1. Buy your textbooks! Why wait until the last minute when the bookstore is right on campus? You can find the materials required for each course online. Most professors are lenient about books during the first week of class but some give extra credit for bringing the book on the first day! Plus, assignments will start rolling in right away so you don’t want to get behind on studying.
2. Make some friends! Put yourself out there during these first few days. You’ll be relieved when you’re surrounded by familiar faces in every class. But hey, even if you don’t, just sit down and introduce yourself to the person next to you – you’ll have an entire semester to get to know each other during group projects and study sessions!
3. Plan! College is so much easier when you schedule your time. Make sure you know all of your class times and locations as well as the agenda of any other obligations such as team practices or club meetings. Get a planner or use the calendar on your phone or computer to make sure you have enough time to do your homework, clean your room and spend time with friends! Professors will give you a class syllabus on the first day so you’ll literally be able to plan out your entire semester.
4. Get some sleep! Let’s face it, from Move-In Day through the rest of the weekend, sleep hasn’t exactly been a top priority. Take some time to catch up, it’ll help you make a great first impression to your professors and peers!
5. Eat breakfast! This isn’t made to sound like your mom followed you to college, it’s just a friendly reminder! When you don’t provide your body with the nourishment it needs, it won’t perform at its peak. If you start the semester with low energy, it will be likely to stay that way. There are three different dining options open for breakfast serving everything from hot coffee and fresh fruit to bacon and pancakes so set your alarm just a little earlier to make sure you have time to grab a bite!