RIT students share practical advice with incoming class on making friends, finding opportunities and adjusting to college life

Rochester, New York – Starting college is rarely as simple as walking onto campus, finding a classroom and settling into a new routine. For students arriving at Rochester Institute of Technology, the transition can be especially noticeable. There are unfamiliar buildings, new classmates, demanding courses and a campus filled with opportunities that can be difficult to understand at first.

For incoming students, however, some of the best guidance may come from those who have already spent years learning how RIT works.

Several experienced RIT students recently shared advice for new Tigers, offering lessons about getting involved, managing time, meeting new people and keeping an open mind about what college can become.

One of the strongest messages was simple: do not be afraid to try something new.

RIT has more than 300 student clubs and organizations, along with academic, social, athletic and creative opportunities. With so many choices, students do not necessarily have to arrive on campus already knowing where they belong. Finding the right fit can take time.

Onvida Serixay, a fifth-year computer engineering technology major from Buffalo, New York, encouraged new students to take that first step even if they are nervous about doing something alone.

“I wish someone told me to go out and just try,” said Onvida Serixay, a fifth-year computer engineering technology major from Buffalo, N.Y. “You can try going to an event by yourself or trying to be a first-year representative of some club. Sometimes it takes a few tries before something sticks.”

That willingness to experiment can lead to more than friendships. Students may discover interests they had not considered before, meet professors who can help them move forward academically or encounter opportunities that could influence their careers.

Alex Matthews-Elston, a fourth-year exercise science major from Houston, made a similar point. College, he said, can reward students who are willing to step beyond what feels comfortable.

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“Don’t close yourself off from opportunities,” added Alex Matthews-Elston, a fourth-year exercise science major from Houston. “Putting yourself out there can be scary, but it always pays off–whether it’s new friends, a job or research opportunity, or just some extra help from a professor.”

But getting involved is only one part of adjusting to college. Another challenge is learning how to manage the many competing demands that come with being a student.

Classes, assignments and projects can quickly fill a schedule. At the same time, students need sleep, exercise, time with friends and moments when they can simply step away from schoolwork.

Nasir Williams, a third-year game design and development major from Newark, Delaware, said creating a routine can make that balance easier to manage.

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“Establishing a routine is one of the smartest moves you can make,” said Nasir Williams, a third-year game design and development major from Newark, Del. “Whether it’s going to the gym consistently, having a set bedtime that you stick to, or intentionally carving out time to relax and enjoy your time outside of academics, having something every day or week that you can count on happening makes college life feel a lot less hectic.”

The advice is not necessarily about building a perfect schedule. Instead, it is about finding habits that give students some structure while they adjust to a new environment.

For Tina Lin, a third-year new media design major from Philadelphia, one of the most useful resources students have may be the time they find between classes.

“You’re going to have a lot of free time or hours of downtime between classes, depending on major,” said Lin. “Learn to use them to your advantage whether to study, to do homework, or even meet up with a friend.”

Those gaps in the day can easily disappear. A student might spend them scrolling on a phone or simply waiting for the next class. Lin’s advice is to see those hours as useful pieces of the day, whether that means finishing an assignment, reviewing course material or catching up with someone.

Beyond schedules and activities, RIT students also emphasized something less predictable about college: it can change your expectations.

New students may arrive with a clear picture of the kinds of people they will meet and the experiences they will have. RIT, however, brings together students with interests and backgrounds that can be very different from one another.

Keiko Takahaski, a fourth-year film and animation major from Mount Olive, New Jersey, said meeting people with different interests helped her think differently about her own identity.

“You really do meet all different kinds of people,” said Keiko Takahaski, a fourth-year film and animation major from Mount Olive, N.J. “I remember meeting other students and being surprised at their hobbies or cool wardrobes. I thought it was so awesome that I was meeting such unique people who were unapologetically themselves, and it made me excited to discover who I was, too.”

That sense of discovery can be particularly important during the first year. Students are not only learning how to handle college-level work. They are also figuring out what they enjoy, what communities they want to be part of and what direction they may want to take in the future.

RIT itself may also challenge some expectations.

The university has long been associated with technology and industrial fields, but the student experience extends well beyond computers and engineering. Arts, design and other creative fields are also an important part of campus life.

Williams said that was one of the biggest surprises for him after arriving at RIT.

“What surprised me the most was probably how innovative the school is,” Williams said. “Coming to a tech school made me think that most of the initiatives I’d see here would be computer based, but there’s so much investment in the arts and different creative ventures. It’s incredible to see and be a part of.”

That combination of technology and creativity is part of what makes the RIT experience difficult to define in just a few words. Students can focus on their majors while also exploring activities and communities that may have little connection to their coursework.

For incoming students, the advice from those who have already made the adjustment comes down to a handful of practical lessons. Try things, even when they feel uncomfortable. Build routines that make everyday life manageable. Make good use of time between classes. Meet people who are different from you. And perhaps most importantly, arrive with an open mind.

The first weeks of college can feel unfamiliar, but that uncertainty is also part of the opportunity. At RIT, students have plenty of room to test new interests, form unexpected friendships and discover parts of themselves they did not know were there.