Dear Incoming College Freshman,

First of all, congratulations for being accepted into college! I'm proud of you. I know those application essays were long and grueling, especially on top of all of the work you were already doing for high school classes. It was probably kind of difficult to manage time, wasn't it? With all of your homework and social events. Well kid, you haven't seen the worst of it yet. Your world is about to be turned upside down, backwards, sideways, you name it.

The first thing I want to tell you is that college is not nearly as scary as high school teachers make it seem. "They won't put up with this kind of behavior in college"; au contraire my dear friend. In one of my film classes, the professor came in with girl scout cookies and we all talked about life while eating Savannah Smiles (that's a cookie, not a cannibalistic act). 90 percent of your professors are going to be cool as a cucumber. I'm not saying that you won't have any strict teachers, because you will. However, most teachers could care less. So, don't be nervous about the profs.

I'm not going to lie to you, the homework can be brutal. Yes, you have a lot of papers. Yes, you'll have a big project for most of your classes. It was a lot of work, but if you're keeping up on your deadlines then you should be fine. I highly recommend a planner of some sort to write down all of your due dates. If you aren't writing things down then you will forget about them. Also, I know its easier said than done, but don't procrastinate. Even if you just dedicate 20 minutes a night to that huge essay you have due at the end of the semester, you'll be taking such a huge load off your back. I can't tell you how many times I stayed up until five in the morning because I procrastinated eight page papers. It's bad, don't do it. I also regret to inform you that you'll be doing a lot more group projects than you did in high school. Honestly, group projects are what you make of them. Some of my groups sucked, and some ended up being close friends afterwards. Never be the person who does none of the work in the group. No one likes that person.

You may be wondering about your future social life at this point. Well, that is also exactly what YOU make of it. My number one piece of advice for you on social life is to get involved! Whether its Greek life, joining the school newspaper, or even going to a fundraiser, make sure you're leaving your room. If you sit in your room and binge watch Orange is the New Black (I know its tempting), then you aren't going to make very many friends. Some of the best friends I have are simply because I asked them to go to lunch one day after class. Don't be afraid to get out there and say hi.

Something you probably haven't given a lot of thought to however, is your life back home. Even if you're going to community college and staying at home, things are going to change. You'll make new friends at school, you'll be bombarded with papers and projects, and you'll be really tired. While things are changing, make sure that you're still making time for your family and people at home. I know you have to write that paper tonight (even though I told you not to procrastinate), but taking five minutes to play with your little brother won't kill you. Make time to sit down and have family dinner, even if its just once a week. Also don't forget about your old friends. Yes, some will fade as you grow older. That doesn't mean you should just be so willing to see friendships go down the drain. Hold on to people while you can. After all, these were the people who were there for you from the beginning.

The last thing I'm going to say to you, is probably the most important. Make sure above all else that you are taking care of yourself. Everything is new and exciting and you don't technically have to eat balanced meals or get eight hours of sleep, but try. If you're sitting on your bed at two in the morning and you're crying, take a break. Never put homework or social life above your own health. It's okay if you gain the freshman 15, or the freshman 50, whatever. Just make sure you don't beat yourself up about things. Your mental health (and physical) will always be more important than an essay or a frat party. Learn from your mistakes and accept that you will definitely be making a lot of them. Even when things suck, know that they will get better. Cut yourself some slack. Enjoy yourself, kid.

Sincerely,

A college sophomore