hey no one asked for my advice but im gonna drop some knowledge ANYWAY (also anyone else who has been to college drop some knowledge too)

1) Pick a college nearby: In-state and within a day's drive from your home unless you're planning to aim high (like some specialized school, Yale, etc) .

It costs so much more money to go out of state and the price difference isn't worth the experience. (I LOVE akron but i have rich parents who can afford to pay for it, most people bear that debt themselves and it's a terrible mistake they carry with them for most of their lives.) Being within a day's drive of home means you can visit without having to spend $200 and taking time off work like I do. I'm one of the more emotionally detached individuals and I still get homesick sometimes, and there's absolutely nothing better than escaping the meal plan for a couple days to home-cooked food AND not having to PAY for food.

2) Scheduling. Check how far your buildings are from each other and how long you have between classes. the first semester here I signed up for 2 classes on the opposite side of campus and only had 15 minutes to get from one to the other. uphill. it wasn't great and it sucks to be late because everyone stares at you.

Also, utilize ratemyprofessor.com and check the scores of the professors as well as rate your professors at the end of the semester. It's saved me from a lot of loose cannons.

DON'T TAKE A 7:45am!!! You won't want to wake up for it. There may be a voice in your head that says "oh but I wake up early for highschool so I'm used to it! I can do it." That's the devil speaking. Don't listen to it.

3) GO TO CLASS. It sounds stupid but if you calculate it out, it costs like $150 a class so if you don't go you're just wasting your money. When your parents aren't around to force you to school, it's very easy to lose motivation. Most classes let you miss a weeks worth of class without penalty (my university requires this) but that's only 3 days if its a M/W/F or 2 days if it's a T/TH class. save those absences for if you get sick or have an unexpected event pop up that you CAN'T MISS (two of my friends got married and I'm glad I could go without penalty).

Also, some teachers give out rewards for not missing any class. My prof last semester awarded 20 points to full attendance and my prof this semester is giving out an entire letter grade to anyone with full attendance.

GO TO CLASS EVEN IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE! Even if you end up with partial credit that day, it's better than fully missing class. just avoid eye contact with everyone who stares as you walk in, own it dude.

(note: doctor's notes/funeral programs are the only thing that get you out of class without any penalty or without using up those free days. But doctor's notes cost money to obtain and most of the time when you're sick you don't need to go to the doctor for it, so keep that in mind.)

4) Sit towards the front of class, if not the very front. The prof gets to know your face and is more willing to do favors/make special accommodations for you. Also, you're more likely to pay attention to what they're saying and won't be able to play on your phone. For classes where participation is part of your grade, the prof is more likely to remember every time you participate if your face is already familiar.

5) Set a homework schedule and stick to it. A big struggle of college for me is that it was the first time I ever had to study and do homework, and I absolutely bombed the first semester. academic probation, lost my scholarship, the whole nine yards. Over time I learned that setting aside a specific time frame for homework and prohibiting myself from doing anything else during that time worked really well. It eliminates the anxiety/stress of looming assignments because you can reason: I'll do that during homework time, this is me-time.

For example, I have only Tues/Thursday classes this semester, so from 12pm-4pm on mondays I do tuesday's homework/readings, and from 12-4pm on wednesdays I do thursday's homework/readings. It means I only do homework 2 times a week and I have much more stress-free time for hobbies and such. If I finished my homework before 4pm, then yay! I have more free-time.

6) Don't date during your first semester. If you're entering college in a relationship, that's fine but remember to focus on your studies first. it costs a lot to go to college and you should never give up that opportunity for anyone else. If you're single, stay single! Whether you notice it at first or not it's a LOT of stress to enter this completely new environment with a whole bunch of freedom and responsibility. Take a semester to settle in first. Also girls, don't date upperclassmen. they're sharks and toxic. People don't usually date out of their age group unless their age group already knows they're toxic. (shain actually told me this advice)

7) READ YOUR SYLLABUS. Professors don't always announce when assignments will be due or if there's a test coming up. They put that information in their syllabus. KEEP YOUR SYLLABUS. Take time to make a calendar of all your assignments that semester either on your phone or in a planner of some sort. Also, some tests require you BUY the answer sheet at the bookstore and bring it with you on exam day. Don't show up to a test with no test paper, my boyfriend did that after studying all night and got an automatic zero for being unprepared. Read. Your. Syllabus.

Check your assignments and see if any require the "required textbook". Tons of my classes never use the book, and that's a huge waste of money. Wait until the second week of class to order textbooks you're sure you'll need, and only buy them new if you need a code. If your class seriously requires the textbook during the first two weeks, check the school's library for it, they usually have a copy on reserve you can check out for a couple hours until yours shows up. (Or just always use the free one in the library, up to you my dude.)

8) Join a club. People don't talk that much during class to strangers so you'll have to actively seek people out. Colleges have SO many clubs and they actually have funding, so go to your involvement fair and scope out a couple things you might be interested in. It also makes you feel more connected to campus, and you'll recognize more people when you're involved. I moved 1000 miles from home and jumped into a bunch of clubs so I could familiarize myself with the community, and now I can walk to class and run into people I know (and like) as well as be lucky enough to get a class with them so I have someone to study with.

