The first semester of freshman year can be transformational. For many, it’s the first time they experience real independence. They make new friends, consume ramen noodles at an alarming rate and start to take charge of their own lives and education.
Earlier this year, we asked freshmen to reflect on their first week at IU and to explore how college seemed different from their high school experiences. As finals week draws near, we decided to talk with freshmen again and ask them to reflect on their first semester at IU.
Jennie Balsano is a media major with a concentration in advertising. She had just finished speaking to her group members about their final project for her class on gender in the media.
How has your first semester been?
Balsano: It’s been good. I definitely expected that I would be really stressed compared to my high school load, but it’s definitely different in retrospect to your mental health and like how you take care of it. I’ve really had to pay attention to that.
What’s the biggest difference between high school and college?
Balsano: Probably just learning to manage, you know, when I should do all my assignments and how I should kind of expect assignments to go and how to be graded. That’s kind of hard because everyone is so different, every professor is so different, every AI is so different in grading. So you just kind of have to judge in your classes what you should pay attention for, especially in tests.
Was there anything that surprised you about college?
Balsano: Even though college is extremely stressful for me, I think I was just surprised with how much free time there is and how I could even be stressed with all of the free time I had.
Are you excited about your classes next semester?
Balsano: I think so, yeah. I’m definitely excited. Some of them, I’m nervous for, but other than that, I’m kind of excited to go the route of my major.
Luke Williams is a freshman from the Louisville area. He is a math and physics major. He was waiting for his Honors Calculus III class to start.
How has your first semester been?
Williams: It’s been pretty good. I like the campus and everything.
What’s the biggest difference between high school and college?
Williams: I’d probably say it’s more independent, and you have more freedom and stuff.
What’s been your favorite part of coming to IU?
Williams: Probably going to the few basketball games we’ve had with my friends.
Jasmine Vann is majoring in music education and Spanish linguistics. She was taking a quick study break.
How has your first semester been?
Vann: My first semester has been amazing. I really love it here, and I’m so glad I decided to go here. My classes have been pretty engaging and challenging. I’ve enjoyed meeting so many people.
What’s the biggest difference between high school and college?
Vann: Definitely the whole living on my own thing. I can set my own schedule. I can go wherever I want, do whatever I want. And I also have to be very responsible for myself because I'm on my own.
Was there anything that surprised you about college?
Vann: Probably how many things have just kind of fallen into place for me. I didn’t expect them to go as smoothly as they did, but I’ve been very lucky this semester.
How so?
Vann: I got a house with some friends for next year all lined up. All of my assignments have been pretty good, my school work has been pretty good. I’ve still been able to balance everything, and I kind of thought I would struggle a little bit more than I did, which I’m very happy about.
