BY SAMI SCHERRER
Staff Writer

Approaching graduation, many seniors are both excited and even anxious about what college holds in store.

Chris Allemang, a freshman at Clarion University, said that compared to high school, the workload in college is more intense.

“For some classes, there are only two tests and a final, so it is up to you to keep up with the studying,” Allemang said.

University of Pennsylvania freshman Dan McTiernan agreed that homework in college is more challenging.

“It seems much more clustered than it is in high school. It’s better to start big assignments long before they’re due, on those nights when there isn’t much work,” McTiernan said.

Although the classes may be harder than the courses in high school, Allemang says that finals aren’t as bad as many high schoolers perceive them to be.

“Finals are a big deal, but they’re something you prepare for all semester by studying the material from the class,” Allemang said.

McTiernan said everyone has finals at the same time, and so they all are equally as stressed as you are, which makes the entire experience more comfortable.

When it comes to packing for college, McTiernan said to only bring the essentials.

“More often I wished I had left stuff at home. There isn’t much you aren’t able to purchase when you get to school if you forgot it or need it,” McTiernan said.

Stephanie Pavlick, a freshman at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, advises incoming freshmen to bring sports equipment.

“On a nice day it’s really fun to go out and play sports with friends,” Pavlick said.

And for those hungry yet nervous seniors, Allemang said the food is better in college.

“It’s nothing like high school cafeteria food,” Allemang said.

McTiernan advised freshman to remain flexible when it comes to eating at school.

“I mostly get food from cheap restaurants and go to school events to get free food,” McTiernan said.

After being around the same people for four years in high school, making new friends in college might seem intimidating, but Allemang said it is not difficult.

“Everyone is looking to make friends in the first few weeks, so it’s not hard,” Allemang said.

Allemang said the best way to meet new people is to join clubs, but he advised against joining too many because they distract from classes.

Pavlick agreed that making friends comes naturally after a while.

“You might feel a little awkward at first among a lot of new people, but it’ll be O.K. That’s a very common feeling for incoming freshman,” Pavlick said.

The transition from high school to college looms as an intimidating force for many incoming freshmen, as they must leave the comfort of their friends and family and throw themselves into an unfamiliar atmosphere. But these Baldwin alumni said this change should not be a cause of stress.

“It isn’t too difficult after a summer of preparing to leave, especially when many of your friends are preparing to leave as well,” McTiernan said.

With all the new freedoms that are offered at college, it can become easy for freshmen to get lost in the shuffle, or wind up in academic trouble.

“Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean that there aren’t idiots, so don’t be one,” Allemang advised.