For the past 18 years of your life, you had to depend on your parents. You didn't have to pay your own rent and you had someone to do your laundry for you. Newsflash: your life is about to change. You're moving to a new place with new people and to a place you don't really know. Everything is going to be completely different, and it will take you a few months just to get used to being away from home. But here are a few tips to make it through your freshmen year.

1. Get involved.

Don't be afraid to meet new people. There are many organizations on campus that stand for many different things. Getting involved gets you out of your comfort zone and makes you do things that you never thought you would do; they allow you to grow into your own person. They also open up a variety of different opportunities that you may not have gotten without this organization.

2. You actually have to study.

All those tests that you didn't study for in high school but you mysteriously passed are not going to be anything like the tests that you will be taking in college. You have to take time out of your crazy schedule to study the material that you just learned in your lecture. You are not going to be able to cram right before you take your test and still pass!

3. Take care of yourself.

In college, you will be overwhelmed with an ungodly amount of stress. So once or twice a week, go to the gym and blow off some steam and release all that stress that has been building up over the week. Eat healthy as much as you can so you don't gain the "freshmen 15." Try to squeeze in a few power naps into your schedule, because we all know college kids don't get enough sleep.

4. Remember why you attend college.

Things get stressful, and you tend to get caught up in loads of school work, so just remember why you attend the college you do. Do not quit just because there are hard days. Always remember the career path that you are going down so you will not be stuck with a job you hate later on down the road.

5. Enjoy yourself.

Even though you are here for school, you are allowed to enjoy yourself every now and then. College is not only about school, but it is for having fun, too. Go out with friends when you can, meet new people every chance you get and always remember to have a good time wherever you are.