Imagine this, you've just graduated high school at the top of your class, you have your #1 university picked out and you're literally chomping at the bit to leave home and become what you'd call "completely independent." I'm sure most of us have either been there, are there or are nearly there, it's a universal thing--going off to college. But what isn't universal is the fact that someone sits you down and prepares you for what is about to level you. I mean level as intake you down, grind you up and spit you out. Here's 5 things I wish I'd known at the onset of my college experience.

1. Join clubs. Be active. Speak.

I’ll be brutally honest and say that just because you’re an “introvert” doesn’t mean you have to be alone. That isn’t what college is about. It’s about finding new things about the world around you—and if you’re lucky, finding new things out about yourself. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, even if you think it will physically kill you. It will probably be worth your while. It’s a good idea to remember that you are no longer your “high school self” and you will only find who you’re meant to be by stepping outside of who you currently are.

2. Challenge your professors.

Yes I, Olivia Cristine Johnson, said that. Challenge. Your. Professors. But be careful here. You don't want to turn into that one kid the entire class rolls their eyes at, you know who I'm talking about. The kid that questions anything and everything that comes out of the professor's mouth on a profoundly disrespectful (shall we say) even stupid level. Don't be that kid. Be the one that doesn't allow their professor to think for them. You owe it to your professors, as well as yourself, to take in what they say and/or think and figure out where it fits in your own mind. Check their facts. Should they present you with figures that you think are undeniable, chances are they may have come from a biased source such as CNN or FOX News. It's important to remember that everyone has their own agenda, especially when it comes to molding young minds. Protect your mind whilst you expand it.

3. Don't forget about your parents.

Yeah, I know, you just rolled your eyes. You're probably thinking to yourself, "Well, duh, how could I forget about my parents. Great advice, Liv." Just bear with me. Parents are the springboard for your success and they deserve your respect, even if you don't always get along. They will do whatever they need to in order for you to be happy, there is no greater sacrifice than a parent would give for their child. I'm thankful for the head-start that my own parents gave me and wish I would have had the foresight to appreciate them at the time. Be thankful for your parents' love and support.

4. Find people in the field you are majoring in and interview them.

This is of paramount importance. Track people down who currently work in your field of interest and request a brief interview. You will be surprised how many people are willing to help an aspiring youngster in their college years. If I would have had the foresight to interview people in my own major, I probably would have saved myself many, many headaches. The people that you find will know the in's and out's of the field, they'll know the pros and cons and, even better, they may be able to give you a feel for where the field is headed. Will demand increase or decrease, what are the benefits like, etc? If the answers you find are not to your liking, consider a change. It is your life and you will have to live it.

5. Look out for yourself.

Because nobody is going to do it for you, not anymore. If you have to take out student loans, find out all you can about them. Ask if the loan is subsidized vs. unsubsidized. When will they start accruing interest? What is the grace period? Is there a grace period? There are certain classes that are only offered one semester each year, find out if it's the fall or spring term! Spend more time in your counselor's office than in your dorm room, hit them with questions they didn't even know existed. While we're on that topic, always double, triple, quadruple check your counselors. Sure, they're there to help you but they screw up more often than they help. Run your life in college which means being the boss of it. Don't think that others will do it for you because you are, in fact, an adult. Be sure to act like it.