BACK ON CAMPUS SURVIVAL LISTS: YOUR FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE

Well, you've made it. You packed up your bedroom, made the trip to Target for your dorm essentials, and you're finally driving up to campus. Woohoo!! The best four years starts now. And... you have very little idea as to what to expect. Luckily for you, I lived through that. About 365 days ago, that was me! Freshman Kate unpacking her notebooks and pens in her hot dorm room, having no clue what to do once her parents waved goodbye and walked out the door. That's the first moment you're officially an independent college student! So what do you do? I'm gonna give you my top tips to have a great first semester of college -- and that, in turn, will prepare you for a great four years! 1) Introduce yourself, to like, everyone Here's what nobody tells you about being nervous during the first semester: everyone else is too. Trust me, even though it may seem like everybody is already besties with their roommate or knows enough people from their hometown to be completely comfortable, you're not alone. Take the opportunity to reach out -- introduce yourself to your next door neighbors, pop your head into your RA's door if you don't meet them right off the bat, and for goodness sake, get to know your roommate. Once you get to your classes, make small talk with the girl (or cute boy **fingers crossed**) sitting in the desk next to you. It's so important to put yourself out there while everyone is getting acquainted -- and it's super easy. 2) Go to class (pls) While it seems like a good time to skip class and spend time sitting in your new dorm bed watching Netflix, I highly recommend going to class if you want to be a successful student. As easy as it would be to just print the syllabus off the course website and call it a day, it's important to get a feel for what to expect in each class you have for the semester. Some will prove to be more time-consuming than others, some will have different grading rubrics, and some will have professors that decide the first exam should take place before you've even bought the textbook. Whatever the case may be, definitely show up to your classes. To have a successful start to your college career, you should get used to being present, both physically and mentally. 3) But at the same time... have fun! Now that I've given you my nerdy spiel about how important class is, I highly encourage you to take advantage of how fun college can be *after class*. Since you're (hopefully) not slammed with readings and homework quite yet, you should use this time to socialize more with the people you're meeting! Grab dinner with your roomie, ask the girls in your hall to grab coffee, and do all the other fun things your campus and a college town has to offer. College life has so many things that you just can't get back at home -- so enjoy your first taste of the experience! 4) Call your parents (at least twice) They miss you more than you know. I'm naturally the type of person who feels the need to update her parents daily (if not more), but if you're not great at keeping them in the loop, make a note in your calendar or set a reminder. The truth is, you'll miss your parents too. When you think about it, this is the first time they have to depend on *you* to hear about your daily life. Keep them informed, tell them about the great things you're getting involved in, how much you miss your pets, and how you do on your exams (even if you have to fudge the truth a little!). Above all, let them know that they're still the most important people in your life. 5) Take advantage, go for it, and try new things! College is all about experiences. This is what it's all about. Get out of your comfort zone and try something different! Sign up for a new student org, join your floormates for dinner, and get the most out of your classes. The more you engage in new activities, the closer you are to finding things you enjoy doing. In the midst of college craziness, remember to find what makes you happy (more of this in my post on Personal Fulfillment )! After completing a whole year of college, I can definitely say it brought me all the opportunities I needed to be truly happy here. I hope those of you who are in your first semester are having the time of your lives! xo Kate