Now that August has ended, September has come and that means school is right around the corner (at least in New York). Whether you're in high school or college and beyond, all good things (like summer) must come to an end. However, with a little preparation and a good mindset, it is possible to make the transition smoothly. Here are seven tips, concerning an array of areas like studying and friends to make the start of this school year great.

<Studying>

1. Plan your time to complete your work in each class.

Yes, dedicate time to each class everyday. However, this also means plan specific time slots to take care of the work; some classes will probably warrant more time than others will. Decide which are most important and, maybe, take care of those before you start the rest of your work.

2. Take short, frequent breaks.

Studying for five hours straight is either impossible or, at best, counterproductive. Taking breaks, even just 3-5 minutes per hour, is crucial for your mind to process loads of information and memorize it. (This is why cramming tends to be ineffective.)

3. Create study guides (and use them).

Even for teachers that provide study guides, it only helps to make your own. This tends to help the smartest students remember their information and ace their exams. Besides, isn't it easier to remember things when you take the time out to make a guide for yourself?

<Outside the classroom>

4. If you have to choose between a difficult course load and getting involved, then get involved.

Although there are times when it is appropriate to put your social life on hold, avoid the same mistake I made; in pursuit of a career as a physical therapist, I put a lot of pressure on myself to get the best grades in my hardest classes and that turned out to be a dead end. To me, being very smart means very little without also having the social support that comes with making new friends.

5. Be prepared to have failures.

Because you'll never make any shots unless you take them. The worst possible outcome is that you miss, but at least that's trying.

6. Just relax and have fun.

It's not worth it to stress out over grades as long as you're giving it the best effort you possibly can. All of that unnecessary stress can only tear you down. Besides, one day, you'll get older and graduate. Wouldn't it be nice to have fun-filled memories of your youth?

<Friends>

7. Make lots of new friends with the people you meet.

You never know what that kid who sat on the other side of your introductory freshman class and you have in common. Perhaps you're both enthusiasts about sports or fashion. In any case, it can't hurt to put yourself out there and expand your circle of friends.

Of course, there are multiple ways to go about this. Although, I'm sure you'll all do fine this year. Now go back to school.