1. Just because you had straight A's in high school does NOT mean you will have straight A's in college.

I can't stress this enough. If you go to college with the same "I don't need to study because I know everything" mentality that you might have had in high school, you will be in for a very rude awakening during your first semester. Take as many easy A's as you can (you will need them), form study groups, and if you need help, ask for it. Everyone is there to help you, so swallow your pride and go to tutoring for that chemistry test if you need it. It could very well make a big difference in your GPA. Don't end up like this:

2. You most likely won't stay close with everyone you were close with in high school.

While I'm talking about high school, let me mention this. It's almost a certainty that you won't stay friends with all of your friends from high school. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. It gives you the chance to broaden your horizons, meet tons of new people and make some close friends that you never thought you could make.

3. Give everything and everyone a chance.

Join a club, organization, frat, sorority, etc. Make friends with everyone that you can, because connections are everything. Plus, who knows, you might even meet a keeper or two. Talk to the people around you in class, it might help you create some study groups, maybe even new friendships, and you never know what might happen if you talk to that girl that sits behind you in writing class...

4. Sleep. A Lot.

This is especially important if you are brave enough to take 8 AM's. I'm not sure how, but I think getting up for early classes in college is harder than getting up every day for high school. You might think staying up all night all the time is a good idea, and it might be at first. But I would bet that you will soon regret it. Set multiple alarms, and drink lots of coffee if that is what helps you get ready for the day.

5. You don't need to bring everything you own to school with you.

Don't forget, you still have to bring everything back when you leave. Also, more often than not, you end up bringing more things home than you brought to school in the first place. Especially if you do some shopping at school, or at home on a break and bring it back to school with you, all your clothes and belongings will quickly, and very sneakily, pile up on you. That shirt that you wore that one time and think you absolutely NEED to bring with you? Leave it. Pack smart, and pack light.

6. Use ratemyprofessor.com (!!!!)

I think this might be the most important tool a college student can use. It is there for a reason: to help you. USE IT. Sometimes professors can make or break your grade, and 100 times out of 100 you will want to be with the best professor you can get.

7. Yes, the books are actually that expensive.

Do whatever you can to avoid buying books from the bookstore. Always try to rent them, or even buy a used version of it online. Sometimes, even though a class may say a book is "required", it won't actually be needed at all in the class. Look out for those so you can avoid spending money on them altogether.

8. Don't let anyone tell you what you "need" to major in.

Study what you want to study. You are the one taking the classes and going to them every day, so you might as well learn about something that interests you. Contrary to popular belief, you don't actually have to decide your major before you start school, or even after your first year. Take different classes and find that "something" that you know you want to study, find YOUR path, and then follow it.

9. Go to class.

I could be on my hands and knees begging and some people still wouldn't listen to this. Those people will regret it. Don't skip class because you think it's "cool". You will fall behind and you will fail. Badly.

10. Manage your money.

Ordering Domino's every other night because you don't like the dining hall food might seem like a good idea... until the first month is over and you and your friends have ordered over $200 worth of pizza, cheesy bread and chicken, leaving you all wondering why you're broke and five pounds heavier. Lock your money away (I'm not kidding), get a job, and try to find cheap restaurants on or around campus.

11. Call home.

Even if you are loving life while living on your own, your parents are probably not loving life not having you at home. If you don't want to call for your own sake, at least call for your mom's. She misses you and I'm sure even hearing your voice brightens up her day. It might even make you feel better, too.

12. Keep track of your deadlines.

Everyone procrastinates. In fact, I really think it might be impossible not to do so. But, please don't be the person that waits until the day before to start a ten page paper, or the person that goes into a presentation completely unprepared. Everyone knows a "that person". If you don't know one, it's probably you. So you know it never ends well. Never. As long as you stay on top of things, don't get overwhelmed, and do whatever you have to do to stay organized, and you will make it.