Being on your own for the first time in 18 years can be the best thing for you. In some circumstances it comes with a lot of mistakes. Obviously none of us are perfect, but there are certain mishaps or mistakes that can and should be avoided. Hopefully this helps incoming college freshmen or gives a quick reminder to returning college students to help make your school run a little smoother.

1. Do go to class!

This should be an obvious “do” but to some people they use college as a time to sleep in and party with class on the back burner. Not going to class can lead to a variety of different outcomes. One of the most detrimental outcomes is failing all of your classes. This will only happen if you ignore the teacher’s warnings on the fact that you haven’t been to class since the first week. Also if you have smart parents and/or go to a decently expensive college, it will lead to you either getting kicked out of the school or your parents just puling you out of said college. Which then would mean all the time spent partying or “socializing” will be put to waste because you will no longer go to said college.

2. Don’t get black out drunk

This one is something that happens all too often in college. Most of the time this happens when you go to your first couple of parties and everyone is giving everyone drinks, and you don’t know your limit yet so you keep taking them until you wake up the next morning in last night’s clothes not know how you got back to your dorm room. PACE YOURSELF, the booze will still be there when you actually take your time to drink what is in your hand and trust me, it is way more fun to sip your drink and laugh at the extremely drunk people than be one of those extremely drunk people. It also makes the next morning way more pleasant.

3. Do respect your roommate

Your roommate is someone you are stuck with for an entire school year so you need to respect them. This means keep your side of the room clean or cleaner than their side. Do not take anything that is there without asking them first. Put your headphones in if you are going to watch Netflix, Face-time someone, or listen to music. Unless you OK it with them and then no need to worry. Also ALWAYS knock before entering your room if your roommate has someone over, because if you want them to do the same for you, you really need to do that for them too and can also save some embarrassment if you walk on your roommate “entertaining” someone. Even if you have nothing in common with your roommate or you don’t like them you still need to respect them.

4. Don’t procrastinate on anything

Procrastination is one of the hardest things to overcome while at college. When you were at your home it was easier because your parents would most likely yell at you to get your homework done if you waited too long, but now you are on your own. A lot of students procrastinate with homework like papers and projects, which is why an all-nighter is a very common occurrence when papers are due. It also a lot of times in the end leads to a lower grade than you’d like or need. Another thing that college kids, specifically boys, forget and procrastinate on doing is laundry. That is a very vital and much needed thing to do in school. I get you are on your own and your parents aren’t telling you to do it, but laundry is very important to do just like all hygiene is.

5. Do take time to talk to your parents

It is so excited to be off to a new school and around new people on your own, but don’t forget the people that have raised you up until that point. They are continuing to raise you, but now they have entrusted a college of your choice to protect you. Most of us will be hours away from our parents for the first time ever and being on your own is fun and exciting, but we can’t forget about them. You should always always, always remember your parents. Take time at least once a week to once every two weeks to call them and talk to them for a decent amount of time to catch up on everyone’s lives. Also always answer their out of the blue texts throughout the week as well.

College is a great time in your life and you get to experience so many new things, but don’t go over board. Remember why you are actually at the school and remember who is helping keep you there. If you follow these dos and don’ts and common sense tips your college experience should be unforgettable and un-regrettable.