Alright all you freshmen! Welcome to college! The land of all-nighters, life-long friends, and being so stressed out that you want to cry and watch Netflix. I know what you must be thinking. “College is scary! I don’t know if I can do this!” Well, never fear! I am going to give you 5 easy steps to help you survive college.

Step 1.

Go to the store and buy notebooks, a planner, pens and pencils. Here is what you’re going to do with them. As far as notebooks, I know you may be thinking,”Pfft I don’t need to take notes, I didn’t in high school.” Trust me, notes will be a lifesaver when you are studying for a test or creating a study guide. The reason for having a planner is to collect all of the syllabi from your teachers and write out your entire homework schedule for the semester. This way you will know when to turn things in, when to study for a test, and when you should start working on long term assignments.

Step 2.

Pay attention in class and study. There will be some classes that will be incredibly boring. But trust me, if you want a good grade, you need to pay attention to what the teacher is saying. Also, you have to study! College tests are a lot more difficult than high school tests. You need to make sure you know the material and are confident in what the test is going to cover. The good news is that most teachers will give you a study guide so that you know exactly what you’re supposed to know for the test. Look over it and know it. This is essential to pass a class.

Step 3.

Make friends. One of the best things about college are the relationships you make while you’re there. The great thing about college friends is that you don’t just hang out with them, you do life with them. You live on the same campus, eat together, and suffer through hard classes together. The right friends will encourage you when you just want to “throw in the towel” and will remind you that you can do this college thing, and do it well. Trust me, you do not want to go through college alone. You need those people who understand what you’re going through and are able to be an encouragement in each other’s lives.

Step 4.

Plan down time. Schoolwork is a big priority, but if you just do homework and study all the time, your brain will get tired and you will get burnt out. So make sure that you plan time to hang out with your friends, watch a movie, or just hang out in your room. You will lose your mind if you don’t.

Step 5.

Enjoy the ride. I am a junior in college this year and my time in college has just flown by. It has been so much fun and I have worked hard and have made friendships that I know will last forever. College is full of amazing experiences that are full of laughter, and others that will help you grow as a person. So build relationships, work hard, and have fun. This will be some of the best years of your life.