[samaroni]

Here is my advice. I narrowed it down to 10 big ones, I could go on and on.

1. On the topic of books since everyone seems to be talking about them. Get your math and science books as soon as you know what books to get. Your gen ed books or english/history classes it is tougher to tell whether you will actually need them. I've had plenty of classes where I didn't even open the book. Most professors will tell you flat out if you need it the first day of classes. So I'd wait to get those books, or if you want to be on the ball, ask upperclassmen whether they used the book. Sites like Half.com and Chegg are great to for getting your books just make sure you get the right edition.

2. Schedule your time. This helped my a lot because I procrastinate. If you schedule everything you do during the day it really helps figure out your study schedule, and when you can spend time with friends. Even schedule things like showering, working out and brushing your teeth because as much as you think they are quick things they add up and in college every minute in a tight schedule is important.

3. Don't spend money on things you don't need! My freshman year I spent over 300 dollars in one semester on coffee because there was a Starbucks on the same block as my dorm. Don't do it. Going out to dinner, going shopping, the late night fast food/pizza, Starbucks, etc. should be treats, not a regular occasion or else your money will go out the door quicker than you make it.

4. Keep track of your bank account. This is for multiple reasons. Overdraft fees as insanely costly, and can be avoided easily. Also, identity thieves prey on college kids because we're naive and new to managing our own money (or so I've been told)

5. STUDY! its so easy to get distracted with everything else going on but sometimes you need to just stay in and study. You're there to learn after all.

6. Going along with studying, Don't focus solely on your hard classes. Its easy to let your grades slip in the "easy A" classes if you become too worried about your hard classes and don't put in the work for the easy classes.

7. Experience everything! I think this one might be the most important one. You will never have an opportunity to try so many new things as you do in college. Go to parties, go to the "lame" events that sga puts on, most of them are fun with the right people, study abroad. My school has an international night where foreign students make food from their countries, I learned all about new foods and it was a great experience.

8. Get involved. Whether it is greek life, sga, honor societies, a sports team. Do something, college can get really boring if you are sitting in your dorm while all your friends are on campus with their respective organizations.

9. Don't expect to stay best friends with the first people you meet, or marry the first guy you date. Especially at a big school, you will be around a ton of new people and it can take a while to sort through those people to find your people. Your first semester you will be friends with just about anyone you meet because you don't know anyone, as you get to know the school and the people around you it will become easier to make friends who are truly the people you want to surround yourself with.

10. Your roommate does not have to be your best friend. They sometimes can be though. A roommate just has to be someone who has the same ideas on how to live. (i.e. cleanliness, study habits, bed times, rules about guests) When choosing a roommate in future years make sure to think about these things and don't just pick your best friend. Living with your best friend can actually harm the friendship. And don't be disappointed if you meet this years roommate and you don't have all the same interests, you'll make other friends