Dear College Freshmen:

You are all starting an entirely new and wonderful chapter in your life. Not only is college a time for learning, development, and fun, this is also a time to make mistakes. And lots of them.

To help you out with your new beginning, I've consulted with people who have also experienced exactly what you are going through and asked them to tell me 'some advice they wish they would have known as a college freshman.' These helpful tips and ideas are all from upperclassmen, Resident Advisers, Professors, University Staff, people who didn't make it the entire way through their freshman year, and more. We hope that all these tips help you get through your first year as a college student as smoothly as possible.

The following list is in no particular order of importance: all are significant to note.

1. Get Involved

There is so much more to college than just the classroom. Getting involved in clubs, organizations, sports, inter-murals, sororities, fraternities, etc., can create tons of opportunities for you! Being involved on campus allows you to discover your strengths and passions, build connections across campus, develop a sense of community, make friends, take trips and more! It's also a great way to build your resume.

2. Learn Time Management

One of the hardest parts about college is that you have so much freedom. Chances are, up until this point in your academic career, you have been given an exact schedule and had people around to remind you of when to study and what you needed to get done. College is a different story. For the most part, you are in charge of all of your time! Learn how to use it wisely! Make a schedule, write a to-do list, get a planner.

3. Get Organized

Finding a way to organize yourself and your life will help you with time management, stress, and more. The more organized you are, the easier college (and life) will be. Again, there probably isn't going to be anyone reminding you every day when things are due - you'll have to be checking due dates yourself and remembering exam dates before the night before. Use an app, a wall calendar, a planner, post-its, anything to keep you aware of what is coming up! BE THE PERSON WHO PRINTS THE SYLLABUS BEFORE CLASS! If you know the syllabus, you'll know the class schedule.

4. Put Your Academics First

At college, it is easy to get distracted. There are always events happening on campus, you're constantly surrounded by friends, and we often forget about our academic work. Just remember that if your GPA drops too much, you will not be permitted to stay on campus to continue to do those fun things. Work first, play later.

5. But, Don't Forget To Have Fun!

Other times, it is easy to get too caught up in studying and doing school related work. Yes, college is about learning and getting an education to better yourself, but it is also about having fun and making new relationships and memories. So make sure you take some time away from the books and go out there and have some fun! The best students find a balance between academics and their social lives.

6. It's Okay To Be Unsure or Change Your Mind

Frequently freshmen think that they need to have a major chosen and a future planned out as soon as they get to college (or even earlier, like senior year in high school). If you have everything figured out, good for you! But if you are not sure what interests you, or you don't know if you really want to continue with the major you are in, it is completely okay to not know for sure! College is a learning experience - even for finding or changing a major. There are resources on campus that can help you figure it out! Don't be embarrassed or afraid to reach out for some guidance. Also remember that college is not a race; if you have to add an extra semester or year onto your college time, it is nothing to be frowned upon! Take your time and explore all the possibilities. Almost everyone doubts themselves once in awhile when it comes to their major.

7. Learn About and Utilize Campus Resources

The more you know, the easier your college experience will be. There are resources everywhere across campus, use them! From Fitness Centers to Tutoring Centers, from Academic Advising Centers to Disability Resources, from Res-Life & Housing to Conference Services, from Computer Services to Career Services, and much, much more, there are TONS of offices and centers on campus there to give you a helping hand. Chances are you pay for at least a little piece of each of them in your tuition, so get the most out of your money and go give them a visit! Don't be the person who gets to be a senior and then realizes there was someone there to help them all along.

8. Find Out Which Study Methods Work For You

Many students come to college with no previous studying experience (they simply just didn't have to do it in high-school to get good grades). So if you are one of those students, start looking into what works for you now!!! You have to study to do well in college, and everyone has different learning styles. Do you need to make flashcards, do you need to join a study group, do you need to look up supplemental videos? Try out different methods early on so you can figure out what you like best before it gets too deep into the semester.

9. Find Out Where and When To Study

Discovering what times and places you are most able to focus the best is essential to creating good study habits. If you are not a morning person, waking up at 7 AM to study before your 8 AM might not be the best choice. If you don't function well late at night, staying up until 2 AM to cram for an exam might also not be a great decision. If you can't study where it's loud, you should head to the library. If the library is too quiet for you and you need some kind of background noise, maybe studying in your room or in a more public academic building will help you focus. This, too, is a trial and error process but once you figure out what works for you, you'll be able to get a lot more of beneficial work done and also retain more information!

