Now that the fall semester is starting to pick up and the new students of Penn State’s class of 2021 are finding their groove, they’ve probably started to realize a handful of key mistakes they unknowingly made. These grave errors are hard to avoid, and it’s important that they are recognized and addressed, for the good of future students.

I, along with all of my friends, have found myself guilty of most of these, because I simply did not know any better. Freshman year of college is one of the most confusing, challenging, and rewarding years of a person’s life, probably filled with the most mistakes they will ever make. However, the beauty of this year is that you can always pass it off with the simple excuse, “Sorry, I’m a freshman,” and just like that, all is forgiven because it’s not like you knew any better.

So, without further ado, here are the 15 most common mistakes Penn State freshmen make.

1. Forgetting to bring a parka.

You may think that you’ll look ridiculous wearing a knee length puffy jacket with your knee-high winter boots, but trust me, it’s worth it. It will pay off when you make the trek from your dorm to Forum 111 in a snowstorm in January. Parkas are key, don’t let anybody tell you differently.

2. Not buying student season football tickets.

Yes, they can be expensive and yes, they are an absolute pain to get. I don’t want to wake up at seven on a summer morning just to fight for football tickets with tens of thousands of other students. However, whenever you’re seeing Snapchat stories of your best friends sitting front row at the Michigan Game eating a chicken basket and chanting, you’ll regret it.

3. Not wearing uncomfortable shoes to class.

If you think your rainbow flip flops or brand new Converse are going to cut it, get ready for a painful surprise. I’ve had enough blisters to tell you that even if it might go with your outfit better, it’s not worth it. Tennis shoes (or sneakers for the people that incorrectly call them that) are always the answer.

4. Not wearing layers to class.

I am not exaggerating when I say you will be dealing with temperature differences of upwards of 40 degrees. When you walk through a bout of freezing rain into the forum building with 300 other students all sweating and breathing down each other’s necks, you will realize the importance of layers.

5. Not requesting East Halls.

Maybe I’m biased, but those inconveniently located, crammed, old, dirty dorms will forever hold a piece of my heart. Every time I walk through East Halls as a sophomore, a small tear trickles down my cheek because I miss the meals and seeing a million people you know every morning and night. The experience is worth it, because East has a culture of its own.

6. Buying instead of renting textbooks.

It’s so simple to save a receipt and remember to return them at the end of the semester, and you will save so much money. Plus, you won’t be left with bulky useless textbooks you won’t need again. Another pro tip: rent your textbooks online through the student bookstore website in advance, to save yourself the trouble of walking around the basement of the bookstore aimlessly looking for your French 3 textbook for hours.

7. Investing in a pair of expensive (or white) shoes to go out in.

Amazon will forever be your savior in this situation. A simple pair of $20 knock-off Jeffrey Campbell’s will fulfill all of your going out shoe needs. For girls and boys alike, do not even try wearing white shoes out. They WILL get ruined, and you will be devastated.

8. SCHEDULING EIGHT A.M.S.

Do yourself a favor, and spare the pain. No matter how much of a morning person you may think you are, you will regret this decision. Eight in the morning is simply too early.

9. Forgetting to bring a fan.

Fans are a game-changer, you heard it here first. Freshman dorms are for the most part not air conditioned, so those first and last few weeks in hot weather, you will be absolutely miserable as you sweat uncontrollably and have to sleep on top of your sheets just to stay a safe temperature. Your roommate will thank you, too.

10. Not packing your own personal first aid kit.

Take it from me: you will get sick. Fast. Germs spread around Penn State like wildfire. The second you find out someone has a cold, strep, pinkeye, the flu-- you will contract it. It’s best to stay stocked on any and all medicines you can gather, not to mention plenty of band-aids.

11. Scheduling Friday classes before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m.

My freshman year, I had both a 9 a.m. and a 4:40 p.m. class on Fridays. It’s safe to say they were a struggle to attend. Whether you take advantage of the ability to go out on a Thursday or not, you will always be unmotivated to go to class anytime on a Friday, especially within this time frame. Don’t torture yourself.

12. Not researching teachers and class locations before scheduling.

I cannot express how important this year. RateMyProfessor exists for a reason, use it! If you think you might have any issues with a teacher, switch while you can. It will make your life a whole lot easier! Same with locations. If you think you can make it from Willard to the Business Building in under 15 minutes, you are gravely mistaken.

13. Lacking Penn State apparel.

As much as some people would like to believe it’s true, we are not a southern school. Most students do not wear preppy clothes to class. We wear comfortable clothes that showcase our school spirit. Sweatshirts, tank tops, hats, and everything in between. Invest in Penn State apparel. Your wardrobe will be set.

14. Forgetting to buy a back-of-phone wallet.

I’m honestly not exactly even sure what the real name for these are, but the sticky pocket you put on the back of your phone to hold your I.D. is a must. College is all about carrying light, meaning you basically use your I.D. for everything. “Real money” for college students comes in the form of invisible Venmo exchanges.

15. Not befriending people on your floor!

This is beyond important! The girls I met on my floor in East Halls last year ended up becoming my absolute best friends, people I could comfortably walk into the rooms of without knocking at any time. You will spend time with them for everything from eating to going to the gym to going out with and everything in between. Friends on your floor make the world of difference, take advantage of this!