Going into your first year of college can be scary. It seems as if it's impossible to get through, like you just might not make it. With so many different thoughts running through your head, not knowing what to expect, all because of the drastic change and transition from high school into college. But with these tips, you're sure to make it through.

1. Socialize

At first, it feels like making friends is impossible. However, if you put yourself out there, you can do things that can help you meet new people, such as joining clubs and organizations.

Spend your nights hanging out in the common room with your floor. These are the times where you find the friends that stick around all of college, and maybe even further. Making friends will come naturally in no time.

2. Balance

Trying to balance between your social life and school work can be hard. You want to be someone who has that image of going out and partying, but you also want to get good grades and get all of your homework and schoolwork done.

The easiest way to do this is to work hard, play hard. Spend your free time in between classes in the library getting your work done, rather than taking naps or watching Netflix. Those few extra hours you have here and there add up, and can be made a lot more useful than you think, even when you feel like you're drowning in days of work.

This extra time in between classes can also be useful to help you get ahead of your work. This way, you don’t have to do it over the weekend, because let's be real, when Sunday comes around, you will be too hungover and the last thought in your mind is trying to catch up on homework.

3. The freshman 15

Gaining weight in college is hard to avoid, but it is possible. When most people get to college, they give up on going to the gym, rather than working out like they would at home. But why?! It’s there, so make use of it.

Just because the dining hall has a buffet of foods like mac and cheese, burgers, and fries all the time doesn’t mean that it's required to eat those for dinner every night. It wouldn’t kill you to eat a salad once and awhile.

Also, avoid grabbing all of the cookies and treats they have on display every time you walk out of the dining hall. Just because they're there doesn’t mean that you have to take one every time you leave.

4. Try new things

College is all about finding yourself and doing and trying things that maybe have always been a thought in your mind, but have never resulted in an action. This could be ANYTHING.

So whatever it is that you want to try and do, just go out and do it, because this is the time in your life where mistakes happen, and that’s OK! How else are you going to be able to find who you truly are?

5. Be Yourself

High school is left behind. Cliques don’t exist, and being yourself is a lot easier to express because no one is judging you. Don’t be afraid to wear what you want and act how you want. At the end of the day, being yourself is all that matters.