The beginning of freshman year can be overwhelming at times, so here’s a checklist to make the transition from high school to college a little easier.

1. Carry a water bottle.

The beginning of the fall semester is always hot and ready for vengeance, so having water on hand is a good idea if you don’t want to get dehydrated.

2. Fill your dorm with fans.

Most dorm rooms have approximately zero air conditioning; so unless you want to go all Sylvia Plath and live in an oven, set up a few fans on your desk or by the window.

3. Learn to manage your time.

While you might spend fewer hours in class in college, you will definitely spend more time studying, writing papers or preparing presentations. Make a schedule to help allocate what you want to do with your free time. Make sure you balance your time and make room for studying, personal free time, class or any clubs and organizations you might want to join.

4. Take it easy.

It’s good to get involved in your school community, but try not to go overboard. You don’t need to completely overwhelm yourself during your first semester. You’ll have plenty of time to figure out what activities you want to get involved in, so don’t feel pressured to sign up for as many things as possible. Stressing yourself out is for sophomore year.

5. Try not to piss off your roommate.

Some people are good friends with their roommates, but it is certainly not a guarantee or a requirement. As long as you can exist in the same space without killing each other, you’ll be fine. Just make sure to respect each other's privacy and boundaries (i.e. talk about what you are or aren’t comfortable with happening in your shared space).

6. Go to class.

It seems like a no-brainer, but it can be quite tempting to skip morning classes to get more sleep. However, your grades are likely to suffer because of that, so make sure you are well-rested, highly caffeinated or both because whatever is going on in class will probably be included in your exams and generally, it’s good to be prepared for those. But if you have to miss class for whatever reason, then make sure you get that day’s notes from someone or talk with your professor about the lecture you missed.

7. Branch out.

College is all about braking barriers you had previously set for yourself, whether intentional or not. So try new things, talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to. Don’t be afraid to explore your options. If you try something you don’t like, then you don’t have to stick with it. College is a time to truly figure yourself out if you haven’t already, so don’t let your past dictate your present. Who you were in high school isn’t necessarily who you are now or who you will be.