Being a Junior in college, I’ve experienced the ups and downs of the college life. I’ve learned what to do and not to do in classes and for individual professors. I’ve also learned a lot of things that would have come in handy before I started my freshman here. Hopefully with my past experiences, I can help someone better their college years from what I’ve learned.

1. ACT scores do matter.

Never once in high school was I ever told the importance of the ACT score and subscores. The ACT affects you significantly when you get to college. Depending on the major you choose, you must have a certain ACT score to be automatically accepted into that major by your department, or you will have to complete a pre-major form and meet all of their guidelines before you can even sign a major form. The subscores matter because your subscores have to meet the department's standards, or you will either have to take a placement test and pass, or take the developmental courses which do not count as credit.

2. Never buy books from the bookstore.

Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid since some books are specifically made for that class or by the professor, but the books are always more expensive at the bookstore then other places such as Chegg, Amazon, or even eBay. I recommend looking at books from those three sections first before buying anything from the bookstore, just be careful and make sure you purchase the correct edition.

3. Get involved.

Whether it’s sooner or later it doesn’t matter, just get involved. If you're a very open person, I suggest getting involved earlier, whether it’s joining a sorority, fraternity, or club. If you're not much of a people person, you can wait and meet new friends in classes who are already in clubs and organizations who can help you join.

4. No one cares how you look.

If you want to dress nice for the first day of classes, that’s fine. But don’t bother doing it every day. No one cares what you are wearing; honestly, I know people who wore the same outfit two days in a row and no one even noticed.

5. No 8 a.m. classes.

Don’t think about it, don’t bother even looking at any 8:00 a.m class. Ya, sure, you did it in high school, you might have even had to be there before 8:00 a.m. But something happens after you graduate high school, no matter how excited you are about college, you will either miss way too many classes or end up dropping the course.

6. There is no set timeline for your degree.

Don’t push yourself or force yourself to take more credit hours than you can handle. You don’t have to get your degree in four years; teachers have said it themselves that it is quite impossible to do so without taking a full load each semester and summer classes.

7. Sleep.

Set your priorities straight, if you need to stay up all night to study then make sure it’s because you have no choice. Have a social life but your education needs to come first so no parties, going out, or anything else not necessary if you know you need to study for an upcoming test. Staying up all night will make it harder for you to study and retain the information.

8. Don’t take unnecessary classes.

They may seem like fun and like an easy credit, but it will be another bill you have to pay or another loan you will have to take care of later. It will also take longer for you to earn your degree if you are taking additional classes. When you're not sure about your major, then take general education courses first. That way you do not start taking classes for an individual major that you may change later on.

9. Live on campus for at least one year.

Living on campus may seem awful because of how much it costs, or the fact you are thrown into a room with people you may not know. But, as a person who never lived on campus, I regret it completely. By not living on campus I missed out on events designed for those who live on campus, and I was never pushed to meet new people and make friends with strangers. Even friends of mine, who have lived or are currently living on campus, recommend living on campus and never regretted any of it.

10. Work on campus.

Work study positions are one of the greatest things invented. I have worked multiple positions on campus such as a tutor, a summer ambassador, Tele-counselor and now I work in processing with admissions. I’m able to work enough to make money on the side while taking classes but not too much to be overwhelming. I’m also able to work my hours around my classes. I'm able to stop by in between classes, before or even after classes.

11. Go to sporting events.

Sporting events are a great way to get meet new people and cheer your school on! Missouri Western even allows their students to get in home games for free and have a free food item. It’s college; you need as much free food as possible.

12. Don’t buy the biggest meal plan.

If you're not a morning person or if work too much then it’s not the best idea to buy the biggest meal plan when you won't be on campus when the dining hall is open. The plan with 15 meals a week and $400 of FLEX a semester is typically the most recommended by a current student.

13. Avoid loans

Loans always end badly; you may think that taking out a 1 or 2 thousand dollar loan isn’t a problem, that it will be easy to pay off. But, once you take out that small loan each semester you will owe quite a bit by the time you graduate. Depending on the loan you take out, subsidized or unsubsidized, you may have to start paying it off while you're still in school.

14. Don’t rush to pick a major.

You don’t have to a choose a major immediately. No matter which major you choose you to have to complete your general studies so If you're uneasy about picking a major your first semester then take general studies until you have a better idea about what you want to do in life. This way, your not wasting your time on classes that you may not need for the final major you decide on.

15. Don’t skip class.

This isn’t high school anymore; you are paying thousands of dollars for these classes. You are paying to better your education, to earn a degree so you can get a real job in the world. By skipping class, you are not only wasting your money, but you are also missing out what is being taught that day. Plus, most classes allow very few to zero sick days before you fail the class or have a grade reduction.