College was the greatest four years of my life. I met people that will be in my life forever. I had wonderful professors, classmates, faculty, staff, and coworkers. However, I went to college just as scared, nervous, and excited as every other incoming freshmen is right now. Here are some things I wish I knew before I started college and hopefully these tips can help you be more prepared and less nervous before you move in!

What to bring

• Whatever you have packed, you can do without 40% of it. Especially when it comes to clothes. You’ll have a washer and dryer in the res hall somewhere for a reason
• Bring a pot, measuring cup, a plastic bowl, large plastic spoon, paper towels, a few rolls of toilet paper, and a full-length mirror
• Have a raincoat (or two), wellies, and a waterproof backpack
• Have two chargers for your laptop - one to always keep in your room, one to take with you to classes or wherever you study
• A notebook for each class
• Highlighters
• Shower shoes, something to hold everything you need for the shower, at least two towels
• Two pairs of sheets
• A small fan (it can be used for white noise or to keep you cool)
• Always have money on you (at least $5)
• I find the Vera Bradley Zip ID Case or the Smartphone Wristlet 2.0 extremely helpful (the Wristlet fits an iPhone 6)

What to do when you get there

• Unpack everything first, make your bed, get organized, talk with your roommate
• Get your laptop set up with whatever you need – Microsoft Office, connect to the campus Wi-Fi
• Go for a walk around campus, you definitely didn’t see everything on the tour
• Look for other ways around campus, there’s bound to be little pathways that make your route shorter to class
• Go to every classroom you have
• Write your class schedule out, put it somewhere where it is clearly visible from either your bed or desk
• Get familiar with your school’s online system

Don’t

• Drink your first week there (or go to a party where there’s lots of alcohol), most schools have a very strict no-tolerance policy for underage drinking. In my class of 500, over the first weekend, over 20 kids were kicked out
• Wear Pjs to class - you’re an adult. If you don’t feel like putting in effort, wear sweatpants or yoga pants
• Be late to class, it’s rude
• Eat a 3 course meal in class, it’s disruptive, disrespectful, and rude
• Talk back to your professor in class or really ever
• Party Monday-Wednesday unless you don’t have class the next day or a big test coming up
• Go to class smelling like weed or alcohol, it’s incredibly inconsiderate
• Go to bed past 2 a.m. on the week days. Nothing good or productive happens after that time
• Take classes at 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. unless you know you will be able to go and function in them
• Walk in packs that take up the entire staircase or sidewalk, walk two-by-two if other people are trying to get around or pass you and your friends

Do

• Take classes you’re interested in and outside your major
• Take a level 200 or 300 your freshman year that is relevant to your major - it may help you decide whether you want to continue in that major
• Ask for help!! Whether from the professor, TA, classmates, friends, etc. People are there to help you
• If you need extra help or have questions, go to your Professor’s office hours – that’s why they have them
• Find out what services are available to you, like a tutoring center, writing center, counseling
• JOIN CLUBS!! Find a club that interests you or on a subject you’re passionate about!
• Go to sporting events with friends
• Try an intramural sport
• Go explore the surrounding area of your college - you’ll find cute places to eat, go out, and to even study
• Eat three meals a day - go to the dining hall by yourself if you have to - eat healthy
• Keep a snack in your backpack at all times
• Keep a small umbrella in your backpack just in case
• Call your parents
• Clean your room once a week (like a good cleaning)
• Be courteous to your neighbors - you can hear everything through the walls
• Go to the library to study at least once a week (there’s a lot more studying and less homework than high school)
• Have a planner or use the calendar on your phone to keep track of meetings and appointments
• Make a schedule of all your due dates (LOOK AT THE DAMN SYLLABUS)
• Find a place you can study, make it yours (underneath a tree, in an empty classroom, in the library. etc. There are lots of nooks and crannies where you will be able to plop yourself to study)

Social Life

• The people you meet the first few weeks, while you will “bond” and it will feel like you’ll be best friends forever, it likely won’t last a year. Don’t worry, you’ll find your best friends – they just aren’t usually the first people you meet
• You’ll make friends from classes, clubs, sports, your job if you have one, internships, other people in your dorm, etc.
• You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, just be respectful of each other
• You will make friends that will last a lifetime and become so close to them you can’t imagine life without them.
• You don’t need to have someone with you at all times - you can go to the dining hall alone, it’s no big deal
• Go to some college events – whether it’s a play, a book reading, a political event – they’re usually quite fun and you can learn a few things along the way

Mental Health

• If you need help, seek it out, there are people there to help you!
• Skip a class if you need to
• Find places that deliver (at my college we have a place that delivers froyo)
• There are lots of clubs that deal with mental health and supporting students on campus, check your student e-mail and flyers to see where and when they meet
• Try to work out at least 3 times a week. It helps calm your mind, but keeps you in shape. Utilize your gym (or pool!!!)! Go for a walk, just get moving
• Don’t let other people pressure you into stuff you don’t want to do. You’ll find awesome friends that don’t pressure you to do anything you feel uncomfortable with
• The first month (or semester) may suck, a lot. But, don’t transfer unless it is absolutely horrendous. (I hated my first semester, I swore I was going to transfer, but after I got back from winter break, everything was so much better, and now I can’t imagine going to college anywhere else.)

Academics

• If you need to drop a class, do it. But, talk to your advisor thoroughly
• Try to hand write your notes - less distractions and you learn and understand it better by writing it!
• Look up professors on ratemyprofessor (take it with a grain of salt, but it can help you to gauge what the professor and their class is going to be like.)
• Some classes will be hard, get a tutor if you need one, talk to your professor, go to study groups!
• Getting straight As or being on the Dean’s List isn’t everything
• If you need a lighter schedule, that’s fine. Take a general education course over the summer to lighten the load
• TAKE A WRITING COURSE YOUR FIRST SEMESTER THAT TEACHES YOU HOW TO WRITE
• Ask questions! Stay after class to talk with the professor, e-mail them if you have questions
• Anatomy & Physiology will be way harder than you expect
• A lot of classes weigh heavily on tests, so prepare for the test at least a week in advance - don’t wing it (I’ve had multiple classes where I had 3 tests over the semester and each was worth 25% of my grade)
• Hang onto your syllabus - most questions about grading, when the tests are, etc. are inside of that
• Do the course evaluations at the end of the semester
• LEARN HOW TO DO APA CITATIONS!!! 70% OF YOUR CLASSES WILL REQUIRE APA CITATION!!! This site is extremely helpful!
• Don’t plagiarize
• Fight for the classes you need - make sure you know what classes are required for your major
• Don’t be afraid to change your major, but stick with it for at least one semester

And my final words of wisdom; take the time to enjoy college — go to sporting events, cheer on your classmates, go to clubs, make new friends, enjoy every second of college. I focused too much on my studies and didn’t enjoy all the wonderful opportunities my college offered. I missed out on some great experiences. Don’t let it happen to you.

Go forth and have fun! But, remember, you’re at college to become educated!