1. You will probably stay friends with your high school friends, so do not stress.
I always believed that after high school, I would drift apart from my best friends and make new ones at college, of course. What I did not realize, though, was that we would keep in touch just like we used to, and despite being away at different schools, nothing was going to change when we all came home for winter and summer breaks.
2. You are going to make some awesome new best friends at school, too.
Though no one could ever replace my best friends from back home, I never imagined becoming so close to people as if I had known them forever. My best friends at school became the people I confided in, trusted, and made thousands of memories with, all in a matter of a few days. When everyone's in the same boat as a freshman, it's easy to meet people and make friends quickly.
3. Avoid taking Friday classes, if your schedule permits.
As a freshman, I had class on friday both my Fall and Spring semester. It didn't seem like a big deal, but being that I live two hours away from my hometown, it made my weekends home a lot shorter. Even though I tried to stay at school as much as possible, it is still nice to pay a visit home every so often for a good home cooked meal and some quality time with family. It's also nice to have an extra day off after a Thursday night out to get your life together and organized.
4. Try not to go home every single weekend.
Like I said, I tried to stay at school as often as I possibly could. My college is a big commuter school, so I found out shortly that the weekends were a lot more dead than the weekdays. But, when you find the right group of friends who stay on campus just like you, you are bound to have a lot more fun on the weekends, despite what everyone else is doing.
5. Get Involved.
College is the best time to get involved and explore your options, because literally no one judges you. It's not like high school, where every single person knows who you are. At any given moment, you can change something about yourself without the fear of what others will think. Whether you want to participate in sports, Greek life, clubs, etc., you can find what it is that sparks your interest and keep with it.
6. Maintain a heathy diet.
The Freshman Fifteen is not a myth; it's actually the most accurate thing I have heard about going away to school. There are very limited food choices on campus, and you're going to be prone to grabbing pizza, french fries, or chicken fingers before class because it's quick, cheap, and tempting. However, the calories do add up, so the best thing to do is try and pack lunches to bring to class or keep healthy alternatives in your dorm room. Grapes, carrot sticks, celery, peanut butter, and yogurt are all easy snacks to keep in your dorm and pack for class, rather than going for chips and a soda. My sorority actually has a Facebook group where we share our healthy meals and snacks to motivate one another to eat good and stay in shape. And if your school has free gym facilities, take advantage of them!
7. Take advantage of extra credit and free time.
I was the world's biggest procrastinator in high school. Procrastinating can be extremely tempting in college, especially when all of your friends want to go out and you know your FOMO will be through the roof if you don't join them because of that stupid paper you have due in a few days. Truth is, waiting till the last minute is just going to stress you out even more, so work on your assignments little by little whenever you get the chance. Even if you are just getting small amounts done at a time, it is better than saving the whole thing until the last minute. Take advantage of your free time, especially if you're involved in clubs or other activities on campus, because chances are your schedule is going to be jam-packed. And not every professor assigns extra credit either, so if they do, make sure to take advantage of that as well. A little bit of points goes a long way at the end of the semester.
8. Use RateMyProfessor.
RateMyProfessor.com is a great way to plan your schedule for the upcoming semester. You're able to look up a professor for nearly any class, and see their reviews. It's extremely helpful if you are a particular learner; for example, if you are a visual learner, and the professor is strictly a lecturer, you may want to steer clear and try to find another professor for the same subject. It benefits you in the end to have a professor you can really connect with, because you will enjoy going to class and not be prone to skipping or zoning out. And, it is extremely beneficial when a professor gets to know you personally, because they are more likely to notice the effort you put into the class and remember you.
9. Save your money.
You may gain the Freshman Fifteen in college, but your wallet definitely will not. Between books, food, cabs, shopping, and other extras, watching what you spend is definitely vital, especially if you don't have a job. Some students don't have time to fit a job into their school schedule, or don't have a car to get off campus, so it's important to save as much as you can and limit your spending as well. It's easy to blow money when you're on your own, so be mindful of where it goes before it's gone.
10. Appreciate your parents or guardians.
If it weren't for them, a lot of us wouldn't even have the opportunity to go away to school. Their hard work allows us to have an education, opportunity, a social life, and an experience that we will look back on and smile about for the rest of our lives. Oh, and not to mention, you'll miss their home cooked meals. Do not forget to call them and keep them updated on your life, thank them for everything they do, and tell them you love them.
