College can be a difficult adjustment, but there are many things that you can do to make yourself feel at home.

By following these steps, you will make friends, make connections, and make college the best experience of your life.

1. Bring sentimental things.

I am a collector of odd knick knacks. I cover my desk with turtles, wolves and metal trinkets, and my walls with signs, posters, and stickers from places that I've gone. So, what did I do when I left for college? I decided to bring virtually all of my odd belongings with me and cover my dorm room with them, just as I did at home.

2. Hang pictures on your wall.

Just as with my sentimental objects, I have tons of pictures that I wanted to have with me at college. Earlier this year I constructed a way to hang all (well almost all) of my pictures on one wall. I packed up my creation and brought it to college. Don't have physical pictures? Shutterfly is an amazing website to print affordable pictures from.

3. Get close to your roommate(s).

You will be living with this person (or people) for the next nine months or more. You don't want it to be awkward to come home, so be friends with them, find out what you have in common and do something fun like group dinners or game nights. Even just help each other with your homework.

4. Talk to people in your residence hall.

Hang out in the common areas, see who your neighbors across and down the hall are. They may be in some of your classes or within your major, so you can work together and help each other out. Go to any events that your hall is holding, like parties, get-togethers, and activities. These will help you get to know people on other floors of the hall, as well as your own.

5. Go to campus events.

Just as within the residence hall, these events will help you meet new people and have fun.

6. Sit with random people at the dining hall.

Don't have any friends who are eating at the same time as you? Find a group of people or someone who is sitting alone, and ask if you can join them. You might just make their day.

7. Join a club.

Most universities have dozens or even hundreds of clubs and campus organizations. They vary from being academics to athletics (teams, clubs or intramurals) to interests, so there is something for everyone. Don't see something you like? Ask how you can start your own club.

8. Scratch that, join a bunch of clubs

The first club is likely just informational, and there is no commitment to join. Signing up for a bunch of clubs will let you learn more about them, and if you find out you don't like them you can stop going, perhaps you still would have made a friend at one of the meetings.

9. Figure out what clubs you are most passionate about.

If you find that you can't be active in all six clubs that you signed up for, see if there is a way you can be involved only when you have time, or manage your time to work them all in. You can always stop being involved in some and focus on the ones that you really like.

10. Make study groups with people in your classes.

Depending on your major, you may have a lot in common with the people in your classes. You can get together to help each other academically, as well as just to hang out with them.

11. Keep in contact with people from home

Everyone will feel a little homesick, but luckily in this age of social media, you can always check in on what your high school friends are doing.

12. Write people letters

If checking on social media and texting people isn't enough, write a letter to someone at home. Send them gifts and write letters back and forth.

13. Be yourself

No matter what, the best way to feel at home is to be yourself.