Heading off to college means more than just a change of address.
For many freshmen, it's the first real taste of independence — and the growing pains that come with it.
I recently …
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Heading off to college means more than just a change of address.
For many freshmen, it's the first real taste of independence — and the growing pains that come with it.
I recently interviewed two Gulf Coast Media reporters, Ruth Mayo and Colin James, who graduated in 2024 and shared what they wish they'd known before starting their college journeys.
Mayo graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2024 with a degree in journalism after transferring from Coastal Community College. James earned a degree in digital and broadcast journalism from Mississippi State University, also in 2024. Both offered hard-earned insight into surviving — and thriving — through the ups and downs of college life, sharing firsthand experiences that could help students about to set off on their own journeys.
Some lessons come quickly. For Mayo, it was realizing her dorm's communal bathrooms required more than just a towel, as she had to share four toilet stalls and four showers with around 30 other girls.
"I wish I would've brought my bathrobe right off the bat," she said, though she said she did bring it from home about a month or two later. "I would always have to get dressed in the small shower space, and it was never fun, but the bathrobe made it easier because I could just walk back to my room and get ready there. My robe also has massive pockets, so I didn't always have to carry my full toiletry bag each time."
James, on the other hand, would've packed something to fight less-visible dorm issues: the smell.
"A scented candle or Febreze," he said when asked what he wished he had brought. "People in your dorm hall can be gross."
Among the items they did bring, both were surprised by what became essential. Mayo credits her filtered water pitcher for getting her through the semester.
"I really never thought about not having a fridge or even running (and drinkable) tap water in my vicinity until I lived in the dorm," she said. "I think I went through four filters for that pitcher in one semester."
She also said having a toaster, though she is pretty sure that wasn't allowed, was also really beneficial to have.
For James, a coffee maker turned out to be a lifeline, as "the caffeine boost really helped me make it to my 8 a.m. classes," he said.
Both grads leaned on tech tools to stay afloat.
"So, actually, Ole Miss had a plethora of apps they encouraged students to download at the orientation that were to help out around campus," Mayo said.
She noted apps like GroupMe as essential for classes and clubs and relied on university apps like Blackboard for academics and Starship for on-campus food delivery.
James highlighted Mathway, an app that solves and explains math problems.
"It helps solve math problems ranging from algebra to calculus, and it also breaks each problem down and shows you how it got the answer. It is super helpful and made it a lot easier to understand how these math problems work," he said.
Managing money was another wake-up call. Mayo learned the hard way that savings don't stretch as far as you think.
"Definitely have some sort of income, whether it is passive or direct. The first year I was confident that I could use my savings to last me till I graduated, and I was pretty much broke by the end of the first year," she said.
Mayo encouraged college students to get a job or keep their high school job if possible. She also suggested those who were able to reach out to family when needed.
"That's something I wish I would've done sooner."
James agreed — especially about resisting the urge to blow every paycheck.
"I know it could be very tempting to go out and spend it, but you never know when you will actually need the money, and it's always nice to have some in your account as a buffer," he said.
When it came to managing deadlines, both relied on visible reminders.
"I always had a to-do list (and I have to have one at work, too!) that organized deadlines for assignments or test days in classes. I liked to use the Stickies app, I think it was called, on my computer because then I had to see it every day," Mayo said.
She also advised that those who procrastinated write their deadlines a few days before they were due, so they would get done in a reasonable amount of time.
James used his phone for reminders as one way to stay on track.
"Also helps having a whiteboard or calendar hanging up in your room, so you can keep track of what you have to do that week and what assignments are due."
A few small purchases went a long way. Mayo said a heated blanket saved her during chilly Mississippi winters, as she "was not used to the winters of northern Mississippi after living on the beach for most of my life."
James found a smartwatch handy for notifications and workouts saying the gadget was, "really helpful when I was exercising or for getting notification for things like assignments coming up for text messages."
When dining hall food got old — or money ran low — both turned to creative solutions. Mayo relied on minute rice, which she found to be more versatile than ramen by adding sauces from the cafeteria, spices and canned chicken, which she said was another great thing to have as she "made so much chicken salad with literally anything" she had.
She also touted meals made with crackers, such as tomato "sandwiches," peanut butter and jelly "sandwiches," and the like.
"Basically if you could make it with bread, I made it with crackers," she joked.
James had a Moe's Southwest Grill across from his dorm and swore by their chicken stacks "with cheese, mushrooms, veggies and sour cream."
"I would also get that with a side of chips and queso," he said.
Mayo's fitness came by default — walking across campus and trekking to a distant parking lot. She also made use of wanting to procrastinate.
