Syllabus (Sylly) Week is the first week of classes for the semester. At the University of Arizona, it is a week full of new classes, meeting new people, and raging parties that students love to go to. As a sophomore at the U of A, I have experienced the best and worst of what Syllabus Week has to offer and I have created some tips to help you survive your first week of college.

1. Have A Plan

When you decide to go out, plan out where you want to go each night so you are not spending a lot of money Ubering back and forth from house to house.

2. Download Uber (and/or Lyft)

This app is so convenient and will save you when you are out late and need to get back home from parties. It’s also just as convenient to have around campus if you and your friends decide to go off campus one night for dinner, you can split the cost of the trip.

3. Know Where Your Classes Are

Not only will this help you during the first few days of classes when you are attending them for the first time but knowing where they are will be helpful for when you are rolling out of bed late after going out the night before and are rushing to class.

4. Set An Alarm The Night Before

If you know you have to be up early for class the next day, set an alarm on your phone or alarm clock to make sure you will get up on time.

5. Go Out with People You Trust

I know it can be exciting to want to go out with the people you just met, but make sure you are with at least one person you trust to stay with you and help you get home at the end of the night.

6. Share Location

Share your location with the friends you are going out with so that in case you lose them at the party, you can locate one another.

7. Know Your Limits

It’s not impressive to drink as much as someone else and get sick, know your limits and only drink as much as you can actually handle, not as much as you think you can handle.

8. Eat Before You Go Out, But Don't Eat Too Heavy

Make sure to eat food before you go out so that you have something in your stomach to absorb the alcohol (if you decide to drink). However, don’t carbo load. Just in case you end up drinking over your limit, you’ll just throw up the big meal you ate before. So space out your meal to at least an hour before you go out so that it can be digested before you begin drinking.

9. Don't Be A DAB (*Drunk Ass Bitch)

Don’t get so intoxicated that you cannot handle yourself at a party. If you feel like you’re going to throw up, get the heck out of there. Nothing is worse than going out for the first time and throwing up all over at that party. So be able to control yourself so that when people think of you, they won’t remember you as a DAB.

10. GO TO CLASS

This is probably the most important tip because if you don’t go to every single class during syllabus week, your professors may drop you from the course. So go to class, even if it means you go very hungover.

No matter what you decide to do during Syllabus Week, make sure to put safety first. If you don’t feel comfortable somewhere, leave. Make sure to be around people you know and always call an Uber/Lyft if it’s too far or unsafe for you to walk home. Enjoy Syllabus (Sylly) week because it will be the easiest week of classes all year.