Okay. You've graduated high school, signed up for classes, and bought your shower caddy. How exactly do you do this whole college thing, though? Since you are pursuing a degree -- and learning everything you need to know to chase that dream of yours -- the curriculum is going to be a lot more difficult. You have to study. Yeah weird I know, but with these five tips, first semester will be a breeze and your parents will open that dean's list letter.

1. Read

This one may sound obvious, but don't lie, you never actually read "Grapes Of Wrath" in high school, you Spark-Noted it the period before the quiz. Here you actually have to read things to get an education (wait, what?). The first day you'll receive a syllabus, a life line to the class, read it weekly because that's the only notice of due dates you'll get. Don't even try to read the first and last page of the short story you were assigned in Comp 2 because when you get to class on Monday, the professor will expect some deep, life-altering analysis of the text, which is a lot of reaching if you read two pages.

2. Just get it over with

When you're assigned homework just go ahead and get it over with. When you're assigned homework on Thursday that isn't due until Tuesday just go ahead and get it out of the way. It took me awhile to get the hang of this one. If you say you'll do it over the weekend, something crazy fun that you just can't miss with inevitably come up. Trust me.

3. Talk with your professors

They really are cool. They almost obsess over their subject and are legitimate experts, so if you go to their office with a question they will be overjoyed that you happen to love microbiology as much as them. Nine times out of 10, showing this small effort will help you out in the long run (when you're begging them to bump your 89.5 up to an A).

4. Make it a priority

It's easy to get lost in the bustle of campus, but never forget to keep school your priority. Skipping a night out every now and again will allow you to keep the grades to come back the following semester. If you ever lose sight of this opportunity to think about how many people would trade you shoes.

5. Be you

This isn't high school, you don't have to like what your lunch table likes. Be unapologetically yourself. Study what interests you. Make a friend you have nothing in common with. Join that club you keep picking up flyers for. Try new things. Grow.