9) Take advantage of the free resources. Besides a TON of free shirts, your college has a lot of resources available included in your tuition. Milk that. My library has 3D printing, rents out macbooks (free), free computer repair services, free math tutoring, free writing lab, etc. There's a career center that can scrutinize your resume and help you build a better one, as well as give mock-interviews. There's also a ton of free events on campus, from movies to magicians to comedians to petting zoos and most everything you can think of. My university has a free giant gym and two huge swimming pools, as well as health services for only $15 a visit(which can replace your primary care doctor if you move far from home) with free vaccination drives, free check-up days, women's health services & BC pick-up, and free mental health services. We also have a lot of buses that bring you around campus for free with your student ID that run from like 7am to 11pm. These features are very common throughout colleges in the US, you just have to see what your college offers and UTILIZE IT!

10) Don't trust your adviser. In most college management structures, as soon as an adviser is actually good at their job, they're promoted to higher management and replaced. The only ones left advising are the ones who aren't very good or are brand new. Probably the #1 complaint about colleges in any review is that "my adviser screwed me over". Every single person I know has had their adviser make a mistake and cost them time and money, throughout all of my friends at many different colleges.

As mentioned above, there's free resources on your campus, and usually this includes a "scheduling day" of some sort put on by administration once a semester, where the people who are actually adept at scheduling and familiar with the university's programs/requirements are the ones who help you create your schedule and plan your path to a degree. I attended one of these and found out I could graduate a whole semester early for over $1,000 less than I paid last semester, as well as get my amazing Tu/Th class schedule.

11) Your GPA doesn't matter that much. Unless you're going on to graduate school, nursing school, law school, etc. A degree is a degree. Keep your GPA high enough to keep your scholarships, but don't worry about getting a 4.0. This doesn't mean blow off your work, but instead means that when a class is really difficult, it isn't the end of the world. It's okay if your GPA takes a hit, you're only human. Even if you fail the class, don't panic and drop out (like a friend of mine did). Just work harder next semester and devote a little more time to it, talk to your professor, and seek out tutoring sessions. It should be easier the second time around.

12) Don't go home in the middle of the day. If you have a lot of breaks between classes and commute to campus, don't go home during your breaks. You'll waste gas and feel less motivated to come back and finish the day. Most universities have couches all over campus and private study rooms in the library. Catch up on homework so you don't have to do it at home or take a nap (you are scared to at first but eventually you give in to how sleep deprived you are).

13) You're probably going to change your major, and that's ok. Start college off with the general education classes and like one or two classes for your major. If you hate your classes for your major or it's way harder than you can handle, it's ok to change your mind. I changed my major three times. If you wait a long time to make the switch then college will take longer to finish, and if you decide to stick with a major you don't like you'll suffer your junior & senior year when all of your classes are about that major. Every single person I know changed their major at least once, it's not a big deal. Don't waste your time and money on a field you don't like. Take a class that doesn't necessarily count towards your specific degree but seems interesting, college is a great time to explore your options.

14) Drinking. I don't recommend going out to parties to drink during college, it seems fun but really just costs a lot of money and is a lot of trouble. If you do decide to drink, know your limit, and go out with people you trust. Someone in your group needs to stay sober, and you need to leave with every single person you came with, never leave someone behind. DO NOT drink and drive, that endangers you and everyone around you. If you don't have a good way to get back after going out to drink, then don't go out to drink.

WATCH YOUR CUP! Don't accept solo cups full of some concoction. Only drink from unopened cans or bottles. If you go to the bathroom, bring your cup. If your cup is ever unattended, that cup is now poison. Get a new one. This not only prevents you from getting drugged, but also helps you keep track of what you're putting in your body (don't mix tequila with like, anything else) and how close to your limit you are. Also, drink water too while you're drinking, it helps reduce the headache the next morning.

15) SLEEP. EAT. BATHE. SOCIALIZE. This is the most important piece of advice I can offer you. Don't neglect your most basic needs because of how socialized we are from TV and movies that college students should barely eat and barely sleep. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, and if you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, look into sleep drugs or other natural sleep aids. If you work night shifts like I did, take as many naps as you can. I averaged 3 hours of sleep a night for three months and it drastically affected my grades and my health, I gained weight, fell into depression, couldn't focus, and ended up in the hospital.

Eat at least twice a day, even if your classes are back to back and you feel like you don't have any time. Most professors don't care if you eat in class, and you can always ask them if you're unsure. If you commute and can't afford to buy food on campus, bring food with you. There's microwaves for public use usually in the student union and various other buildings across campus. Being properly fed means you can properly focus.

Depression hits hard in college for a lot of people, utilize the health services on campus, they're free. If you don't want to talk to a professional, reach out to friends. Even on your worst days, get out of bed and brush your teeth, your hair, and take a shower. If you can't force yourself to make it to class, email your professors and find out what you're going to miss and be honest with them. They appreciate honesty. Take it easy on yourself and take baby steps out of that mess. If it gets too bad, don't be afraid to put college on hold. Don't drive yourself off the deep end stressing out over school as you try to maneuver your depression. It's okay to take a semester off and return when you're feeling better.

A good way to combat depression is my last point: socialize. Build a friend group, it doesn't have to be more than a few people. They can be your support net that make it easier to wake up in the morning. They make college fun and memorable, rather than four+ years of stress. Talk to them often, and make sure you're there for them too. It only took me a couple weeks to find a group of people I really click with, and now I live with them.

If anyone else has anything to add, feel free!! Also if anyone has questions feel free to ask. :)