It is getting to be the time of year again where people are preparing to go back to college. But, not everyone is going back, some people are going for the very first time.

So, I have put together a list of five things I wish someone had told me when I started college.

1. Be mindful of your packing.

If you are anything like me, you will try to pack way too much.

Remember that you will be living in a small room with another person and there is very limited space. Ditch clothes you won't be wearing for a while, or that you never wear at home.

It's also a pain to move everything in and organize it. The least you have, the easier to carry and the easier to organize it will be. I always found bringing a three drawer cart and under the bed storage bins to be the most helpful while organizing.

2. Making friends isn't as hard as you think it will be.

I am a very shy person, so making friends isn't a strong suit of mine. It was also one of the things I was most worried about.

I soon found out that there was no need to worry, because before I knew it I had made plenty of friends. College presents itself with many opportunities to make friends in places such as the cafeteria, classes, residence halls and common areas.

If you see someone sitting alone at lunch, don't be afraid to ask to sit with them. Or if you recognize someone from one of your classes sitting with other people, ask to join them. This is how I met some of my closest friends.

3. Get involved.

On the topic of making friends, what better way to do it then getting involved at your school? This could mean participating in sports, clubs, organizations or other school sponsored activities and trips.

A lot of schools have activity nights and other welcome week traditions that are great places to meet new people and really get to know what your school is all about. It is also helpful to get involved because it allows you to form good relationships with some of the people that work at the college.

This is important because they will be able to help you and encourage you if you ever have a hard time. A bonus feature of some schools activities is that they give away free stuff.

4. Utilize your resources.

This is something that I cannot stress enough to incoming students. There are many on-campus resources that will be very helpful to you. They include places like the library, health service/counseling center and tutoring center.

Most of us stop using libraries after a certain age, but once you get to college there is no better place to do your homework. Dorm rooms can often be noisy and distracting in many ways. The library is the perfect place to get your work done timely and efficiently with minimal distraction.

The health service center/counseling center is very helpful to know how to use even if you don't end up using it. College can often lead to stress and anxiety that is difficult to handle on your own. It is a valuable resource to have people on campus that you can talk to, to get a better grip on the situation.

5. Do not procrastinate.

I am going to repeat that one more time. Do not procrastinate.

Though it may seem like a good idea at the time, it is never a good idea. I have always found the best way to stay organized and not procrastinate is to make a schedule of all of the things I have to do and plan a time to do them.

It is no fun staying up late doing homework when you could be peacefully sleeping like your roommates and almost everyone else in the building. The best quality work usually doesn't come from rushing. Get your things done ahead of time and your grades will thank you.

Procrastination also creates unnecessary stress that you do not need in your life. Do yourself a favor and get your work done on time, you will thank yourself in the end.

Most importantly, remember to have fun and make memories. Enjoy the time while it lasts, because it sure does fly by fast.