"I also took advantage of the on-campus gym because I had a class right next to it, and I'd just go there to procrastinate doing assignments."
James took a more structured approach.
"I won't lie, it was a little hard to eat healthy because the dining halls were always shoving food like pizza and burgers in your face," James said. To combat this, he said he would "make my own protein smoothies at home with veggies and fruit," he said. He also frequented the campus gym, which was free for students, and ran at the outdoor track.
Study spots and routines varied. For Mayo, who said she tends to procrastinate more than plan ahead, her study routine varied. Flashcards — digital or handwritten — were especially helpful for French and science classes.
However, she said libraries were the only place she could focus.
"I will say as far as location goes, I always was able to focus in the library, and today I find myself going to any local library in Baldwin County when I find myself procrastinating a story."
Colin preferred quiet study rooms up in the library, which he said was a large place with a study room that often had few people in it.
"I liked being in a quiet, isolated location."
College can be isolating, especially for transfers or introverts. Mayo found luck early on.
"I honestly made most of my friends in the first semester I was at Ole Miss in French class," she said. "I would say don't put pressure on finding friends. I would recommend going to student association events on-campus, especially as a transfer student. These were fun ways to interact with a lot of students. Honestly, a lot of the people I interacted with that first year I never talked to again, and the people I ended up sticking with long-term were not people I necessarily tried to connect with. It just happened naturally," she said.
She also encouraged those going to college to "make sure you stay in touch with friends back home too. Especially if they're a real one. And then keeping in touch with family is always important to me."
James said it all starts with putting yourself out there. According to James, "people in college are way less judgmental," he said. He also spoke about how other incoming freshmen had the same worries and mindset as he did.
"There are a million clubs and organizations in college that you can join that all have people with the same tastes as you, and if you can't find one, you can always make your own," he said.
Mental health was a shared concern. Mayo found comfort in campus counseling services and urged students to be upfront with professors.
"Being honest with your professors is the best way to maintain your peace of mind, in my opinion," she said. "Based on my experience, they want you to succeed and do the best you can in their course."
She also said to take breaks when needed and reach out for help, as well as checking into your school's mental health or counseling services or programs.
James found relief by simply leaving the dorm.
"Going outside, going for walks, finding things to do and excuses to leave your dorm or wherever you are living. It helps a lot going out to events or just going outside for a breath of fresh air to get things off of your mind," he said.
James also talked about mental health and the importance of talking about it.
"It's okay to say that you are not okay. I think America is going through a mental health epidemic right now, and I think that one of the ways we can solve it is if we be more vocal about our mental struggles because getting that weight lifted off of our shoulders could really make a difference."
Both grads had moments where adulting suddenly felt real. For Mayo, it was paying rent, buying groceries and paying for "all the things that I normally got for free at home."
She also said doing things like "being able to leave a concert or event" when she wanted to, as well as "being able to go to things I wanted to even if I was by myself, not going to class if I had extra skip days and I really didn't feel like leaving the house."
For James, he had a similar feeling — it was hanging out with friends without needing anyone's permission. However, James gave a note of caution.
"I think it's important to surround yourself with positive influences and people, because college can and should be fun — just don't take it a little too far."
The myth of harsh college professors didn't hold up.
According to Mayo, she "expected college to have heavier workloads," but said she "had a ton of high school assignments, like 2-3 assignments per subject per day sometimes."
"I took dual enrollment classes for my senior year of high school and was amazed that I only had to write three essays and do four quizzes the entire semester," she said. "Not every class is like that, probably. Like I'm not expecting rocket science to be easy, but I always enjoyed learning and college really made that more fun and just more manageable."
James agreed.
"High school teachers severely overestimate how much college professors are actually against you. Yes, if you are missing assignments and slacking off, of course you will be reprimanded for that, but the vast majority of college professors I have had are all really nice and are there to help you," James said.
"There were definitely times where I submitted assignments that were weeks late, and my professor still gave me a perfect score. I'm not saying everyone will have the same experience as I had, but I think it's important to at least try and have a positive relationship with your teachers and professors. Even something as simple as asking 'How has your day been?' can go a long way."
If they could go back, both would embrace in-person classes and new experiences sooner. Mayo, who did much of her early schooling online due to COVID-19 and had homeschooled/virtual schooled before that, said she "really thrived in those classes."
"I enjoyed seeing people and working together in person on assignments," she said. "I feel like being in person really helped me fully understand what I was being taught."
James put it simply:
"Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. The transformation of yourself from freshman year to senior year is inevitable for everyone."
