by Jon Wagner

Created on: August 24, 2009

You just graduated High school a few months ago and now you are soon going off to college. It can be unnerving because you are a tiny fish in a huge pond where you know almost no one, in other words, your on your own. You and every other freshman are all on the same page none of you know what to do really. Here are a few ways to keep yourself alive and sane your freshman year.

Orientations- These are the most important thing. Go to the freshman orientation, go to the campus tours, learn where everything is as fast as you can. This will help you get comfortable being in this area and it will help with knowing where all your classes are. Also everyone at the orientations and on the tours will most likely be freshman so its an easy way to make some friends.

Do not go home- So many kids want to be free but go home every weekend. Stay at your college for a while before coming home. The more you come home the more you will rely on it. Get use to living on your own before going home for the weekend.

Roommates- Get to know this person well. You will be living with them for the next year of your life every single day. Try to get to know them before hand if at all possible through e-mail or on the phone. Most of you will have disagreements with your roommate but try to work through it.

Dorm- Get to know a few people around your dorm. You will see them all the time anyway. Its a good idea when your in your dorm for the first week to leave your door open. This allows people to walk in and talk to you. Also there are a good deal of parties the first week go to them and meet a few people.

Keep track of yourself- In High school your teachers tell you what needs to be done and constantly hound you to turn in your work. In college the professors wont do that. If something is late or not turned in, in will just go in their grade book as a zero. Get something weather it be a note book or a PDA to help keep track of when everything is due.

GO TO CLASS!- I can not stress this enough. Almost everyone has an early class that they don't want to have to get up for but you need to. If you miss a day you never know what you might miss, it could be a test or an essay you need to wright. JUST GO!

Make sure to balance your life- College shouldn't be all about studies or all about parties and having fun. You need to have a balance that works for you so you can have fun but still get the good grades you are capable of.

Keep track of your money- Make sure not to spend all of your money on stuff you don't need because then your broke and have no way of getting anymore money.

Eat right- Everyone has heard of the freshman 15 and that's because for the first time you get to pick what you eat and most of the time its the stuff that isn't good for you. Save yourself the trouble and eat the things you should.

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