I’m sure you’re excited, or perhaps a bit nervous, to join the OCU community. However, there are several things that you should definitely NOT do as an incoming freshman at OCU.

1) Do NOT spend a boatload of money on dorm stuff.

I know, especially if you’re a girl, that you’re super excited to arrange your room and make it look as stylish as possible. But honestly, you don’t have to spend a fortune to do this. (Food will soon become much more of a priority for you). For dorm décor, and pretty much everything else, the local Dollar General has been my best friend for a while now. They have really nice canvases and other wall art for a considerably lower price than other stores (Walmart, Big Lots, etc.). They also have all the essentials, including bedding, pillows, curtains, command strips, kitchenware, and items for the bathroom, for up to half the price you’d pay anywhere else. You can also get folders, notebooks, pencils, and just about anything else you can think of for cheap at Dollar General. (And no, they are not paying me to write this.)

* BONUS: Consult with your future roommate before purchasing large (or fairly expensive items), such as refrigerators, microwaves, etc. In many cases, one of you will already have at least one of these items, and the other will have additional appliances of their own. Collaborate and decide who will bring which item before move-in day, so that you can eliminate the possibility of spending more money than necessary.

2) Do NOT stay in your dorm all year like a hermit.

I know that freshman year, especially the first couple of months, can be quite intimidating. Trust me, I’m a huge introvert. It’s an entirely different atmosphere, with new people, new teachers, and new classes. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. No matter how confident they look, everyone is at least a little nervous when they first get here. My advice? Make the most out of orientation day, and your first few weeks of school. Get to know the people in your peers, and interact with them whenever you get the chance. This is something that will only take you a few minutes, but will have a huge effect. You might think you’ll look weird in the beginning, but you’ll look a lot more weird second semester when everyone else has found their niche and you’re stuck at a table eating by yourself in the cafeteria (*slowly raises hand*).

3) Do NOT use your phone in Dr. McD’s class.

You will quickly learn that one of the most beloved professors on the OCU campus is Dr. McDonald, Assistant Professor of Psychology. She was also recently named Faculty Member of the Year. Though she loves her students, and her students love her, there is one thing she definitely hates: using cell phones during class. Not only will you lose the respect of one of the best professors on campus, but you will also lose points on tests, quizzes, and/or your final grade. Now, there are obviously exceptions, such as in the case of an emergency. There are also occasions in which she will actually ask you to use your cell phone. However, unless one of the two exceptions above applies to you, do not EVER use your phone in her class.

4) Do NOT be that freshman.

On behalf of all upperclassmen (and even sophomores), do not be the freshman who gets on everyone’s last nerve. You might want a lot of people to get to know you, but being extremely loud, cocky, or obnoxious is not the way to go. Just be yourself. Even if you don’t think people will like you for you, you’ll soon find out that your wrong. This isn’t high school. People in college will actually highly respect you for simply not trying to be something you’re not. Everyone is tired of that crap.

5) Do NOT be infatuated with “Freshman Mating Season”.

There is a certain time of the school year which we OCU students lovingly call “Freshman Mating Season." As an incoming freshman, you will frequently hear this term. This is the time of year when freshmen feel that it is necessary, or life-altering, to choose someone to date as quickly as possible. This typically occurs during the first semester of freshman year. Most likely, a lot of other freshmen around you will be spending a significant amount of their time trying to win the attention or affection of a special someone. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t date anyone your first semester of college, but I am saying that you should be smart. Don’t feel like you are destined to be with the first guy or girl who says "hi" to you. As they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea, and although OCU is considered more of a small pond, you will still have a variety of options. So, if everyone else around you seems to be chasing after a certain someone, please do not feel obligated to do the same. It is very likely that you will find someone you’ll want to spend the rest of your life with at OCU. But relax, take your time, and be smart. After all, you have four years. (Then comes the dilemma of “Senior Scramble”, but you can worry about that later.)

6) Do NOT reject help from professors or other students.

Like me, you might be one of those people who would just rather do everything by themselves at times. But in college, this is a mistake. Not only will you get to hear different viewpoints and bits of advice, but you will also get to know a lot of great people. Not everything that people tell you will be right, but do keep an open mind. We all come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, and we all have something to learn from each other. Most importantly, when you are going through a rough time in the future (not just academically), you will be able to count on a lot of these people to help get you through in some way.

While I hope that you sincerely consider the tips I have given, I definitely want you to get out there and have fun. I’m pretty sure my years at OCU will be some of the most memorable years of my life, and I hope you’ll be able to say the same.