I grew up in a town with a huge university right next door, so I always thought that I would go to a big state school. Then I visited a small liberal arts college. As soon as I stepped on campus, I fell in love. It was unlike anything I had seen before. I didn’t even know that college campuses could be so green. When I chose my university, most of my friends had never heard of it, but when I told their parents, they all had great things to say. I was nervous going into the first semester, but here is some advice that first-year students should try to stick to when they start the semester.

1. Be friendly.

You never know who is going to become your closest friend in the next four years.Going into freshman year, I was worried about being on my own and who I was going to meet, but the close-knit environment made it easy to make friends. Freshman year, I made some of the closest connections, and even though some friends transferred, those connections stayed strong. The size of the school helped with this because we had to live in dorms. I was surrounded by strangers who became my closest friends.

2. Get out of your comfort zone.

This is key when you are attending a small school. You might think that you found what you are good at in high school, but in college, there will be so many things that you never got the opportunity to do in high school. College is all about expanding the person you are and getting involved and trying everything that you’ve always wanted to try. If there is an event you’ve always wanted to attend or a field you’ve always wanted to study, do it! I promise you will look back and regret it if you don’t.

3. Keep an open mind.

Do thiswhen it comes to everything. At the beginning of freshman year, I never thought that I would be majoring in communication, a member of a sorority, or writing for The Odyssey. These never crossed my mind, but I could not be happier, and I owe it all to the fact that I went to a small school. Trust me, there are going to be times during the next four years when you say, “There’s no way I will ever do that.” Turns out, you will probably end up doing whatever you said you would never do. When that happens, just go with it.

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Understand that you are in college. The semester is going to get stressful, and it is going to get tough, but keep in mind that you are not the only one going through hell week. If you need help, there are always people around to give you a hand. This is especially true for your professors. Attending a smaller school means smaller classes and a closer relationship with the professors. They are here to teach you about a certain field, and they want you to understand the material. So ask. It can't hurt.

Some people love their huge state school, but you will love the small school you chose to attend. Never have any doubts about the school that you chose and make the next four years the best you possibly can.