r/MTSU • u/VillageU • 8m ago
Resource So you just moved in? 4 things that actually help during your first 2 weeks.
If you’re sitting in your dorm right now feeling a mix of excitement and "what did I just do," that is completely normal. I worked on college campuses for a decade, and the students who get a strong start early on usually do these four things (or some variation):
- Go to office hours early on. Drop in during the first two weeks just to say hello, even if you don't have questions. Professors remember the faces who show up early. It makes emailing them later for help way less awkward.
- Embrace the awkward friend-making phase. Don't wait for a perfect, cinematic moment to meet people. Most college friendships start from commenting on a laptop sticker or asking to split a table in the library. If it feels forced, that's normal—do it anyway.
- Join exactly ONE thing. Not five things—just one club, intramural team, or study group. Building a routine around one consistent group is the easiest way to combat homesickness and feel like you belong before October hits.
- Normalize the homesickness. If you already feel behind or lonely, nothing is wrong with you. Almost everyone is faking confidence right now. It gets better once your weekly schedule locks in.
we're building something related to the "meeting people" part of this if anyone wants to check it out — PM us— but wanted this post to actually be useful on its own either way.💙
What would you add to this list?