Incoming Freshman

**Rabbuk** · 05-23-2012, 12:20 PM

Don't be afraid to nurse drinks if you're already pretty drunk. People will call you a pansy-*** if you aren't drinking and others are. So do the smart thing and just sip a beer. Avoid the public intox.

**Fishhead** · 05-23-2012, 12:23 PM

wish I would of read this when I started school in '89. I didn't make it and went to a two year tech school

**cloneu** · 05-23-2012, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by longtimeclone

Stay away from 8 am classes. No matter how much of a morning person you think you are this can change in a semester of college.

Find some friends to play intramurals with, especially broomball.

Agree with the 8am classes. There are lots of things going on that can keep you up at night and that just isn't drinking.

Take advantage of the fun things you will have easy access to that aren't always available after college. It will go fast.

**ISU1294** · 05-23-2012, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by NickTheGreat

OP, what are you studying? If I hadn't had some good friends in my major to took classes with and study with, I wouldn't have made it.

Right now the plan is Economics. I just decided this a couple weeks ago after years of not having a clue of what I wanted to do with my life. So it probably could change.

**WhatchaGonnaDo** · 05-23-2012, 07:50 PM

Don't live in Maple.

**Tre4ISU** · 05-23-2012, 08:12 PM

Meet girls and a lot of them. Don't use them but take opportunities where present and if you are exclusive with a girl you know you won't marry, don't hang on. Live it up. I regret more things I didn't do than things I did do. Have fun but don't be stupid. When it comes time to drink, find your limits. Find what gives you a buzz. Find what get's you hammered. Find what gives you a small hangover and find what gives you a two day hangover. Use the last for special occasions. You the first couple for weeknights/Thursdays( I considered that my weekend) and use the third for a normal weekend. For me and my friends (we didn't get reckless or mean when drunk) the memories of nights before hangovers are priceless.

**jmborich** · 05-24-2012, 10:24 AM

Stay away from hawkeye vodka but freshman girls really love it. Take lots of easy classes first semester... and make sure you get student tickets! Have fun!

**TruClone** · 05-24-2012, 11:13 AM

Fifty some posts in and no one has said this...

Always, always, hate the hawkeyes!

**ISU1294** · 05-25-2012, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by TruClone

Fifty some posts in and no one has said this...

Always, always, hate the hawkeyes!

Thats a given

**ISUAgronomist** · 05-25-2012, 04:13 PM

Read all the student loan threads.

Get a part-time job.

**CyFan61** · 05-25-2012, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by WhatchaGonnaDo

Don't live in Maple.

Maple is a good hall. I would personally avoid Willow. People rag on Helser and Towers but they have great senses of community. Martin and Eaton are nice but there typically isn't as much community there. Friley and BWR are also solid

**IHavNoCyCash** · 05-25-2012, 05:14 PM

Don't get peer pressured into doing anything you are uncomfortable with. it's your 4-5 years where you do what you want to do. You don't have to drink every night to have fun. Just be yourself and you'll have fun.

**WhatchaGonnaDo** · 05-25-2012, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

Maple is a good hall. I would personally avoid Willow. People rag on Helser and Towers but they have great senses of community. Martin and Eaton are nice but there typically isn't as much community there. Friley and BWR are also solid

Every encounter with Maple that I had gave me a very closed off vibe. Just how you described Martin and Eaton. I agree with you there.

I had a great time in Helser and would recommend it.

But if it's coming down to any MWL, I would rule out Maple first.

**CynadoAlley** · 05-28-2012, 12:51 PM

This has more than likely been covered but in those days that you are there before class starts, take a day (with a friend or without) to walk the routes you would take to your classes. This will not only make the campus feel much easier to navigate, but you'll also be able to see the building before you need to be there.
If you want to go even further, you can search the class room # and building name on the iastate.edu web page and look at floor plans to see exactly where the room is.

Be sure to get those season tickets. Not only are all the games a blast, but I can't even believe how fast the second semester went when you would have a couple games a week to go to.

The dorms really don't matter, as long as you make friends wherever you live, it won't matter what building you live in.

Walk across the Zodiac and spit on it while you do so

And most importantly: Go Cyclones!

**Beerbrat** · 05-28-2012, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

Maple is a good hall. I would personally avoid Willow. People rag on Helser and Towers but they have great senses of community. Martin and Eaton are nice but there typically isn't as much community there. Friley and BWR are also solid

I lived in Willow and had a great time. I agree with some of the other posters that Maple tended to have a closed off feel.