College students' number one priority is to learn and get a degree (well at least should be). I’ve been at college for about a month now. While I’ve had enough calculus and chemistry stuffed in my brain the past few weeks that I wonder how it hasn’t exploded, I’ve learned so many important lessons to help me survive the next few years. Hopefully, it might help this year’s high school seniors to have a smoother transition next year. Or maybe my fellow freshmen can just laugh at themselves while reading this because they remember the pain they were in before they knew all this.

1. Having Food in Your Dorm Is Essential

I can’t tell you the amount of times I’m dying of hunger at 12 AM after everything is closed and a bag of chips has saved my life

2. Never, Ever Take a Class Before 10 AM

I always got this warning last year, but since the first requirement of my major was at 9 AM, I didn’t have a choice. The amount of times I’ve come in late for that class is depressing.

3. Try to Sleep For At Least Four Hours Each Night

If you sleep any less than this, the next day is going to feel like death. The worst feeling is when you are nodding off right in front of your professor.

4. Don't Wait Until the Night To Start The Homework

The homework you get at college is way more difficult than high school (unless you were that person that took like a gazillion APs). You can’t do it all in one night unless you want to stretch into all nighter territory.

5. Go to the Dining Hall Either Really Early or Really Late

I use to go at 6:30 for dinner, which is when all the sports teams are coming in after practice. Then, I went at 4:30 once. I was enlightened.

6. Expect to See a Lot of Drunk People (Especially on Friday and Saturday Nights)

Especially if you want to get food late at night. All you are going to see is people stumbling everywhere.

7. Freshman 15 is Too Real

They should change it to freshmen 500 at the rate I’m going right now. There is so much food available here and at the dining hall. It’s hard to tell yourself that you have to stop unless you want to gain 50 pounds by the end of the year.

8. Unless You Need Those Access Codes, Don't Buy New Books

Unless you have money to spare, don’t buy brand new books from the bookstore. Amazon has some cheap, used books in good condition or you can ask upperclassmen for books that they don’t need anymore for a much cheaper price.

9. Swallow Any Pride You Have and Go to Office Hours

There really isn’t a reason to be struggling in your dorm if you really have a hard question in the homework or just don’t understand the concept. The professors here really want to help you understand and all you have to do is go to their office. They get paid for it.

10. Don't Ever Be Afraid to Say Hi to Someone

Sometimes you question saying hi to someone that maybe you only met once, but it honestly doesn’t hurt just to wave at them. What’s the worse that can happen? They don’t say hi back? I’ve met so many people by just saying hi to people in my building and it’s really nice.

11. Sometimes You'll Get Less Than Perfect Grades, But That's Okay

College isn’t like high school. For the most part, you can’t breeze through exams and essays. The expectations are great and in the beginning, you might get a really painful grade. However, don’t let it kill you because you can do better in the future. Just reach out for help.

12. You Can Get Really Close With People You Only Met A Few Weeks Ago

In high school, I took 20 years just to make one good friend. Here, you are in such close proximity with people that it’s hard not to get close to them. It’s great to just share your struggles and feel instantly connected with people.

13. You Will Learn to Love College

There is tons of work and it can be overwhelming, but for most students, they learn to love their school. There is so many great things about college that it would take me forever to name every awesome aspect. It may be hard the first week or two, but eventually, you’ll see it as your home.