When you're going off to college, people love to give you advice, share their stories, and help you on your journey. While these things are often appreciated, I got to college and had many experiences that nobody warned me about. So here's the things you need to know about going away to college:

1. You will eat more salad than you ever thought possible.

You like salad, right? Okay. That's probably going to change. You'll walk into the dining hall and the only edible thing there is the salad bar. It's fine for a few weeks, maybe even a few months, but eventually you'll be mumbling about the lack of adequate toppings while swearing to never eat lettuce again.

2. You will be okay with doing things alone.

In high school, eating lunch by yourself was one of the worst things imaginable. But with college comes a confidence you never knew you had. You can walk into the dining hall and plop yourself down at a table alone without blinking an eye. You will even begin to cherish these few moments you get to yourself.

3. You will have a new appreciation of breakfast food.

Hot breakfast food is seldom found in the college dorm, so eat it up whenever you can. Even if that means driving to Denny's at eleven o'clock at night just because you haven't been able to get bacon and eggs out of your head.

4. You won't make friends right away - and that's normal!

You come to college ready to find your niche and start making great memories, so when it doesn't happen right away it's easy to get a little discouraged. But don't let that get in your way. Friends aren't instant, even if it looks that way from the outside. Just keep pushing yourself to talk to new people and friendships will form.

5. When you do make friends, they will be the best people you know.

Finding friends in college is one of the most magical experiences you will have. They become your family, your support, and the people who can pull you out of the bad days. They see you at your worst and they see you at your best. It's amazing to find people you click with even though you're far away from home.

6. You will miss weird things about home.

Sure, you miss your parents, your friends, and your pets, but you miss things you never even noticed. You miss the way the sun comes through your bedroom window every morning. You miss the roads you drive on to get to the grocery store. You miss your local news. These details suddenly become vital.

7. Your relationship with your parents will change.

No matter how you are with your parents right now, going away to college changes that. It can be good or bad depending on who you are, but be prepared for that shift. And always know that they love you no matter what.

8. You will suddenly have no shame.

You will quickly go from discretely changing in the bathroom, to ripping off your pants in front of your roommate as soon as you get back from class. It's refreshing to have that freedom, enjoy it.

9. Your "pajama radius" will suddenly increase by 100%.

That isn't to say that you'll have days where you get all dressed up and work your cute self. But you will find yourself walking across campus in the rain just to get pizza in the same pajama pants you've been wearing for three days. It's okay. We've all been there.

10. You will have conflicting emotions about the approaching summer.

It is a wonderful feeling to be done with classes upon the completetion of your freshman year. You're excited to go home and see people you haven't seen in a long time. But you will be absolutely heartbroken to leave the life you've made at college, even if it's only for a few months. You'll miss your crappy room, your beautiful friends, and even your classes. But take comfort in knowing they will all be waiting for you when you come back in the fall.