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College: To some, it is a seven-letter word on John Belushi's shirt from "Animal House." To others, college is a ticket out to see the world. There are those who go to college to learn, learn, and learn.
Truth be told, college is different for everyone. Though no one can tell you how you should build your experience here at DePaul, there are some universal themes that have always been present throughout the history of higher education.
Do not be scared. Chicago is a huge city and DePaul is a rather large institution. Instead of getting intimidated by the borderless streets and countless classrooms, get lost in them. The hardest part of getting accustomed to the school and the city is realizing that you are not alone.
There are approximately 25,000 students who go to DePaul and roughly 2,000,000 people who live in Chicago. Still feel alone?
Being a freshman is hard. But follow these rules, and you will succeed!
I. Thou shall be social
As much as school is about your academics, the quickest way to make learning fun is to engage with your classmates. When going to class, don't be shy, talk to the person next to you. Chances are they are as scared as you are and will be so relieved that you made the first step.
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U-Pass Tip Everyone struggles with it, even the teachers and the staff. the DePaul campus is located conveniently along the cta Red Line. The Loop Campus is located on Jackson Blvd., whereas the Lincoln Park Campus is off the Fullerton stop. the Two stops are approximately 30 minutes apart on the train, so give yourself enough time in between. U-Passes are known to be flimsy and easily broken. Get a cute pouch or wallet for it, so that it won't break or get lost. You only get one per year, and the replacement costs a pretty penny. |
II. Thou shall follow thy dreams
As cliché as that sounds, it's true. Nobody wants to wake up one day and realize what they are doing is something they made fun of when they were young. Find a way to do what you love and make a living off of it. DePaul provides you with every tool you need in order to pursue your dreams without living on the street or eating out of the trash can. The faculty strives to give your dreams a concrete foundation; you just need to lay the cement.
III. Thou shall get involved
In the beginning of the year, all of the clubs host a fair in the Quad of the Lincoln Park campus. If you don't know what the Quad is, don't stress, just ask anyone! There you can choose from a large array of clubs, organizations and just meet people who might be interested in the same things you are. Though Greek Life is small at DePaul it is still present and is a great way to get involved right away. There are clubs for different majors, cultures and athletics. The earlier you get involved the better!
IV. Thou shall expand thy horizons
You will meet people of all shapes, colors, sizes, backgrounds, orientations, and interests. Be open to exploring different cultures, religions and customs. This is the time when you can let yourself go and get lost in something foreign and new. Take classes that have no correlation to your major; you never know what might become your hobby.
V. Thou shall stay healthy, even without mom
We've all heard about the Freshman 15, and though the thought can be scary, there are ways to avoid it. DePaul offers state-of-the-art exercise equipment at the Ray (2235 N. Sheffield) along with yoga and spin classes. This way if your roommate decided to order that late-night pizza, or grab some delicious Chicago style hot dogs, you can savor them guilt free. The Ray is also a place for college students to hang out and mingle. Along with exercise there is plenty of delicious vegetarian, vegan and organic options in Chicago. Again, you now live in a metropolitan area, explore and find what you like.
VI. Thou shall be philanthropic
DePaul is Catholic Vincentian University, and though the campus is diverse with people from varied backgrounds and different walks of life – one thing we can all agree on is that charity and giving back to the community is something that holds a high standard in our society. Vincentian values are based on the idea of charity and philanthropy. Get involved with an organization or volunteer at the Chicago Red Cross. Do something that will make you feel good about yourself. And it's also great for your resume.
VII. Thou shall not be afraid of The Professor
Many students are raised to fear authority and especially their teachers. My advice is, get to know your faculty by emailing them, asking questions and just being open. Make sure that they know who YOU are. You never know when a good relationship with a professor might be beneficial to your future. Weather it comes to an internship opportunity, recommendation letter or even a job, making a strong rapport with your professor will only help you achieve. Because (if you weren't aware), teachers actually want you to succeed!
VIII. Thou shall take advantage of all opportunities
College is teeming with different opportunities. Studying abroad is an excellent way to experience and learn something new. Imagine waking up to Big Ben, or having dinner along the Champs-Elysées, or even going camel-riding in the Moroccan desert. There are many different options that can fit your schedule. If flying is not your strong suit, DePaul offers countless internship opportunities all over Chicago. You can try different fields, and not necessarily stick to your major. DePaul is in the center of the third largest city in the United States and has phenomenal ties with almost every business in Chicago, don't let that pass you by. Grab it, use it and and reuse it.
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