Going to college, especially for the first time, can be an overwhelming experience. With so many aspects of your life changing, it can be hard to adjust to everything that’s new. The best way to deal with all of the changes that college brings is simply by jumping in and trying different things out. Lucky for you, I’ve already spent a few years trying, failing, and succeeding and can now share some of the things I learned along the way.

Dorm Maintenance

Since you will be living there, you won’t enjoy having a dirty, messy dorm room (and neither will your roommate). I make it a point to clean my room at least once every two weeks. Some dormitories are older buildings and any sort of dust and dirt build-up can team up with the existing mold and mustiness of the room and can cause residents to get sick. Anytime I start to get a sore throat or random sinus drainage, I dust and sweep my room. By the next day, I instantly feel better. In order to make cleaning simple, I bring a broom and a small vacuum to school with me (Some schools will provide brooms and vacuums for you to use. I just like having my own that I can use whenever I want) in order to keep debris, dust, and hair from accumulating too much. I also keep Lysol or Clorox wipes around, too. They make cleaning WAY easier.

As you probably know, dorm rooms can be very limited on space. That being said, decorative pillows may be found in every picture with #dormroomgoals, but contrary to popular belief, they are not a necessity in college. In fact, they can actually prove to be a nuisance. I have three accent pillows that I drag to school with me every semester and 90 percent of the time they sit in a laundry basket under my bed and no one ever sees how cute they are *sigh*. Decorative pillows are nice to have, but if you don’t want to make up your bed every day, you’ll have to store those suckers somewhere. Honestly, your room can be just as comfy, cozy, and cute without them.

Managing Roommates

Another thing to keep in mind about your dorm room is that you most likely share it with someone else. Sometimes one, two, or three other people are living in the same space as you are. You don’t have to be best friends with your roommates, but it’s no fun being complete strangers. I’ve had four different roommates since I began college and two of them were not good situations. We barely spoke to each other and anytime we were both in the room it was mega-awkward. In order to avoid any roommate drama, at least be on good terms with the girl or guy inhabiting the same space as you. Let the little things that they may (or may not) do slide and only mention problems when you need too. And please do not be the passive-aggressive roommate that tries to “get back at” someone else for pissing you off. I guarantee that having a conversation with the person you have friction with will more likely cause the problem to work itself out than slamming the door at 6 a.m. will. I promise.

Unfortunately, not all roommate problems can be solved easily. Sometimes you (or they) may have to move out. My first year of college, I had to move out of my room in the middle of the first semester. It was a hard situation, but it was ultimately for the best (the next girl I roomed with became one of my best friends!). As long as you are respectful and courteous, any roommate situation can be handled with ease.

Getting Assignments Done

Academic success is one of the most important facets of going to college. So in order to stay on top of your studies, you may need to implement a few routines. I like to mentally plan out my day in terms of what assignments/readings/papers I want to get done that day. Actually, I totally write it all down on a to-do list with a schedule and input meal times and everything, but I’m also kind of anal about planning things out. The main point is, set goals every day of what you want to accomplish. For example, one day I may decide that I need to write at least one page of an impending 12 page paper, finish an online assignment, and then read one of the assigned sections for class. In order to make sure I do all of this, I won’t allow myself to log into Netflix until I’m done. If you balance work with rewards, finding the time and motivation to get school work done will become much easier. Also, committing to work on term papers in small one or two page sections at a time can turn a daunting paper into a finished paper.

Laundry Etiquette

Depending on what university you are attending, your laundry situation will be different. However, no matter the situation, you should also be cautious about your laundry being stolen. Sometimes, it won’t even be on purpose. One time, I put my clothes into an empty dryer and then later when I was folding the dry clothes I found an extra sock that wasn’t mine. So if you don't want me to collect any of your socks, the best way to prevent any laundry mix-ups is to be in the laundry room as soon as your wash or dry cycle ends. Ask a RA in your dorm how long a wash/dry cycle takes if it isn’t printed on the machine, then set a timer on your phone so you know when to pick up your stuff.

Unfortunately, even if you are prompt about getting your laundry in and out of the machine, your peers may not be. This is the part that is tricky: moving other people’s laundry. Some people may not want you to move their laundry, but if said laundry is in the only available dryer and it has been done for over an hour. Take it out, and use the dryer! If the person gets mad at you, so what? You gave them plenty of time to get their stuff before you moved it. I also move people’s stuff out of a washing machine if there is an available dryer to put it in (some people will take others’ soggy, wet clothes and just lay them on the table, but I think that it’s a bit too rude). I’ve even moved people’s laundry out of the washer into the dryer, out of the dryer to the folding table, folded it, and left it sitting there two hours later when I was done with my own laundry. Your time is valuable; don’t waste it waiting for other people to pick up their laundry.

Also, another great way to force yourself to study/do homework/work on a paper is laundry time. Since I was one of those annoying people who always forgot about their laundry and left it unattended for hours (oops), I started sitting with my laundry until it was done and taking my laptop with me to work on homework. It may sound like an exaggeration, but this trick changed my life. Not only did I have several less other girls mad at me for hogging a dryer for six hours (again, oops), but I also was able to focus better on homework when I wasn’t in my room surrounded by a bunch of distractions. Knowing I had a specific directive and a time limit really helped me to buckle down and churn out some assignments. Suddenly, I had two hours’ worth of work accomplished and clean laundry. Score!

Managing Study Groups

Another tip I learned from trial-and-error experience was how to manage study groups. Study groups can be a wonderful tool and help prepare you for the next quiz or exam, but they can also be a total waste of your time. Sometimes conversation can drift to other topics besides the one you all agreed to meet and discuss, and then no one gets any studying done. The study groups that are the best use of my time are the ones where I’m not particularly close to the majority of the people there. That way, I’m not as tempted to switch the subject and talk about the latest episode of my favorite TV show that came on last night. Plus, if you study with people you don’t normally hangout with, you get to meet new people that you might start hanging with! It’s a win-win situation! This same idea applies to meeting up with your friends to study; it’s a fun time to talk and just chill with your buds, but all of a sudden it’s 3 hours later and you haven’t made it past the first page of your notes and the exam is the next morning. Just be ready to have an alternate study plan if you realize that all you learned in study group was the entire saga of Somebody and Somebody-else’s love life.

If you are a freshman and you are stressing out about college, stop! Trust me, no one else has it all magically figured out yet, either. During my freshman year, I locked myself out of my dorm room on my first night on campus. Now, I have a position where I actually help advise incoming freshman on being successful in college. College, just like life, is a never ending process of learning. Everyone starts at the bottom and slowly figures it all out. You will make your own mistakes and your own successes before the first year is over. Then, you'll have an arsenal of your own tips to pass down to the next generation!