When you get to college, you quickly realize that there are a lot of things that you weren’t properly prepared for, things that you wish someone had told you about. Whether you’re looking forward to college in a few years, in college now, or reflecting on your college days, here are just a few of those things.

1. Take AP classes, or even do dual enrollment at a local community college.

You are literally going to get college credit for classes that you took in high school. You would have had to take them anyway! AP classes might be harder than average classes, but they’re so worth it. So many of my friends are skipping their sophomore year altogether because of these credits. They’re saving so much money because they only have to pay for three years of college.

2. Apply to schools that are different than one another.

You may think that you know what you want in a school, but what if you change your mind? Apply widely, as well as strategically. I applied to only private Christian schools. Although I love where I ended up, I realize now how bad of an idea that was because I didn’t keep my options open at all.

3. Don’t be lazy, apply to scholarships.

Don’t avoid this just because you think you won’t get it, or because it’s for a small(ish) amount of money, or because it takes a lot of time and effort. You will thank yourself later.

4. Think seriously about the money.

Tuition is so high that it’s hard to even fathom the numbers. That doesn’t mean they’re not real. Price shouldn’t be the end-all-be-all, but it definitely should be seriously considered.

5. Don’t go overboard on the “dorm shopping”.

Christmas lights? Necessary. A million decorative things to hang on your walls and place on your very limited desk space? Pass.

6. Go to your prospective college’s explore weekends if they have them.

This is not only a great way to get to know if a college is the right fit for you, but it’s also a great way to make friends! A lot of people even end up deciding to room with people that they meet.

7. Know what you’re signing up for when you get fish.

I know they’re the only pets that are allowed, so you want to hop on the fish bandwagon, which is totally fine. But don’t forget that you will be responsible for transporting these fish back and forth between breaks. I have spent one too many car rides covered in fish water.

8. If you were unorganized in high school, you will probably be even more so in college.

New life, new me, right? Nope. At least not always. You’re going to be even more stressed than you were in high school, so your room will probably be that much messier.

9. Make friends with upperclassmen.

Avoid the inevitable of being the awkward first-year in a 300-level course who is completely lost when you hear the most dreaded words ever spoken by a professor: “group project”. Having friends who know what they’re doing is also really beneficial because you can ask them all your “stupid” questions that you’re too afraid to ask anyone else.

10. Also, make friends who have cars.

This one is especially important if you yourself don’t have a car, and if you’re decently far from home. Not only is it nice to be able to go out and have fun, but you’re also going to need to get to the grocery store somehow.

11. You’re really going to miss home-cooked meals.

Please, enjoy it while you still can. We may not be able to turn the clock and teach ourselves this lesson before it’s too late, but we will try our best to live vicariously through you.

12. Make sure to find “your people”.

There’s something about the college environment that makes it totally acceptable to be yourself. A lot of us pretend in high school, but now is your chance to stop. You might even learn a thing or two about yourself in the process.