10. Learn About Campus Policies

The best way to stay out of trouble or avoid unnecessary fines, charges or penalties is to know the rules. Look up when quiet hours start, know where you can park your vehicle, learn about the drinking policies, etc. The more you know, the less likely you are to make easy mistakes when it comes to campus life. Trust me, you have access to a handbook somewhere (most of the time online), so don't try to use that as an excuse.

11. Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

You are not expected to know everything. Even though you are an 'adult' now, that doesn't mean that you aren't allowed to have questions. If you are unsure of how something works, where something is, when something is happening, or even just need someone to consult with, there are so many people to talk to. Ask your professors, your academic adviser, your fellow classmates, your neighbors, your Resident Adviser, even your parents. Everyone wants to see you succeed!

12. Don't Forget That This Isn't High School

This is a transition period in your life. Try your hardest to not get discouraged. The first semester is the hardest; you might miss home, you might miss how high school was formatted, you might have gotten your first 'C', you might not be meeting as many people as easily as you did before, etc. But please, don't give up! Allow yourself time to adjust and know that you are not the only one feeling this way. Remember that there is always next semester to make changes.

13. Be Open Minded

You're going to meet a lot of new people at college; all of those people grew up in different homes with different lifestyles than you did. Not everyone is going to think the same way you do, believe in the same things that you do, and act the same way as you tend to. Make everything a lesson and learn from it, even if you don't necessarily agree with it, at least listen to it.

14. Respect The People Around You

Please - no one likes someone who is always disrespectful and rude. Be courteous. Be polite. Be understanding. Treat the people around you the way you would want to be treated. This makes for a better campus community for everyone.

15. Roommates - They Can Be Good OR Bad

One of the scariest parts of college is potentially getting paired up with a stranger and having to live with them for an entire school year. Sometimes you get really lucky and your roommate becomes your best friend and you chose to live with them for the remainder of your college careers. Other times, roommates just do not work out. You always argue, they snore too much, they bring too many guests over at night, etc. That's fine! Don't feel like you will never find a good roommate. Just keep looking. And if you really don't think you can live with ANYONE in the same room, talk to housing and see if they can place you in a single room.

16. Don't Forget About Your Life At Home

A lot of students can't WAIT to get to college to get away from their hometowns. They are excited to live on their own and leave their lives behind them, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should leave all the people behind, too. If there are people at home who care about you, make sure you reach out to them now and again. Go home to visit. Don't forget that you going to college is a transition period for your parents and families, too. Call them or text them every once in awhile and let them know you're doing alright (or maybe not doing alright) and tell them you love them.

17. You're In College - Spend Some Time There

Opposite of the last point, some people don't ever want to leave home but end up coming to college anyway. They may not want to leave their families, significant others, hometown, etc., and constantly travel home any time that they can. Students who do this often end up thinking college sucks. The truth is, you'll never learn to appreciate college if you don't spend any time here. You will meet a lot more people on the weekends during events and programs than you will in class and in the library during the week. The more you stay on campus, the more it will grow on you. Give it a chance!

18. Explore The Community

There's a whole new world out there outside of your campus! Ask around or even Google it - but get out there and explore the town your campus is in. Often, local businesses will offer discounts and special offers for local students if you show your student ID! Take advantage of that. Also, supporting local business helps build a better and more safe community for your campus to be located in. Be on the lookout for special events around the holidays, you never know what you might find!

19. Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Embrace it. The more you do things that you are uncomfortable with, the more you will learn to actually be comfortable with. This will help you grow and mature. Remember, your largest fear carries your greatest growth. So participate in an event or club you typically wouldn't do, be a leader, take a stand, chase your dreams, do something silly, just don't stay in your comfort zone because nothing ever grows there.

20. Take Care of Yourself - Physically

Staying healthy is super important, especially in college. Sometimes we get so busy that we don't even have time to be sick, so try to prevent that the best you can. Wash your hands, if you feel yourself getting a cold try and take care of it to the best of your abilities. Stay active. Even if you don't have time to get in the gym everyday, take a walk when you can. Thirty minutes a day of active time is the least that you need. Eat healthy! Avoid snacking on junk food, skipping meals, or overeating - all will affect you negatively.

