Welcome incoming freshmen Mavericks! It can be a lot to transition into college. Most students are coming out of highschool while others have taken some time before going to college. Here are some tips to getting started and acclimated at Colorado Mesa University (CMU).

The first tip is to plan out your schedule and stay organized. Being a college student means you’ll be very busy. There are so many things to do here at CMU and you won’t have enough time to do everything.

I recommend that all students in their first week figure out their schedule. This can be done by creating time to work, study for classes, join clubs and have free time. If you want to join a club, reach out and find out their meeting times. It’s very easy to fall behind when college is a fast paced environment without an organized schedule.

Secondly, if you are living on campus in the dorms, there are supplies that are a must have. Some supplies are shower shoes, microwaves, appropriate clothing, school supplies, food and adequate transportation. Sharing a communal shower is not the cleanest of environments, therefore shower shoes are always a good option.

With meal plans, there may be times you want to divert from it. Microwaves and minifridges are allowed in the dorms and gives students more variety of food. In the winter, it gets very cold around December. It’s best to have adequate clothes for the weather.

Transportation can be difficult, so it’s recommended to figure out your transportation method first week. There are bus passes offered to students at a cheap rate. There are also electric scooters around the city to get you around town.

Lastly, I recommend freshmen get involved in CMU and make friends. This transition to college can be very scary, students come from all over. A lot of the time, students come alone without friends, which can be anxiety inducing. There are so many friendly students and welcoming events to meet people here at CMU. To get involved, I recommend talking to your neighbors in your dorm.

There are also many events to meet people at clubs, sporting events and Greek Life. Greek Life is an amazing way to establish friends and a community. You’ll establish brother and sister hood, develop networking opportunities, give back to the community, leadership, opportunities and much more.

The fraternities on campus are Kappa Sigma and Theta Xi. The sororities are Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Sigma Alpha. They are a great way to meet people. There are two weeks of rushing the first weeks of school and events Monday through Friday. There will be tables with more information if you are interested in joining a fraternity or sorority. If you have any questions about CMU, getting acclimated or events, ask your fellow peers. There is also an information help desk in the University Center on the first floor.