1. Go a day early and stay in a hotel if you can so that you can visually identify where you need to be the next day at your residence hall or apartment.

2. Read your college catalog religiously so that you have a firm grasp on what classes you need to take to meet both distribution requirements and major requirements. Note particularly when drop-add begins and ends.

3. Walk around campus as soon as you get moved in so that you can get a feel of where the studying goes on and where the fun is. You can also see where the classroom buildings are so that when someone tells you “Yeah, that’s in 201 Science Hall,” you won’t have to look at a map as much.

4. Put something on the outside of your room door that lets your hallmates know what kind of person you are. I like anime, so I would put an anime poster on my dorm door nowadays.

5. Bring a car and your hallmates or neighbors will love you when it is grocery shopping time.

6. Find a “ride board” or similar ridesharing exchange and try to make a trip home or two that first semester or quarter away despite your plan to wait until Christmas. Barring that, build in a trip away (maybe Biloxi? Pensacola Beach? Gulf Shores?) so that you have something to look forward to even if you can’t make it home.

The first week is harder in terms of adjustment to your new life than it is academically. Many teachers just hand out a syllabus or calendar of planned lessons for the term and set you free on the first day. You’ll want to check out your college bookstore as soon as you can to get books so you can read ahead for your next lesson, though, and you may have to time that visit well or else get used to long checkout lines. There are usually a few campuswide or freshmen-only parties in the first week, and you should show up for part of them if you can just to see who might be interesting company and/or potential study buddies.

But try not to worry. USA wouldn’t have admitted you if you weren’t prepared to be a student, and colleges in general are very good about helping new students make transitions. Do make an effort to speak to your classmates on your first day before or after each class, and don’t miss any orientation sessions your school offers.

Good luck! College is such a fun part of life if you play your cards right.

My main advice: be really friendly your first week. Even if that isn’t in your personality, go out of your way to meet new people. The first week of college, no one knows each other, and they will gravitate quickly towards any smiling face. Which could be your smiling face. Make lots of friends the first week! It will never be as easy to meet new people.