"Fake it till you make it."

That was the motto I lived by my freshman year at USC. Like many, I was clueless my freshman year. I didn't know where anything was, I didn't know who anyone was, and I had absolutely no idea that cola was short for Columbia (don't laugh, I know I'm not the only one who was confused with that one).

Looking back, I can definitely see that these are the top 10 mistakes our freshmen make.

1. Buying extra meal plan dollars.

It sounds like a great idea-- until you learn about Carolina cash. Meal Plan Dollars do not carry over from each semester. This means that when you buy a package of 200 extra meal plan dollars and you don't use them, at the end of the semester you will be buying overpriced waters and extra snacks at Russel trying to use up all your Meal Plan Dollars so that you feel like you didn't waste money (which you did).

Instead, get Carolina cash! It can be used all over USC's campus, and a lot of places off campus, and the best part- it transfers over each semester when you don't use all of it.

2. Buying the maximum amount of meal plan meals.

You don't need 21 meals a week, I promise. I love to eat as much as, if not more, than the next guy but you will never use 21 meal plans in a week. There will be days you don't want to walk to the cafeteria, get tired of what the cafeteria offers, or end up eating off campus. Stick to the lower plans. You can always pay for your meals with Carolina cash or your own money, rather than overpaying and not using all of your meals each week.

3. Getting to Five Points at 11 p.m.

People aren't downtown until 12 p.m. Don't call that uber or start that walk until at least 11:40 p.m. You may not have to wait in line to get into any bars, but it's super awk standing in an empty bar in Five Points for 30 minutes until everyone else gets there. Trust me, Five Points in its true glory isn't cute.

4. Not taking Vitamin C.

I was sick every other week freshman year. You're gonna be stressed, college students are nasty, and you're probably living in a dorm and sharing a small space with a stranger. Take your vitamin C, wash your hands, and try to keep yourself healthy; if you don't, your doctor at student health will know you by name and roll their eyes everytime you come in.

5. Waiting to cross the street at a crosswalk.

I can always tell who is a freshman by the way they stand and wait for more than 15 seconds to cross the street. I'm not saying throw your body into the street right as a car is coming by, but don't just stand there an wait forever. The crosswalk is your friend. Cars are required to stop for you and they will (most of the time). Check both ways and cross that street!

6. Not going to class.

Your freshman classes are going to be the easiest classes you have. Make it a habit to go to class first semester so you don't form bad habits and wreck your GPA. Once you sink your GPA into the ground, it's very hard to get it back in that 3.0+ zone. I know you don't want to go to U101, but you'll get an easy A and make a few friends.

7. Not joining a club or getting involved on campus.

A big part of college is meeting like-minded people. You need to get involved and start making friends the minute you hit campus so you don't end up alone doing homework every night. Meet people in your classes, join a sorority, leave your dorm room door open, or go to the club fair. Your future bridesmaids and Netflix binge-watching buddies are out there. If you apply yourself, you can meet some of the best people in your life.

8. Wearing shoes you like downtown/to frat lots/to darties/anywhere where drunk people will be.

Yes, your white converse will look super cute with your DT outfit. No, your white converse will not be white after 1 hour DT or at any party at USC. Designate one or two pairs of shoes that you don't mind being covered in mud, spilled PJ, frat lot burger condiments, etc. When you step out in your dirty kicks, everyone will know exactly where you're heading.

9. Buying all of the books for a class before the class meets.

Required texts. More than half the time the "required texts" are not actually required, will never be used, and are going to waste your money. Wait until the first day of class to buy the books because your teacher will announce whether you actually need the book or not.

10. Taking your credit or debit card downtown.

"It's a 10$ minimum." If you're taking your credit or debit card DT and try to buy a drink, the bartenders will tell you this every time. You with either a.) 10$ worth of drinks for yourself, thinking you won't need anymore after that, and then end up repeating that process or b.) end up buying your friends and strangers shots and never getting paid back. Take a set amount of cash downtown (add in an extra $6.75 for that late night cookout tray) and leave the cards at home.

Don't be embarrassed USC freshmen. We all did it.