Your dream school may not be your dream school your first week.

You’ve spent your whole life dreaming of going to that big state school that you’d only ever dreamt of, or maybe you worked your a** off to get into your ideal city school. But when you got there it wasn’t as great as you expected- you might be feeling a little letdown. Well, guess what?? You NEED to stick it out. Just because you hate your roommate and you got lost on you first day of classes does NOT mean your year is going to be a mess. All it means is that you’re a freshman—because these things happen to just about everyone. It can take a few weeks, even a few months to love your school, but don’t be so quick to decide you hate it.

Best friends are hard to find — get yourself involved.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved, especially at a big school. Getting involved makes the big school just a tad bit smaller. One of the wonderful things about college is your surrounded by such diverse people- but this also means it can be harder to find your niche. Nearly all colleges have hundreds of clubs, you’re bound to find a club that interests you full of people with similar interests. So stop watching Netflix and head over to your involvement fair.

This is your time to try something new.

You’re off to a place where no one knows you. Don’t lose your identity, but if there’s something that you’ve always wanted to try, this is your time!!! If you’re a secret band geek, then get out there and audition for a band group! Join the math club if that’s where you think you’ll enjoy your time. Take advantage of your college years, because this is a judgement-free zone.