People are expecting you to do things on your own now and be more grown up than you’re ready to be. Sometimes it’s easier to just stay in your room rather than diving into all the craziness that college has to offer. But if you really want to maximize your chances of having an awesome college experience, then there are 10 things you can do to make your experience easier and way more fun as you embark on this new journey.

1. Join student organizations

I can’t stress enough how much of a difference this can make in your college life. The organizations on campus that you can join almost seem limitless. Whether your interest is academics, music, religion, politics, activism, fitness, etc. there is something for you. You can rush a fraternity or sorority. You can volunteer with a campus group. You can be a mentor. The possibilities are out there if you just take the time to find out what your school has to offer. No matter what organizations you decide to get involved with, you’ll find a community of people that share your interest/passion and there is something very refreshing and exciting about that.

2. Live on campus

I’ve lived on campus three out of my four years at school and the experiences I’ve had have been invaluable. The sense of community you feel (in dorms especially) is one that can’t be replicated. You have the opportunity to meet so many new people, which opens the door to even more possibilities and experiences. Many people end up being lifelong friends with their college roommates. Your RA could become someone that is instrumental in making your college experience go smoothly. Also, you’re in the heart of everything going on around campus so you have even more of a reason to get involved. While not everyone enjoys living on campus, I will say that most people who actually put in the effort have a blast and make many new friends while living on campus.

3. Talk to your classmates

Forming relationships with classmates is something that I think people fail to realize is important. Friends in classes provide not only people to bring some excitement to otherwise boring classes, but they can aid in your academic success too. Your friends in your classes will hold you accountable, send you “Wake up!” texts when you’ve overslept for class, form study groups with you, take notes for you, and other little things that we don’t realize we need until we have it.

4. Talk to your professors

Probably even more important than the relationships you form with your fellow students, are the ones that you form with your professors. They can literally make or break you in college. Having a good rapport with a professor can only help you in the long run. Go to office hours and get help if you don’t understand something or just to talk about your performance and professor expectations. Professors like to see you putting in the effort and taking an active role in your learning. Stay after class and chat for a bit with the professor. They enjoy normal conversation too. This relationship is especially important when it’s time for grades to go in and you’ve got an 89.5 in the class and are begging them to round up so you can get that A. More often than not professors that have gotten to know you a bit will be more inclined to help you out in those situations.

5. Work on campus

Whether it’s giving campus tours, being an orientation leader, being an RA, or writing for the school publication, working on campus is a great way to get involved, meet new people, and learn more about your school. It’s also a way to have an impact on other students and help make their college experience a great one as well.

6. Try new things

But don’t get crazy! College is a time filled with many opportunities to try new things. Most of us have experienced so little in our pre-college life and college is the time we make up for that. College is the time when you should put yourself out there and step out of that comfort zone. You are surrounded by so many new people with different lifestyles and ideas. Why not take advantage of that? As long as you don’t let it go too far, trying new things can make your college experience so much more exciting.

7. Play intramural sports

Even if you aren’t the best at sports, playing on an intramural team can be a super fun and fulfilling experience. While the games can get pretty competitive, some people just play intramurals to have a good time with their friends. The sports you can play range from flag football to fantasy football; from dodgeball to wheelchair basketball. So there is something for almost everyone. No matter how the season turns out, most people have a great time and make new friends along the way.

8. Go to sporting events

Very few things can beat the energy of a sporting event on a college campus. School spirit is through the roof on game days at most schools and tailgating is a must. No matter the sport, there will always be some die-hard fans at the game rocking your school colors and cheering the team on. Even being at a Texas school that doesn’t have a football team (moment of silence), I still get to experience the culture of college sports when I go to basketball games or baseball games, and it’s an experience that I think everyone should have.

9. Do Spring Break at least once

For most people who aren’t in college yet, a real college Spring Break is one of those things that you only dream about. You hear about all of the craziness that goes on but never experience it yourself. Even if you’re not into the party scene, you should try to go on a real Spring Break trip where you’ll be surrounded by tons of other college students. One thing I’m sure of: you’ll have at least one crazy college story to tell your kids.

10. Keep an open mind

The key to enjoying all that college has to offer is keeping an open mind. All of the things I’ve listed are dependent on your ability to adapt to new situations and make the most out of your experience. It’s really easy to just go to class and do what you have to do to get out of here. But if you have to do it, why not actively try to make it some of the best years of your life?