Everyone hears about the dreaded "freshman 15" when coming into college. Whether it's from junk food or not enough food so your body saves everything, you're apparently bound to gain that 15. While I may not have gained all of those 15 pounds, I did gain some insight as the year continued (and still does) my freshman year. It isn't easy, completely starting over in somewhere bigger and more diverse than where you came from. As the first semester came to a close and second semester opened its terrifying jaws of reality, I decided that this time, I was going to try and stay ahead of the game with some tips from that first slap in the face we call "fall semester." Here's what I came up with: 15 "pounds" that every freshman should gain to survive their first semester.

Pound 1: Learn to love coffee. This isn't really an option.

Pound 2: Your syllabus is your lifeline, always.

Pound 3: Emailing is your new form of communication, especially with professors (this is critical).

Pound 4: There are always deals going on at Walmart or Target on Lunchables.

Pound 5: Deadlines mean deadlines. Make them and you'll be okay.

Pound 6: Pack your backpack for class the night before. No one likes trying to responsibly pack 14 minutes after they wake up.

Pound 7: Know your limit on the snooze button.

Pound 8: Be okay with looking like a trash can, everyone else does.

Pound 9: You can wear things more than once, and you will. Nobody in your Tuesday/Thursday class knows you wore that shirt in your Monday class.

Pound 10: Bring headphones everywhere.

Pound 11: Learn to become comfortable with strangers in class, who knows, maybe the person next to you is the smartest kid.

Pound 12: Always do extra credit. You'll thank me later.

Pound 13: You no longer have to ask permission to use the bathroom, just go.

Pound 14: Utilize the "do not disturb" button on your phone. Lectures may be boring, but they won't seem so boring when they're all your test is over.

Pound 15: Twelve-minute naps are what your days will begin to revolve around, so accept this.

There's plenty of other tips one can find along the way, but these 15 should be a good start. Not just for this semester, but for every. It all boils down to staying one step ahead, and these can help get you in that direction.