Inside freshman year: Quinn Cordero at GW University

SVHS grad Quinn Cordero, ‘17, reports in from her freshman year at George Washington University in D.C.|

As she finished up her first few week at George Washington University in D.C., Sonoma Valley High School graduate Quinn Cordero answered a few questions about the start of her freshman year of college.

What has surprised you?

I was really surprised by the set-up of my schedule and how much free time it allows. It is so much different than the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. day at the high school. Three days a week I finish classes by 12:45 p.m. On Thursdays my classes don’t even begin until 12:45 p.m. Tuesdays are always the hardest because my day begins at 9:35 a.m. and ends at 8:50 p.m. It is an odd scheduled and really requires me to set aside time for exploring the city and time for studying.

What has been easy and what has been hard about the transition?

Self-discipline has been very difficult. I am in the nation’s capital and want to explore every inch of it. However, my studies don’t always allow this. My weekdays are usually dedicated to schoolwork and my weekends are for adventuring with friends. Surprisingly, it has been rather easy to feel at home. My friends and classmates have been so welcoming and made the transition fun!

What was orientation like?

Orientation was scary! It was a two day event where we spent the night in the dorms. The first day was spent going through workshops on signing up for classes and health and fitness in college. The second day was dedicated to signing for classes, which everyone referred to as the “The Hunger Games.” Every kid at orientation packed into the library and at exactly 12:30 p.m., we all hurried to sign up for classes online. And within five minutes of classes opening up, all the ones I wanted had already filled up! I had to search around.

What have you signed up to get involved in so far?

I have joined a film club and a fitness club. It is still the first few weeks so I am hoping to get involved with some sports.

What is your dorm and roommate like?

My dorm is a tiny quad in a hall that houses 1,000 freshman. So basically, it is very loud all the time. I share one room and one bathroom with three other girls, who are all East Coast natives. I have a roommate on the dance team, one in the school band, and another on the triathlon team.

What classes are you taking?

I am taking statistics in social science, intro to biology, intro to psychology, and a writing class on genetics in popular culture. Most of my classes are held in huge lecture halls with over 100 students. My writing class is only 15 students and this makes it much easier.

What advice do you have for current seniors?

Keep calm and do your best. It’s cliche, but it’s going to work out. In the moment, the college process is definitely going to be difficult and frustrating but just know that wherever you end up will be great.

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