TEN COLLEGE TIPS

1. DO NOT LOSE YOUR SYLLABI. Those packets your profs give you on the first day of class are now the most valuable things you own. I’m not kidding. They have every reading, every assignment, and every class requirement, and in most cases they’re the only place those things are listed. Keep them very safe.
2. DO NOT TRUST THE ADMINISTRATION. It is entirely likely that your financial aid, AP credits, scholarship, or other records will be lost or misfiled. Keep close track of what you have - credits, major requirements, GenEd classes, money - and make sure your records match your school’s. Maintain good records of things like this and be prepared to go down to various offices with dumb acronyms to sort out problems. Do not just assume that everything is fine, or you’ll get a nasty surprise the semester you expect to graduate.
3. FIND OUT HOW TO GET AROUND. Get to know your campus and the area around it. Learn the public transit system, make a friend with a car, etc. Find cafes, bookstores, head shops, whatever fits your interests. Explore the library. Claim the space you’ll be living in. This will help you make friends because many people won’t know that there’s a diner down the way that serves amazing pancakes and you can lead a party there and everyone will love you. Seriously.
4. PACK LIGHT. You don’t need all your shit. Seriously. Don’t bring anybooks. They are a bitch to transport and you won’t read them. Bring less clothing than you think you need. Unless you’re a major fashionista, youwill get lazy about your appearance because your campus will feel like an extension of your bedroom. You will prefer 30 extra minutes of sleep over the time it takes to accessorize. EXCEPTION: bring some quirky/cool/weird stuff for theme/costume parties.
5. MAKE YOUR DORM ROOM A HEALTHY PLACE. Invest in a good mattress pad, soft sheets, etc. and make your bed a comfy cozy nest. Do not treat your bed like a a sofa, a table, or a dresser. Space is at a premium in dorms but you will be glad to have a bed that functions well as a bed. Keep your desk neat and use it for homework (not your bed.) Getting sick will suck balls. Buy some microwaveable soups and a spoon asap and whatever medicines you use and hoard them until you get the flu the day you have a night class and everything is terrible.
6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HELP OFFERED. You can probably get by on your own, but why try? You have tons of resources at college but they will not seek you out. You likely have a writing center or a tutoring center. Go there. Even if you are a great student or an amazing writer, go there. Go to club rush, job fairs, etc. I can’t tell you how many college kids I know (myself included) totally missed out on things that would have greatly improved their life because they didn’t pay enough attention to know those things existed.
7. PROFESSORS ARE YOUR FRIENDS. Get close to your professors. They are not scary. Email them and be polite but friendly. When you get an assignment, read it over right then, so if you have questions you can email your prof early (they love this.) Participate in class discussions. I’m serious - no matter how shy or nervous you are, not speaking up in class will hurt you so badly that it’s never worth it. If this is really hard for you, go to their office hours and talk about the readings with your profs beforehand. If you need to miss class, get an extension, etc. professors are generally happy to accommodate you if you email them ahead of time and they already know you.
8. DO NOT GET A PET YOUR FIRST YEAR. In general, dorm pets aren’t worth it. It’s hard to care for small exotic animals anyway, and in a dorm setting it’s extra hard. Don’t even consider something larger like a cat or a dog. It’s not fair to the animal and it’s a huge headache for you. Your roommates will think it will be a great bonding experience to get a rabbit or parakeet together. They will be wrong. If you have a car, an apartment, and lots of free time, it might work to get a pet, but do your research ahead of time, know what you’re getting into, and be prepared to deal with a lot of mess and responsibility. I know lots of people with dorm pets who love them, but I’ve seen it go wrong too many times to think it’s a good idea in general. There are exceptions, but think very hard about it before getting a pet in college.
9. RELATIONSHIPS ARE COMPLICATED. Keep in touch with friends from high school but let yourself let go when you need to. There will be epic levels of drama your freshman year. That’s basically a law of the universe. Embrace it. You’ll have late night talks under the stars with love interests who take themselves really seriously. You’ll take yourself really seriously. You’ll deal with sobbing drunks (or be one.) You will have lots of intense but short-lived friendships. Just go with the flow. Let relationships develop organically, but put effort into things that are important to you. Make dumb decisions in the name of fun and try not to regret them.
10. IF YOUR SCHOOL HAS HUMANS VS ZOMBIES, PLAY IT AT LEAST ONCE YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR. Seriously.