College. It marks the end of childhood and the start of your independence. Many of you are leaving home for the first time, and are coming anywhere from up the street to states away.

This is can be a scary or nerve-wracking time for you, as you may have never completely been on your own before. Well, fear no longer! Follow these tips, and you will have an amazing first year living on campus at Grand Canyon University.

When living in one of GCU’s many residence halls, everyone you meet is in the same situation as you. The best way to make it feel more like home is to get talking! Already living with you in your dorm are three to five potential new friends. Imagine a chain reaction, where those three friends can multiply to six friends who then have other friends, and sooner rather than later, you will know so many people you will feel like you have been here forever!

Attending sporting events is a great way to experience GCU. Going to watch your favorite sport is one way to make the transition from home to campus a lot easier, as it is comforting to do something you like.

If you consider yourself a dedicated sports fan, join the Havocs – the loudest, craziest, most rambunctious group of students we have. They get dressed up or painted for basketball games.

If you would rather play than watch, jump on an intramural team and make some new friends!

Living on campus gives you around the clock access to events of all kind, some without even leaving your hall. Life Groups meet once a week on your hall floor with your Life Leader, who leads Bible study and reflections. Participating in Life Group introduces you to a solid group of girls or guys that you can trust and grow with.

On a larger scale, the Canyon Activities Board (or C.A.B. for short) puts on several fun events throughout the school year. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of, as these events provide a chance for you to meet new people, try new things and make memories that will last a lifetime

Every student living on campus has a meal plan. This goes through your student ID much like a debit card. Having this kind of free reign is nice; however, you need to make sure to not overspend. If you are not careful, you might run out of dining dollars before the end of the semester. Budgeting your meal plan will ensure that this does not happen, and you will be free to enjoy all of GCU’s amazing campus dining options.

During your time at GCU, you will discover your purpose, develop your gifts and deploy your service. We are focused on one thing – we turn students into Lopes for life! To find out more information about student life, visit our website.