Before starting my first day as a freshman in college, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

My parents had tried to give me the gist of the college life but lets be real- college has changed immensely since the 1980s. The things I figured out my first week are undoubtedly things I would not have learned from my parents, or anyone else for that matter.

1. “Syllabus week” is a myth

Okay sure, you do get a syllabus and most teachers do go over it in class, but that isn’t the only thing you are going to be doing the first week of classes. Teachers will try to get a head start on first chapters or they will lecture you in full detail and advise you to read 30 pages out of a book by next class. Many college students use syllabus week as an excuse to go party every night, but trust me when I say it won’t look good when you miss class on the first day or show up hungover. Overall, expect to do some type of work during the first week of classes. This isn’t high school anymore.

2. What it’s really like sleeping in a twin XL bed

There is truly nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Going from even just having a full sized bed to a twin XL was a huge adjustment all in itself. Mattress pads are a beautiful thing, but they are no match for the comfort level of my bed at home. Also, in this dorm sized bed, I soon learned I am unable to sprawl out and sleep with my laptop on my bed knowing it won’t fall off. Confiding myself to a much smaller space was not easy, nor was it easy to get any sleep at first in this new setting. Tossing and turning the first few nights are inevitable and it may even carry into the next weeks to come.

3. The freshman 15

I’m sure you have heard of the “freshman 15.” Most people have, but what you don’t know is that it’s actually really easy to not let it get to you. On average, I walk about 5 miles a day. Granted, I do go to a larger university, but even so, walking from classes, back to your dorm and of course to the dining halls is a lot of well needed exercise. Something else I found surprising is how easy it is to chose to eat healthy. Dining halls provide a variety of healthy options. Although it may be tempting to eat a slice of pizza everyday, there are an abundance of nutritious choices.

4. The classes you take don’t have to be the ones you stick with the whole semester

After having my first full week of classes I knew that some of the ones I had originally wanted to take were not for me, but I wasn’t sure what to do about it. The senior resident living in my building informed me that most universities (including mine) have an add or drop period where you can actively search for new courses and drop ones that may not be suitable for you. I would definitely take advantage of this because who wants to be stuck in a class they hate all semester?

5. It’s normal to want to go home already

Going away to college, whether it is 20 minutes from home or 2 hours is nerve wrecking. If you find yourself hating college or wanting to go home I promise you are not alone. There are plenty of students who feel the same way, and some who don’t even make it through the first week! We live on our whole lives being mainly dependent on our parents so it's only natural to feel uneasy and miss that comfort.

6. It’s also normal to miss your friends from home

Saying goodbye to your best friends as you all leave for college is heartbreaking. All of the laughs, sleepovers, late night talks and food runs suddenly become memories of the past. Hanging out with the same group of people for years becomes natural and when you are without them for even 24 hours it can start to hit you. Staring at walls everyday filled with pictures of high school friends doesn’t help either. Just remember, no matter how many miles apart you are, a FaceTime or text message can write off any feelings of despair.

7. But just because you miss them doesn't mean they feel the same way

“Make new friends, but keep the old,” is something my mom has been telling me from day one. You may miss your closest friends from home, and some of them definitely feel the same, but that doesn’t mean every one of them will. College is all about meeting new people and some are able to do this better than others. If you aren’t clicking right away with your roommate(s), than you are probably more likely to long for familiarity. But sometimes your friends are already making new ones and although it may seem like they forgot about you, I can promise you they haven’t. When you are all home for your first break it will be like nothing has changed.

8. You may not have many friends at first

On that note, your roommate is potentially going to be your only friend that first week. Try to reach out to people in your major and your classes as best as you can. The friendlier you are the easier it will be to make new friends! Don’t be afraid to say hi to the cute guy you sit next to in your chemistry lecture either. The friends that you make in college are the friends you will have for life.

9. You live for the weekend

Monday-Friday will become the death of you. If you can learn to study hard now and party hard later you will be golden. Staying on top of your reading assignments and papers during the week will give room to have more fun on the weekends. Whether is catching the soccer game or going downtown for a girls night, you will yearn for a break. Sleeping in is a major plus too.

10. The habits you start the first week will be the ones that carry with you

Most of the work you are assigned during the first few weeks won’t be as difficult as what’s to come. You might not need to (or want to) make flash cards for definitions you’ve known for years, but getting into a good study habit is crucial to having good study habits the whole semester. If you are already starting to blow off busy work or reading because you don’t think it's important enough, it will catch up to you. It easier to start off the year strong and ride the wave all the way through.