Coming to college, I knew there was going to be a learning curve. With a new environment, new people and new classes, I was bound to make some mistakes. However, I really didn't think it would be such an adjustment and many of the mistakes I made were small errors that could have been avoided if someone told me what to expect ahead of time. If you are coming to Villanova next year, I hope this article will help ease some of the anxieties you have as well as give some inside tips and tricks so you don't look as lost as I was throughout the year. Here were some of the mistakes I made and how to avoid them:

1. Thinking Things Would Be Easy

When I first got to Villanova, I knew adjusting would be difficult, but I figured everything would fall into place within the first week. Unfortunately, I quickly realized this was impossible. After a couple of hard rejections and trouble finding a friend group right away, I was feeling discouraged and beyond homesick. My advice to you is to stick it out and eventually you'll find your place on campus and in groups.

2. The Homecoming Tailgate

One of the very first big events to happen is the Homecoming Tailgate. Knowing Villanova's school spirit, my friends and I dressed head to toe in Villanova gear only to realize that NO ONE dresses in Villanova apparel. Everyone around us was dressed like they were going to The Hunt, so my advice to you is to dress nicely and not like you are going to a football game.

3. The Club Fair

Villanova's first club fair occurs in the beginning of the year around the Oreo (which is an oreo-looking sculpture in the middle of campus) and in the Quad. Personally, this was one of the more overwhelming things I had to deal with in the beginning of the year. There are tons of people and clubs, on top of the unbearable heat. If you want to take advantage of the club fair, you should look up clubs ahead of time to see what you are interested in. You'll have a clear idea about what booths to visit, easing stress along the way.

4. Not Understanding My Meal Plan

During the start of the year, and even now, I had no idea how to use my meal plan and honestly no one really ever explains it. There are normal meals, MPEs, meal periods and even places you can't use a meal during certain hours of the day. The first two weeks of school I would go up to pay for my meal and the man or woman at the register would tell me I did not have a meal plan when I knew I did. If it was not for the generosity of the people behind me in line paying for my meal, I probably would have starved. This is something you will have to figure out on your own since the rules are unique to your meal plan, but don't be afraid to ask questions!

5. Basketball Games

The very first game this year, my friends and I showed up ten minutes before tip off, not even entering the Pavillion until after the game started, placing us all the way in the back. If you want good seats, you have to be dedicated. By the end of the year, we mastered the art of arriving early, making it on TV and being right in front for the fight song at the end of every game. I am not sure how it will be for Wells Fargo, but I'm sure these general guidelines will still be relevant.

6. Coming into First Semester with Senioritis

You may think this may not happen to you, but trust me, it will. Senioritis carries over into college and it will bite you in the butt once you get into the swing of school. Even when you are feeling lazy or adventurous with all this new free time, make sure you get all your homework and readings done before anything else. Some of my favorite memories of the year have been doing homework in the Spit (the freshman dining hall) with my friends. So, push past that lingering senioritis and get work done! Your GPA will appreciate it later.

Freshman year is going to be intimidating no matter what. You'll find yourself in new, exciting and sometimes scary situations but you will work your way through it. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and feel a little more comfortable as you move into South in the fall.