Skip to Main Content
The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University.

The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press

To all the freshmen I’ve never met before | Just Gabbing

To all the freshmen I’ve never met before | Just Gabbing

By Gabriella Di Dea, Lifestyle Editor June 6, 2025
You have four years to explore, learn, mess up and start again. Don’t rush the process — just be present for it. Welcome to BU. You’re going to do great.
Put in the extra effort to personalize your dorm — you’ll thank yourself later

Put in the extra effort to personalize your dorm — you’ll thank yourself later

By Emma Clement, Graphics Editor & Layout Co-Editor June 6, 2025
Your dorm is your home for the year, and you should be able to make it feel like a home — even if that means having difficult conversations about floor space, an obnoxious amount of posters or even a few too many Squishmallows.
What I learned my freshman year — that no one told me

What I learned my freshman year — that no one told me

By Nino Machavariani April 24, 2025
The takeaway is that anxiety will always be there in some shape or form, but you can learn to work with it instead of fighting against it. Just be present with yourself and the situation at hand, even when things feel like they are about to fall apart every other week.
Jodi Tang | Graphic Artist

The myth of escape

By Gabriel Martins February 21, 2025
But growing is inevitable, regardless of where you are. We have this mentality that we must evolve or die, but evolving doesn’t mean changing your life dramatically. We evolve in little ways every day— even if it’s in the courage it takes to live at home.
Annika Morris | Senior Graphic Artist

Embrace the distance: Navigating homesickness as a college freshman

By Sana Muneer, Managing Co-Editor April 2, 2024
The enrollment deposit to Boston University may have been a couple of hundred dollars, but the thrilling idea of going to school 1,000 miles away from home was priceless. An uneasy knot formed in my stomach almost as soon as I threw my cap in the air at my high school graduation and realized the reality of my college choice. Was I ready to move away from home? Could I handle being in an unknown city without family nearby? Am I strong enough to get through the hard times by myself?
Luc Ljoka | Graphic Artist

Concerned CGS student | Doctor’s Orders

By Luc Ljoka October 29, 2023
Dear Doctors, I am a freshman in the College of General Studies (CGS) and I’ve been getting made fun of a lot by other BU students. What can I do to not take it personally?
a weight scale

BU nutrition professors, student talk about the impacts of the ‘Freshman 15’ myth

By Ashley Soebroto October 14, 2021
The Sargent Choice Test Kitchen runs a blog with healthy recipes and nutrition guidelines.
The cost of moving in for new students can be daunting. Freshmen Terriers reveal their hefty bills for move-in while returning students reflect on their first time moving into college. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER GEOFF YOUNG.

Students face looming costs as move-in weekend concludes

By Eduard Miska September 3, 2018
Masses of new students congregated outside the entrance of residence halls last weekend as parents unloaded packed cars. The families faced the sweat and stress of moving into a dorm, yet another unseen burden added pressure.
Burke’s Bully Pulpit: Some aspects of life will be out of your control in college

Burke’s Bully Pulpit: Some aspects of life will be out of your control in college

By Patrick Burke June 5, 2018

Boston University has a lot to offer — it’s a great place to make friends and it will help shape you as a person. But, the reality is that college isn’t always roses and champagne. If I told...

Small Smiles: An ode to being halfway to halfway through the first year

Small Smiles: An ode to being halfway to halfway through the first year

By Olivia Polos November 10, 2017

A freshman who is halfway through their first semester of college is inarguably at one of the most unstable, confusing, erratic stages of life there is. Being flipped around forces you to look at everything...

WILSHERE: Advice to my freshman self

WILSHERE: Advice to my freshman self

By Meredith Wilshere June 6, 2017

There are many things I would tell my younger self before I headed off to college — pack fewer clothes, bring more snacks and don’t be afraid of 300 level law classes. Thinking about all the events...

SMITH: Freshman year, round two

SMITH: Freshman year, round two

By Paige Smith January 29, 2017

I believe that I’ve uttered the sentence, “When I was a freshman…” to preface the retelling of ridiculous stories no less than 10,576 times this week. No, I’m not feeling merely sentimental,...

Load More Stories
Activate Search
Freshman year