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Once the admission hurdle has been successfully crossed, the nagging question on every out-station student’s mind is the thought of moving to Delhi and living away from home. The prospect of moving induces both excitement and fear in equal measures it is up to you to ensure that one does not overwhelm the other as you make your way through the first few months of college. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you take this big leap forward:

1. It’s alright to agonise over it

But just for a while! If you’re nervous and anxious about moving, vent. There are several others, your seniors for instance, who have gone through similar changes and pangs of homesickness. Seek help and support. At the end of the day, you always know that your family and friends have got your back.

2. Learning to adjust

You may have had a room to yourself at home, with the liberty of watching T.V. till 3.am. In hostel, the realisation will instantly dawn upon you that these simple pleasures have been rudely wrenched away from you. Some hostels may not have ACs or heaters. You will have to adjust, sometimes with roommates who may want to go to bed at 10 p.m, while you feel like the night has just begun. Learn to adjust and compromise. At the end of the day, the very same roommates and friends are the people who will become your family away from home.

3. Keeping an open mind

When most of us entered college, we were coming from schools with a more-or-less homogenous population, with classmates from similar backgrounds as ourselves. This will certainly not be the case in Delhi University which attracts a diverse crowd. In hostel, you will meet and live with people who may be very different from you, or have varied views and opinions. Hostel provides valuable lessons in keeping an open mind and learning to accept people for who they are. You will realise that there is a great deal you can learn from the people around you.

4. The concept of ‘private’ space may cease to exist

Your friends or your room mates’ friends will walk into your room like it’s their own. Afterall, what’s yours is theirs and vice versa. If you require alone time to work, find a place where you can do so, like the library. That being said, a significant aspect of living in a hostel is helping each other out when in need. Isolating yourself is not a good idea.

5. Acknowledge all the perks that you have

The easiest way to come to terms with the fact that you are no longer living at home is to look at all the positives of living in a hostel you’re very close to college or even within the same campus, and that gives you ample opportunity to be a part of every college activity. Societies, fests and other extra-curriculars you can wholeheartedly engage in everything without having to worry about the travel time on the metro, or making it back home by a certain time. Moreover, when you go home during the semester breaks, you will be showered with extra love.

Tip: Try not to hoard too many things in your hostel room, particularly if you take the flight home and you have a baggage limit. When you need to pack all your things up, you will regret having bought a lot of things that you never really needed.

Living in a hostel is an enriching experience by itself, and at the end of three years you will be able to look back and congratulate yourself on having accomplished the task of living away from home. You will have learnt a great deal and done a lot of things that you have never had to do before (like washing your own clothes, or sleeping without an AC in the glorious heat of the Delhi summer yes, that is an accomplishment). If you’re worried about the homesickness, I can assure you that in no time you will be too busy to be homesick.

Image credits: www.thebusinesscourier.co.uk

Abhinaya Harigovind

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Amidst the enormous cut-offs and high degree of competition, the common dilemma that arises in the minds of most aspirants is choosing between the course and college of their choice.

While the brand value of a popular college may lure any student to settle for a less preferred course, the long term results may not prove to be desirable. According to experts, the stress factor, indecisiveness, fear of judgement or family pressure may push a student towards a door that he/she shouldn’t really open. It’s important to know that the curriculum is the same in each college, irrespective of their ranks. Even if the percentage secured isn’t enough to get enrolment in the desired college, there are still high chances of maintaining a good academic record in another one. The reason lies in the obvious fact that we tend to perform better in our areas of interest. College alone can’t help in establishing a successful career. While there is always another chance to go for a preferred college after this degree, the short term decision of choosing a less preferred course may lead to cluelessness and failures after the graduation period.

However, it is also important to note that in case of professional courses like engineering and law, good colleges open doors to better amenities and placement opportunities. Facilities like a well equipped library, labs, quality ambience and Internet access may provide a healthy competitive environment and help in personality development. For those who’re more into co-curricular activities, more opportunities in the form of societies and activities may be provided by some specific colleges. Also, for those who’re unsure about their course preference, taking a better college may prove to be more advantageous.

At the end of the day, it’s up to the student to decide what’s best for him, considering his strengths, weaknesses, interests, passions, dreams and aspirations.

Lovleen Kaur

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As a graduating senior I deem myself qualified to churn out a piece of advice. And so I jump at this opportunity, imploring all my dear juniors to promise this one thing: keep a journal where you scribble your thoughts everyday.

College can get very hectic, all-nighters might be all the rage. Here is an interesing tidbit: the range of adventures you can have each day during those three years of undergraduation can oscillate between a dull, drab day full of lectures to an eventful day full of meetings/practices/event planning…you get the flow. You might have harried through the bylanes of Chandni Chowk the same day you might be haggling with printers at Nehru Place. One hour you’d be chilling with your gang of friends, and another hour you might be giving an internal examination, and yet another hour might witness you attending a college/deportment fest.

My point here is that each day is different from the other and to make the most out of it, you should document these days. Selfies are okay, photographs are fine and social media uploads rock, but nothing beats recording your feelings in a journal or a dairy. If you’re so tech-savvy have it online. If you’re a private person keep the diary to yourself. If you want the world to know what your college life has been like, share it. But the important point is to record. Scribble down details of each day, and let your feelings dominate it. Not only is it a great way to store your memories in a pristine and unaltered way, but it also gives you scope and time for reflection and contemplation.

Here’s an anecdote. I wrote about my experiences prior to organising an event. And while I did that, I used to turn the pages back and forth, which used to help me gain a vantage where I understood what I, as a leader was doing right or wrong.

For practical and emotional reasons, keeping a diary is a good practice. I haven’t even delved into the pros of keeping a journal generally. But as a college student, it will help you greatly to acknowledge and appreciate what you have, record precious memories with friends and make the most of it all.

Feature Image: the-write-type.tumblr.com

Kritika Narula

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