Orientation season. The time of year when colleges are full of prospective students and their parents registering for classes, and taking the last few steps before finally leaving high school in the dust. It’s an exciting and sometimes scary time of our lives. A whole new environment lies ahead, with new experiences that follow close behind. Soon you will be taking your first of many walks to class and eating your first meal at the dining hall. Soon you will be freshman again. I have some advice for you, future freshman. Advice that I wish I had 2 years ago when I was in your position.

1. Go. To. Class.

You might think this is obvious. Why would you pay for classes then not even show up to them? Trust me, the temptation to sleep through that 8 a.m. will become very strong very quickly. While it may seem like skipping your 50 to 90 minute class isn’t that big of a deal, but it will catch up to you. Missing a few classes here and there won’t hurt in the long run, but once you start intentionally ditching lecture, the habit will be hard to break.

2. Social Life

Let me clear something up first: you don’t have to party every weekend to be cool or have fun in college. Being beer bong champion at the frat houses won’t earn your bachelors for you. Many students come to college thinking the party lifestyle is the only lifestyle. And unfortunately, some people only attend college to party because that what we’ve been told it’s all about. It’s okay to stay in to study or hang out with friends. With all this being said, it’s also okay to party every now and then. Don’t be afraid to put down the book sometimes and have a good night out. Just remember to be safe!

3. Be Yourself

In college you can be whatever and whoever you want to be. Chances are your school will have a club filled with people who enjoy the same things you do. It’s perfectly okay to be weird. Nobody judges in college because everyone either too busy to notice, or they just don’t care what you do with your life. So don’t be afraid to be yourself!

4. Make Memories

The next 4 years of your life will fly by. Try to fill those 4 years with as many memories as you can. Go on spontaneous road trips, try new foods, or explore your school’s town. 8 semesters goes by pretty fast, so have fun and enjoy this time of your life. You only get to once.

5. Get Involved

College is what you make of it, and it won’t be much fun if you sit in your dorm room all day. Go to a sporting event! Join a club, or 10. Volunteer in your community. You’ll probably have to at some point, so why not knock out those hours for fun? You’re spending a lot of money to go here so you might as well enjoy it and participate in some of the things your tuition is paying for.

6. Find Balance and Take Care of Yourself

While it’s important to get involved, it’s also important to learn how to manage your time. If you’re taking 18 credits and working 20 hours a week, I wouldn’t suggest signing up for every club that interests you. Find a happy medium before you burn out halfway through the semester. You might think that you can survive off 2 hours of sleep every night, but I’ll tell you from personal experience, you can’t. Be sure to take care of yourself because it will make college a lot harder if you don’t.

7. Form Relationships with Professors

I know that teacher’s pet is a position that not many students want to hold. But in college, being on your professor’s good side will help you in the long run. All graduate schools require letters of recommendation, and your high school soccer coach won’t work this time. If you do the homework, show up to class, ask questions, and show initiative, most professors will be more than happy to write a recommendation letter for you. And if your professors really like you, they might ask for help with research, and even offer you a job.

College is fast approaching, so enjoy summer before some of the craziest, hardest, and most fun years of your life begin.