Congratulations! You start college in less than three months and you are probably super excited about the journey you are about to embark on! I am here to give you 15 tips to help make your first year of college a little bit easier to deal with. So sit back, relax, and take notes (it’ll be the first time of many).

1.Don’t bring too much stuff:

Trust me, I am saying this from experience. Guys usually tend not to do this. They bring the essentials and they are good, but girls go all out. We spend weeks looking at dorm room design ideas on pintrest and google and we make all of this stuff that we plan to hang around our room. I know this because I did it. Be creative, but don’t go overboard because when the time comes to go home, there won’t be enough room for everything.

2.Leave your dorm/house 45 minutes to 1 hour before class:

Depending on how far you live from the actual campus, leave earlier then what you are supposed to. That way, you can get breakfast and still have time to get to class early and pick whatever seat you want!

3.Scope out your classes:

This helped me a lot. The day before your classes start, look at the campus map and figure out where the buildings are or take the map and walk around campus with it so that way you can find the building and (if the building isn’t locked) your classroom.

4.ALWAYS carry an umbrella/poncho/jacket:

It has rained a lot over the year and it is always safe to have something just In case you’re walking around campus and it starts raining. Better safe than sorry!

5.Don’t be afraid to ask for help with your classes:

This was a big problem for me. Your ego is too big to admit that you are struggling so you drown. Do NOT be like me. If you are struggling, ask for help. There are services put in place to help you so that you don’t drown. Even ask your professor if they have time.

6.Don’t be shy:

When some people go away to college, they are alone. I was. I didn’t know anyone. Usually, when you’re still getting to know the school, you don’t make friends till classes start. Don’t do that. Go to the freshmen events (if your school has them), get to know the people on your hall. Don’t box yourself in.

7.Take advantage of the gym:

The freshman 15 is real. It is as real as me and you and it will creep up on you if you’re not careful. Take full advantage of the gym and eat right.

8.Be involved:

Go to games! Go support your school! It is fun and you won’t regret it.

9.STUDY:

Dudes and dudettes. I cannot stress this enough. Study study study. Not studying for tests and quizzes will ultimately come back and bite you in the butt. Find some good study habits that work for you. If you already have some, then great! You are one step ahead of everyone else.

10.Apply for EBT:

I know some people will probably be against this, but EBT gives college students up to $300 in food stamps and trust me, it helps a lot. There will be times when you are stuck in your room and you’re starving, but you do not have money for even a bag of chips at the dollar general. Food stamps make it to where you’ll have money for food and drinks.

11.Don’t be afraid to make friends:

Embrace everyone. Become friends with the girl who always has an opinion and is super loud or the girl that is oblivious to the fact that she is drop dead gorgeous or the theatre major who can be a little crazy at times. Be friends with as many people as you can because these are the people that will (hopefully) be in your life forever.

12.Get Netflix/hulu (if you don’t have it already):

You will not always want to watch the college’s crappy tv service, so it is good to have an alternative.

13.Be prepared:

Before you leave your room every day for class, double check your backpack and make sure you have everything for class. Some professors will make you leave their class and go back to your dorm and get what you left or don’t have if you are not prepared.

14.Don’t be late:

Your professors will not care if you are late or if you miss class. It doesn’t affect them in any way. However, it does affect you. You could miss information for a test or for homework and eventually all of the tardies and absences will start to affect your grades.

15.HAVE FUN:

After all, it is college! Have fun, go party (don’t go crazy)! You are supposed to have fun in college!

There you have it! These 15 times may or may not help you out, but they’ll be good to have!