Ah, college. Four years-or-so of attending classes, taking tests and soaking up tons of knowledge about subjects that you may or may not ever use. However...the things you learn in college aren't only found in textbooks, and I would argue that the most important things aren't in textbooks at all. Here's 21 things I've learned outside of class while in college!

1. Studying abroad is the most mind and world-expanding thing you can do and you’ll want to talk about it all the time, but...

2. If you talk about your experience studying abroad all the time, people absolutely will begin to tune you out.

3. Meal planning and prepping is key if you want to avoid having to eat eggs as your only source of protein.

4. The general rule of “everybody cleans up after themselves” always applies...as long as everyone actually cleans up after themselves.

5. Weekend road trips don’t cost that much money and can totally save you from going crazy.

6. You don’t NEED to buy Ben & Jerry’s for every girl’s night…but you should because you’re in college and when else can you do such a thing?

7. If you get a parking ticket, don’t send the campus police a grumpy email about it while you’re angry. It never works like you think it will.

8. If you plan on riding your bike around campus, first map out your route so you avoid accidentally flying off curbs and sudden drop-offs.

9.Most of the textbooks you buy you’ll never use. EVER. Seriously, quit buying them.

10. Use your student discount for Spotify Premium and your music library will expand tenfold.

11. Avoid group messages with more than 10 people AT ALL COSTS.

12. Joining extracurricular activities only counts if you actually attend them.

13. If you find yourself in a conversation with an accounting major, it’s best to just let them finish whatever they’re saying. You won’t understand any of it but they clearly need to just let it out.

14. Dorm rooms are meant to be temporary dwellings. You don’t need to drag an entire miniature house’s worth of stuff into your half of a tiny room.

15. Don’t go to the library expecting to actually get anything done, unless socializing for three hours is on your to-do list.

16. If you feel like you’re overwhelmed, go talk to a nursing student. You’ll feel better.

17. You can study on the treadmill or stationary bike and kill two birds with one stone.

18. You don’t have to major in art to make art, you don’t have to major in writing to write, and you don’t have to major in vocal performance to sing. Don’t give up the things that make you happy just because your major is something more “practical”.

19. Not everyone wants to get into a heated debate every time they voice their opinion. Learn whose buttons you can push and whose you can’t.

20. You’re going to have the urge to drop out, learn calligraphy and open your own Etsy shop. Fight that urge.

21. If you are in college at all, whether it be a private or public university, junior or community college, or online program- count yourself lucky. Higher education is a privilege most of the world doesn’t get to indulge in.

Get to learning!