This time last year, I was preparing to attend my first year of college at a 4-year university, 4 hours away from my hometown. The first week was definitely the toughest and I wished that I had known these 7 rules/tips during my first week of college.

1. Call your family

The first week of classes was stressful and it was a major relief when I knew that my family members were one phone call away if I needed them.

2. Introduce yourself to your professors

If you are in classes with less than 40 students, this tip is especially important. By introducing yourself to your professors the first week, especially the first day of classes, it shows them how invested you are in your education and allows for them to match a face to a name on their many class rosters. This also makes it easier to ask for help during office hours when needed.

3. Sit in the front row

Be sure to also sit in the front row to help with the possibility of not falling asleep and to show initiative that you care about the class.

4. Make friends with your classmates

I learned that this was very important, especially during the first week of classes. These friends can become some of your best friends and can help out in any situation, especially when studying for midterms or finals.

5. Communicate with your roommate

This is key to assuring that your transition to living with loved ones to a total stranger, goes smoothly and is easy to adjust to.

6. Create a schedule

Creating a balanced schedule to succeed in college is crucial. Trying to create time for work, homework, working out, and studying is key to survive the entire year.

7. Stay on top of school work

To assure that you are able to keep any scholarships/grants, and to keep good grades, it is important to stay on top of your school work. Whether this means countless hours of studying, or needing the help of a tutor, it will all help in the long run.