by Kate Johns

Created on: June 30, 2008

I completely missed my first day of college. I also missed the next two weeks of college. And it wasn't because I took the wrong turn and got lost in a new city. I missed the first day of college because I came down with a good old- fashioned case of mono.

By the time I started college, everyone else had two weeks up on me. They knew the professors, they knew where the classrooms were, and they all knew each other. And then I walked in, not a few minutes late, no I was two weeks late. I was so nervous that I broke out in a sweat, and thought I'd never find my classroom, let alone catch up on all the work I had already missed.

So that you don't have to go through what I went through, here are ten tips for surviving your first day of college:

1.Get ready for the first day of school in advance. Move in as early as possible. Set up all your stuff in your dorm room. Help your roommates set up their things as well. Now that you have made new friends, ask them to walk or take a bus around the campus.

2.While you are out finding your way around your new campus, get a map. Utilize the map with your roommates and help each other find your classrooms, and lecture halls. Most importantly find the college cafeteria/restaurant.

3.Now that you have arrived early and have made new friends, ask them to join something with you. Join as many activities as you can, because you will make new friends that can help you. They may be taking the same classes as you are, and you can help each other with research papers and studying.

4.Speaking of studying, make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. Go through what you already have and organize everything into your backpack. Buy what you need, don't procrastinate and wait until the second day of school.

5.Buy the books you'll need for your classes early. Look through them to familiarize yourself with the classwork you'll be doing. When your professor asks questions of what will be doing this semester, you can raise your hand with confidence.

6.Go to college orientation. You will get a general layout of the land at school. You'll be able to meet other newbies such as yourself, who will be as nervous as you are. Ask questions because it will help that first crucial day.

7.The night before the first big day get everything ready beforehand. Organize your backpack. Set out your clothes. Set the alarm early so you have time to get ready and find your first lecture hall.

8.The morning of the big day try to eat something so you have the energy to find your way around. Take a snack with you, just in case you get hungry in between classes.

9.Be friendly to all your classmates. They will be your new lifeline to your new classes. When you miss a class you can ask them what happened. You can help each other with assignments and form a study group.

10.Dress nicely the first day. You will want to make a good impression on your professors and your fellow students.

The first day of college, I was a nervous wreck, I was overdressed, but I had a good attitude. Something went in my favor though, my college professors were very sympathetic and actually asked people to help me catch up. In one class they already were split into groups, so one group's leader came over to me and asked if I would please join their group. I made friends with each member of that group, and we still are friends today.

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