21. Take Care of Yourself - Mentally

Remember that it is okay to not be okay. If you are feeling depressed or super anxious or even suicidal, please talk to someone. Reach out to a friend or a peer, your Resident Adviser or a professor; please don't try and keep things bottled inside. Your school has counselors to help you or who will refer you to someone who can help you. You are never alone. You are worth it.

22. LOVE YOURSELF

You are your own person and college is the best time to be yourself. No one is here to judge you and if they do, that probably means that they're unhappy with themselves. Don't change for anyone and don't change so people will like you; be yourself and the right people will like you for who you truly are. Remember, being different is cool!

23. Take Responsibility For Yourself & Your Actions

At this point in your life, you should be able to admit when you have made a mistake. College isn't the time to put blame onto others for your own wrongdoings. If you don't like the way something played out for you, take note and responsibility for it, own up, and change it for next time. Everyone can respect someone that has learned from their mistakes - and trust me, everyone at college makes mistakes. That does not make you a bad person.

24. Don't Let Procrastination Take Over Your Life

We all do it. Sometimes, we work best under pressure. But overall, if you are always procrastinating, it's going to catch up with you. You'll run out of time for an assignment you forgot, you'll miss a meeting, you'll have to sacrifice studying for a quiz to do a homework assignment, you'll have to skip out on a fun day trip with your friends to catch up on work, or something of the like. The point is, try to procrastinate the least amount possible. It never hurts to get assignments done early.

25. Go To Class

Yes, some classes are literally so boring that you cannot physically stay awake during them. Yes, some professors do not have an attendance policy. Yes, some classes you may have already taken before so you think you know everything now. But seriously, just go to class. You are paying for them, LITERALLY PAYING FOR THEM. Would you pay for season tickets and then never go to any games? Probably not. Each class you skip is money out of your pocket that you didn't get to spend. So go to class and get your money's worth. Also, whether the professor takes attendance or not, if they never see you in class or you're never handing in assignments, they will notice. If you are a quarter of a point away from a 'B', but they never saw your face in class, the chances of you getting a bump are pretty much impossible. So again, just go to class. You can sleep, play video games, or do whatever later. Quit making excuses.

26. Visit Your Professor's Office Hours

Make them do their jobs! Some professors sit alone in their office hours every day of every week with no student visits. Then, they will have a student fail an exam and come up to them and say, 'I didn't get this material.' Some professors are nicer than others, but chances are they are going to ask, 'If it was that hard, why didn't you come to my office hours?' Just make an appointment and go if you have any questions or concerns. They are there to help you!

27. Be Ready To Live Feeling Overwhelmed

It happens to all of us. If you aren't feeling overwhelmed at any point during your college career - something is probably wrong. When you are feeling like the entire world is on your shoulders, just breathe and take a minute to relax. Plan out a to do list. Ask for help if you need it. You are definitely not the only one who is feeling this way. Eventually, this feeling will cease (but it will probably be back soon enough).

28. Go To Events On Campus

The clubs and councils at your college put a lot of work into the programs and activities that they plan and throw during the week and on the weekends. Please attend them! They are great ways to have fun and take your mind off of a hard school week. Also it is an easy way to make friends and meet people with similar interests.

29. Don't Forget About 'You Time'

You need time to relax and spend time by yourself. Time alone gives you peace and quiet to what might otherwise be a hectic environment and life. Find time to kick back in your bed and catch up on your favorite Netflix series, take a good nap, read a book, play your video games, go on a run, take a drive, etc. Whatever is going to take your mind off of things for awhile and give you some time away from everyone and everything is super important to schedule into your busy life every once in awhile.

30. Don't Let Time Pass You By!

College can easily be the best time of your life if you let it be. Your academics are super important, but the bonds you create with people and the memories you make over these next four years will be something you will always treasure. Take pictures, stay out late, go on adventures, and make memories, because these years are going to fly by so quickly. You'll be graduating before you know it. You don't want to look back and see missed opportunities or chances, so take as many as you can.

Good luck to all the freshmen during your first year of college. Make the best of it! You can do it! Make an impact on your campus! Follow your dreams!