Dear freshmen,

Welcome to college. For many of you, this is probably not the first time you heard that. Some will know a little bit about college life from their older siblings. Stop. Stop right there. Your experiences will be different from theirs. If there is anything that is guaranteed in college, it is that. And you know what else? The experiences you have will be different from your friends and fellow classmates.

And that's completely normal and OK.

Here are a few tips and advice, or what you wish someone had told you:

• Get to know your professors. I'm being serious. They are, most of the time, cool people. Ask about their experiences and for advice. You are stuck with them (unless you drop the class) for almost 16 weeks; so you might as well get to know them a little in the process. Plus, sometimes there are benefits of getting to know your professors personally.

• You may not be best friends with your roommate(s). And that's OK. Really. But if there are serious problems occurring, then by all means, change rooms.

• Read the syllabus from all your classes closely. Most professors give you an outline of course assignments, big projects, and the like. Pay attention to the grading scales because professors differ in their grading scales. What may be an "A" in one class may be a "B+" in another class.

• Don't go to the bookstore for your textbooks. Ninety percent of the time they will rip you off. You are poor enough as college students. Go online to Amazon or Chegg or Half Priced Books. Or check your college library (yes, those do exist!) because sometimes they will have the same edition or a slightly older edition of your required textbooks. Sometimes you will have to buy books from the bookstore, but try to get as many as your books from other places.

• You don't have to go out every weekend, but don't be a complete hermit. From personal experience, it doesn't help you by always being cooped up in your room or by too focused on your studies. On the flip side of things, you can still experience college by staying in and just watching Netflix and pigging out on junk food with some friends.

• Watch what you eat. Freshman 15 is a real thing. It's easy to get into the habit of always getting ice cream or dessert at the dining center. Try challenging yourself by limiting the number of times you get dessert to once or twice a week.

• Take advantage of the wellness center. You don't have to work-out hard-core every day; you will tire yourself out quickly. It is beneficial to get into the habit of going to the wellness center to walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes or run the track for 15 minutes. Mix-up your routine. Not only are you helping yourself physically but also you are helping your mental state. Exercising helps your mind de-stress and relieve anxiety.

• Learn how to do laundry. THIS IS KEY. You are old enough to know how to do your own laundry. This aspect of college forces you to grow up and take more adult responsibilities. It also would be helpful to get into the semi-routine of picking a day or two you would have time to do it. Who knows, you might actually get to the point you look forward to do your laundry because it means getting away from studying or reading. Also set a timer to switch/take your laundry out as soon as it's done. Everybody appreciates this, especially if it's busy.

• Get out of your comfort fort. College is the time to experiment. Learn about other people's cultures. Try foods you never would have ever tried. Experience new ways of doing something. Find what works for you and what doesn't. Take that class that sounds interesting to you.

• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have snacks, a reusable water-bottle, and headphones in your bag. If there is one golden piece of advice I have received, it is that. Snacks: for those back-to-back classes or middle of the day and you need an energy boost. Water-bottle: you need to stay hydrated and you are helping out the environment by not using plastic bottles. Headphones: for when you need, for whatever reason, the escape to an audiobook or your favorite playlist on Pandora.

Guys, I could go on and on, but there are some things you need to learn on your own and/or experience for yourself.

One last tip: don't forget to call your parents, siblings, and grandparents. Let them know how you are doing and what you have been experiencing.

Sincerely, Someone who knows