1. If you have a particular career/major in mind, be sure to plan some classes around it

While it is still great to explore new interests, some career paths require a lot of classes to complete, so it helps to get some out of the way your first-year.

2. Try new things

If a club or something relatively interests you, try it. You may discover a new passion.

3. Don’t be afraid of rejection

4. Every first-year is also trying to navigate college life and make friends, so don’t be hesitant to reach out to new people

5. Just because a lot of people you know are getting into relationships, doesn’t mean that you have to as well

6. Be patient

Everyone adjusts differently. If it takes you a little longer to make friends or find your niche, or if all of your friends aren't adjusting well but you are, it is okay.

7. Participate in your classes

8. Don’t spend all of your plus-dollars on Starbucks

9. Get enough sleep

10. Make sure to put the effort into your friendships

11. Go to office hours and form a bond with your professors

12. Take advantage of all of the resources that UVA has to offer

13. If you want to go to the good basketball games, you have to get sabre points from events other than just the football games

14. Take advantage of meal-exchanges

15. Even though it may not work all of the time, download the bus app (this is especially for people in new dorms and suites)

16. Make sure to put effort into keeping up with your high school friends

17. You don’t need to party every weekend to fit in

18. Invest in good walking shoes

19. Study on the Lawn if you want to see a lot of dogs

20. Spend at least a little time every week caring for yourself

21. Always try to be kind to those around you

22. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do as well as you did in high school

Everyone here (including yourself) is very smart and talented in their own way.

23. Find a reason to smile every day

Enjoy your time here; these are some of the greatest years of your life and they are going to fly by.