Advice for First-Year Students
Navigating the new world of college as a first year student can be difficult regardless of what school you attend. When I started in the Combined Degree program at SMFA at Tufts, I basically had no idea what I wanted from my college experience. Over time, I settled into my routine, made great friends, and am having an absolutely incredible time at college. In this blog post I’m going to share some tips that will help you find your place and your people at college.
Be adventurous! It’s important to give yourself well-deserved breaks from schoolwork. Make sure you carve out some time in your week to explore Boston and all it has to offer, like museums, restaurants, and events happening in the city. If you want to connect with nature for a few hours, visit the Fells near the Medford campus. You might even find art inspiration in your adventures away from campus!
Try everything that sounds interesting to you! Every semester, I try to take one photography class and one class that is out of my comfort zone. Last semester, I took a photo class and a papermaking class, and I ended up creating a final project that utilized skills from both classes! It was super rewarding for me to learn a new skill and have it fit perfectly into my art practice.
Don’t try to do everything in one semester. When I first came to college, I was so excited by all the possibilities that I tried to take way too many classes and join way too many clubs. When I realized I had overworked myself and changed my schedule to better reflect my needs, I had a much better semester and was able to focus on myself and what I wanted from my college experience.
Do not worry too much about being a first-year and feeling like you will not find your footing in college. You’re not alone, but I promise you that everything will come together eventually, and after no time SMFA will feel like home!