boundaries." 
—SARA, 20, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA 
Love it or hate it: Dorms can be cesspools of debauchery! Living in the same building as guys creates interesting new situations (and vocab words!). There's sexile (when your roommate hooks up with someone in your room and you're shut out) and dormcest (dating people who live in your dorm). Dorm gossip can devastate your reputation more than high school gossip — you live with the people who know your business! Then there's the walk of shame: your trek home the morning after hooking up with a guy and sleeping in his room (it's actually against the rules at some campuses to stay over!). It's seen as a rite of passage, but doing it a lot won't make you feel great about yourself (the word shame isn't there by accident!). We know you'll pass college dating tests! Just watch out for the trick questions, okay?

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