1. Don’t pack EVERYTHING. Pack all the essentials, but do you really need four plaid shirts? Probably not.
2. Your high school boyfriend may not be THE one. I know it seems like he is right now, but do not let this close you off from all of the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Being a freshman girl in college is like a kid in a candy store- the options are endless. Don’t let your homeboy make you miss out on all the other guys that could have been.
3. Start off strong. I know you ‘re probably going to want to go wild your first weekend, and all weekends. This can lead to destructive behavior and even more destructive grades. You wanna get dressed up to get messed up, but you still wanna make mom and dad proud.
4. Do not, however, be a sheltered hermit. Few make this mistake, but it can be just as destructive. Too much of anything is bad, and that goes for studying too. This is the time to branch out and meet new people, not be cramped up in an LSC study room for eleven hours on end.
5. Time management is the MOST important thing. I know you want to nap between your 10 a.m. and your 2 p.m. but you’ll really be kicking yourself once night rolls around and you’re up until 2 a.m. cramming for Ethics.
6. Don’t forget to treat yourself. College is all about new experiences and meeting new people. If you want the drunken CK’s at 3 a.m., no one is stopping you, my friend.
7. However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect your health or the gym. The gym IS your friend. It’s hard to get into the routine, but once you do, you’ll be really glad you did, especially when you go home and run into your high school frenemies at Target.
8. It’s OKAY to go into college undecided. You’ve probably heard this a million times, but it is common to change majors. The average student changes their major more than two times. Don’t freak out. Take a bunch of different classes to figure out what you like, and go from there. You have two years to figure it out.
9. It’s okay to have mental breakdowns. Stress is a big part of college that can be hard to avoid. If this stress is not relieved, it is bound to come out at the most inconvenient times, like in the library or right before a test. Stay calm. It’s okay to call your mom at 2 a.m. because you failed the first anatomy test. When freaking out, remember to ask yourself “will this matter in 10 years?” If the answer is no, then drop it. Things happen, it is probably not the end of the world even though it seems like it right now.
10. Don’t get caught up in material things. It may seem like you are surrounded by people with newer and better things. Learn that you are your own person and accept other people’s styles. Just because you don’t have the newest Vineyard Vines hat or Steve Madden boots, it doesn’t lessen your self worth.
11. It’s okay to get a bad grade. College is a whole different world than high school. You actually need to open your textbooks and read the chapter. Plus, they’re expensive. Don’t let that $150 go to waste, you could’ve spent it on pizza, shoes or alcohol. You can always do better on the next test.