Advice for Incoming College Freshmen: Tackling New Challenges due to Covid-19

In today’s world turned upside down by Covid-19, the college experience for all students - new and returning - will be different from anything before. And with most college tours and in-person admission events cancelled, it can feel like there are less opportunities for incoming students to interact with current ones. 

Loren Goddard and Victor Nguyen, both rising seniors at Rice University, say that incoming freshmen are not the only ones who miss forming these connections. As Rice tour guides, they’re accustomed to frequently meeting new students and telling them about Rice and college life in general. 

Needless to say, incoming college freshman will be facing a first semester unlike anything current or former students have previously experienced. Even when change hit universities this past March, we all had at least a semester of in-person college experience under our belt at that point. And even in the best of times, the transition from high school to college comes with some level of anxiety. Combine that with these unprecedented times, and we really can’t fathom what it will be like for the incoming class of ’24.

In light of these circumstances, Nguyen said he wants freshmen to know that the adjustment to college can be different for everyone, and that it’s perfectly natural to struggle, even under normal circumstances.

“The transition from high school to college is already a difficult process for a lot of people. I myself struggled with that my freshman year, so I can only imagine the additional stress that Covid-19 can put on people, incoming students especially,” Nguyen said. “There will be plenty of students that will be able to adapt to college faster, and then there are also students that take more time in order to really get into the swing of things. Know that no matter what pace you take, there will be people there to support you.”

Josh Bae, also a rising senior at Rice, said that having someone to talk to throughout the transition can help ease the process for new students.

“Since this is the first time that many students have left their homes for this period of time, it may be mentally difficult to adjust,” Bae said. “So I would recommend having someone dependable to be your go-to person whenever something stressful comes up; this could be your parents, a sibling, significant other, a school counselor, or someone you just met in college.”

Some aspects of college life, such as making new friends, may have already seemed daunting, without the additional obstacle of social distancing. In response to this, Goddard advises new students to take advantage of the digital world.

“Especially our generation, we’re really used to using our phones and computers, so I would say make the most of it. Don’t use coronavirus as an excuse to not meet people,” Goddard said. “I’ve talked to my friends at Rice this summer more than any other summer, because we realized how easy it is to set up a Zoom call and just talk to each other. We live in such a crazy and technological world, and I really think that making that effort is important, especially if you’re a freshman and you’re just trying to meet people.”

Bae assures new students that there is no rush to make all your new friends right away, though.

“People talk about how many friends they meet in college, but you shouldn't feel burdened to find ‘your squad’ by your freshman year,” Bae said. “People get to know each other through different mediums and at different rates. Even the idea of needing a ‘group’ seems a bit unrealistic to me. I met so many of my friends individually and have cherished them just as much as some of my other friend groups.”

Bae advises that freshmen take advantage of any opportunity to get to know new people but also to know that it’s not expected they click with everyone they meet.

“There will be people you love hanging out with, and others who you won't really care for,” Bae said. “That's okay since we're all so unique and aren't guaranteed to be compatible with everyone we meet.”

As the world has transitioned to life online, Goddard and Nguyen have stayed involved with Rice’s Office of Admissions, leading virtual chats for prospective students. Although they said they enjoy still being able to share more about Rice and their experience with interested students, there are aspects of an in-person tour that can’t be replaced.

“I miss showing them around campus because on my tours everyone always comments about how beautiful Rice is,” Goddard said. “I also miss the jokes. The virtual chats don’t have any audio capabilities for the audience, so whenever I try to make a dumb joke, I don’t even get a pity laugh or anything. I just have to hope they’re laughing on the other end.”

“The thing I probably miss the most are the random questions I get as we walk around campus, when they see things that catch their eye,” Nguyen said. “Whether it’s commenting about the number of squirrels that are on campus or even parents asking the hard questions that students are maybe scared to talk about. I surprisingly miss doing the intricate ballet of tour guiding, giving people the most authentic information possible while showcasing the best that the university has to offer.”

Nguyen said some audience questions inevitably remain the same across platforms, while other new inquiries reflect today’s very different world.

“You do still get some of the same things when talking about majors, college life, and traditions,” Nguyen said. “A lot of the new and hard-hitting questions are about how the university is responding to Covid-19, and whether or not we know anything about reopening.”

As of now, Rice is planning to allow students to return to campus and move in for the fall semester, and classes will be a mix of online and in-person delivery, beginning in August. 

Goddard said she wants to reassure any incoming students who might be nervous about fitting in at a new school.

“I think that a lot of times when you’re in high school you can get this pressure to find this perfect place for you and I don’t really think that exists,” Goddard said. “I think that if you like what you see at a school whether it’s on a tour or a virtual event or from people that you know, I think that you can find your place there, if you are open to pursuing your interests." 

In conversations with incoming freshmen, Nguyen said he can tell that many of them are worried about the approaching start of college. 

“I’d really like to tell them to relax,” Nguyen said. “It seems like now, more than anything else they want college to get started and for this next chapter of their lives to get started. The only thing that I could possibly say to them is slow it down and enjoy the fact that, even though this summer is all out of whack, the transition time between high school and college is magical no matter how you spend it.” 

Editor’s note: Read more about college tours in light of coronavirus here. See our annual “Where are they headed” story to find out where Buzz-area grads are heading to college.