The first semester of college is definitely a learning experience for everyone. You have to adjust to harder courses, being on your own, and not having your dog to destress you. You're forced to become more independent and make choices you didn't have to before, which leads you to learn a lot of lessons outside the classroom, often the hard way.

1. Bring your dirty clothes home whenever you can.

$2.50 each time you need to wash your clothes really does add up, and unfortunately it's not easy finding enough quarters to last you a long time. Being able to go home once in a while to have your parents do your laundry (for free!) definitely comes in handy.

2. Don’t promise yourself you’ll wake yourself up early to study.

It doesn’t happen. It just doesn’t (and if it does, you probably won't be very productive).

3. You won’t have time to read for fun

I was told this before college but I didn’t really think it would be true. Spoiler alert: it is. Sorry fellow bookworms, you might not be reading until Thanksgiving break.

4. You won't ace every assignment, and that's okay.

Being a huge perfectionist when it comes to academics, this was a hard lesson for me to learn.

5. Don’t procrastinate that major project you’ve had all semester

Even if you have two months to do it and it seems easy, don’t leave it until the last minute.

6. Stock up on medicine

Everyone will tell you that germs are everywhere if you live on campus, and it’s true. So stock up on NyQuil, DayQuil, Tylenol, and cough drops beforehand. You won’t want to have to take a trip to the grocery store when you’re sick.

7. Get involved, but not too involved.

The good thing about college is that there are so many groups that will interest you. Definitely join a few, but don’t join 20. College is stressful enough, don't burn yourself out even more by joining every club that has even a little interest to you (this was another hard lesson for me to learn).

8. You need to say no sometimes

I always want to go out, so it's hard for me to turn down plans even when I have a lot of assignments to do. Put your academics first, it'll be worth it.

9. Utilize office hours

Even if the professor's only office hours are at 9am on your one day to sleep in (it happened to me), utilize them. It can be scary at first, but they're so happy to help you with whatever you need.

10. College is better than high school, always.

Even amidst the all-nighters, difficult exams, and being away from your dog, college is 10 times better than high school.