Tips from a junior: What I wish I would have known
There are so many little things I wish I would have known before coming to CU, or even to the state of Colorado. Lucky for you, here’s your guide to all things CU and Colorado!
Elevation
You may find yourself experiencing shortness of breath, lightheadedness or dizziness.These are all symptoms of altitude sickness. If you are from out of state, like me, and not used to being this high up, then it takes a little bit of time to get used to. Gradually increasing your activity level is one way to help you adjust.
Another way to help is to stay very hydrated. Staying hydrated is always important, especially if you are this high up! Don’t worry, it is perfectly normal to experience these symptoms at first until you acclimate.
Wear lots of sunscreen
Be careful! The sun here is strong, especially because we are at a higher elevation. Colorado is known for its 300 days of sunshine, so it is important to lather up. You may not think you will need it when you go skiing; however, the sun is very deceiving. I made the mistake of not wearing sunscreen when I went spring skiing on a cloudy day, and I got the worst sunburn that I have ever gotten. So be careful, and when in doubt, wear sunscreen!
Dealing with a dry climate
Colorado is a very dry state, so it is important to stay hydrated and moisturize. If your skin is getting dry, then you should constantly be putting on lotion to avoid irritation.
Drink water! Water is evaporated out of your skin much quicker in Colorado than in humid climates, which is why it is very important to stay hydrated. Another pro tip to avoid dryness is to carry around lip balm. I carry lip balm and my water bottle around with me at all times.
CU has multiple dining halls
The C4C is the largest dining hall on central campus and gets a lot of advertising, so many individuals mistake it to be the only dining hall on campus. However, there are numerous dining halls and spots spread out around campus. These include: Alferd Packer Grill in the UMC, the Village Dining Center, the CU on the Run Grab-n-Go, The Alley, Sewall Dining Center and many more.
If you need something on the run, then the Grab-n-Gos are perfect spots to hit up. If you want something a little smaller than the C4C, then Sewall and the Village Dining Center at Williams Village are both great options! I didn’t even know that Sewall existed until my second semester freshman year, and it turned out to be one of my favorites dining spots! If you get tired of one spot, the good news is you have plenty of other options.
Classroom sizes vary
In high school, every class size was the same. It may come as a shock, but in college, class sizes vary. They can range from large lecture halls to small 15-person classrooms. It just depends on the class you are taking.
However, do not be alarmed by the large lectures. There are always ways to make a large lecture feel smaller, such as going into office hours or getting to know your teacher’s assistant (TA).
