My first semester at the University of Maryland is halfway over- time flies when you’re having fun (or stressed out - I mean midterm week has come and gone already and Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching).

My friends and I have spent the last seven weeks trying to figure out this whole college thing and one phrase that has repetitively been spoken amongst us all is, “I wish somebody told us about this before we came here”.

So I decided to write down everything that I have learned about this school so that no one is shocked next fall:

1. The boys you become friends with the first week of school will only be able to come to parties with you the first week of school (and you will only be able to get into frat parties at midnight after this point).
2. This is a bar school, I’m sorry but freshmen live at Bent’s, Cornerstone and Turf - be prepared.
3. Turf Tuesday is one of the best days of the week. Plan accordingly.
4. Greek life RUNS this place. Which is not a bad thing until you realize we rush second semester and the only way to tailgate is to have connections in frats.
5. While tailgates are not what you think of at other BIG TEN schools, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t just as fun.
6. Post games are what we live for and game days (as few as they are) are days you will remember forever (or not… be careful… don’t get cited trying to get into the stadium).
7. Oh, in case you were confused, post games are anything that freshmen are allowed to go to (basically night frat parties and post tailgate parties which happen DURING the game, not after).
8. Keep a running list of the frat addresses - when someone tells you there is a post game at (*insert frat name*) you want to just immediately know where to go. But some frats have multiple satellite houses so make sure you don’t go to the wrong one!!
9. IT’S A DAY DRINK - not a dage, not a darty!!
10. FRAT SHOES ARE SO IMPORTANT. So are FRACKETS. Look it up. It’s a thing.
11. The buses suck. Get used to walking. This means make sure you always have headphones with you. But the sooner you learn the bus routes, the better. Download the NextBus app. It's a life saver!!!!
12. Just because you have air-conditioning, doesn’t mean that it will be cold. Bring a fan.
13. DC is a lot closer than you think, take advantage of this. Brunch, birthday dinners, concerts, museums, clubbing - you name it, it’s only 30 minutes away.
14. There are so many libraries and study rooms, just because everyone knows of McKeldin, doesn’t mean that’s the one you have to use. And find a place to study ASAP so that you don’t feel like a lost puppy every time you have a test.
15. Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but if you try to get bacon from the Diner instead of 251, don’t even think about getting more than 3 pieces because they will not serve it to you. You’ll just have to come back for more (it is all you can eat!)
16. The cookies are addicting and included in the meal plan (UNLIKE INSOMNIA!)
17. McKeldin Mall is a great place to sit and hang out with friends, take advantage before you get too much work!