Your First Day at NCU as an Incoming Student (From a Senior!)
With August on the horizon, move-in day (or Super Saturday) at North Central University is less than two months away! The ins and outs of move-in day can be difficult if you’re out of the loop on campus activities and locations. Here are a few practical things you can expect to happen during move-in day. Before we dive deeper, here are some helpful resources for your first few weeks.
You will receive a lot of paperwork (much of it you’ll need to keep track of!)
During move-in day, you’ll likely receive different forms of paperwork from each station. Much of this paperwork, believe it or not, will actually come up in the future. From emergency contact information to your FERPA pin, you’ll need to keep track of all of it!
As a senior at NCU, my biggest suggestion would be to take pictures of each document and store them in a folder on your phone. Collecting all the information and storing it at once on your first day will keep you from hassling to find it down the road.
You will travel all over campus
During your first day at North Central you will quickly become acquainted with every office, parking lot, and dorm floor on campus. Finding your way around campus as an incoming student can feel daunting, that’s why having an NCU map on your phone can help.
Here are the top four office locations you should know by heart (all are located on the first floor of Miller):
- Security
- Student Development
- Financial Aid
- The Registrar’s office
You will be adjusting to an entirely new schedule
During your first few days at NCU you’ll notice that your “normal” schedule will shift quite drastically, especially if you play sports. Depending on when your first class starts and if you have practice, you might be getting up anywhere from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. As much as you can, try to keep a consistent schedule the first week (this will help your internal rhythm, immune system, and stress responders working to keep you healthy and calm).
You’ll also be adjusting to a whole new set of rules for campus life. Pay attention to open dorm hours, parking lot regulations, off limit areas on campus, and other tips pointed out by NCU leadership. These seem like trivial rules, but believe me, $50 parking tickets add up quickly.
You might not sleep well the first day/week
The first week of living in a dorm isn’t always glamorous. One of the hardest parts of adjusting to college life is sleeping in a new place. Sleep is incredibly important as a student, especially if you’re a fall athlete. One of the best ways to adjust to a new bed and room is by bringing your bedding from home instead of buying completely new bedding.
A few things you may want to incorporate into your sleep schedule include melatonin, earplugs or a sleeping mask, and even a foam mattress topper. The little things often make the biggest difference.
It’s okay to be overwhelmed
One of the biggest pieces of college life that ends up being overlooked the first week at college is your emotional and mental health. Everyone feels overwhelmed at some point, even if they don’t verbalize it. It’s normal to be overwhelmed with emotions, good or hard.
During these first few days and weeks, make sure to take extra time for yourself. Even though it may seem like you’re missing out by skipping an event to hang in your dorm–don’t be afraid to say no or take a couple hours to yourself. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to cry and feel anxious. Many students go through this in their own way, but not everyone shows it. The first few weeks are the hardest, but you can do this!
What to expect during your first day at college
