I’ve been there and know how stressful the first day of classes can be. Don’t panic! I’ve answered some of the big questions for you in today’s post in hopes that these answers will quell your fears.

1. What should I bring to the first day of classes?

Every professor has a different teaching methodology, which includes a plan for how the first day of classes will go. Some will briefly introduce themselves and send you packing with a syllabus you pick up on your way out.

Others (and this is my least favorite) will go around the room and force you to briefly  introduce yourself. And yet others will jump right into the curriculum and have a full-fledged lesson, regardless of the fact that you may not have purchased your textbooks yet.

To be safe, always bring a notebook and pen to the first day of class. You’ll more likely than not have to jot down notes, the professor’s office hours, or perhaps the phone number of a future … uh, study partner.

2. How can I meet people in my dorm?

I was very worried about not making any friends during my first day of classes, especially with my college roommates. The answer to that potential dilemma was, believe it or not, solved by some simple advice from my mom: keep your door open!

If you think you’re alone in your friend-making endeavor, you’re wrong! Lots of freshmen mill around the dorms on the first day of college looking to meet new people. Keeping the door open sends the message that you’re interested and ready to mingle. Bring a doorstop or something heavy to hold the door open, and you’ll be making friends in no time.

3. Should I buy my textbooks right away?

In a word — yes. Though it may not be on the first day of classes, definitely do not stall when it comes to buying your books. College is a lot more fast-paced than high school. Assigned reading begins right away, and professors will not be sympathetic to your excuses. By the second class, you should have your textbook purchased and your assignments completed.

Besides, though you may be avoiding long lines by putting off purchasing your textbook, you risk the possibility that it may sell out. You may have anticipated being late on assigned reading for a couple of days, but it could turn into a week or more. Don’t fall behind before you get a chance to truly begin!

4. How do I avoid getting lost on campus?

If you have spare time before your classes begin, take a walk around and find your classrooms. It’ll give you a nice tour of campus and let you know how long it takes to get from one classroom to another. If you don’t have time to do that, don’t worry! I’ve generally found that professors are sympathetic to new students, so you’ll have a bit of leeway in terms of lateness on the first day of classes. But don’t expect to still have it after that!

5. Where do I go if there is something wrong with my schedule?

It’s possible that you won’t realize that there is a mistake in your class schedule until the first day of classes. Most importantly, don’t panic! There are still a lot of administrative changes taking place during the first couple of weeks, and very few have the perfect class schedule. If you’re at a loss for what to do, speak to an adviser and explain the situation. He or she will either take care of the problem or point you in the direction of someone who can.

Do you have questions about the first day of classes that I haven’t answered? Ask me in a comment! I’ll be happy to give you my advice. Also, for those of you who have already had your first day, do you have any tips to share?

Led by Abilene Christian University, the study followed the profiles of 375 first-semester freshmen for nine months. The point of the study was to draw a parallel between how much time students spend on Facebook and how likely they are to stay in school.

According to the results of the research, students who returned to school after their freshman year had significantly more Facebook friends and wall posts than those who didn’t return. Coincidence? They don’t think so.

Seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We thought so and decided to do some research of our own. So all you students out there who have been in college for more than a year, tell us:

Before you start worrying about finding a job, however, think about which extracurricular activities in college are right for you. Want to highlight your interest in writing? Join the school newspaper. Interested in social work? Get involved with a community service program. Get the idea?

Extracurricular activities in college are great ways to get your foot in the door of your passion — and hopefully your career! Here’s how to choose the extracurricular activities in college that suit you:

1. Choose a Focus.

If you don’t already know what career you’re interested in pursuing, start by asking yourself some basic questions. What was your favorite subject in high school? What subjects did you do well in? The answers to these questions are likely to coincide and give you an idea about what you want to focus on.

2. Find Relevant Clubs.

In college, you can find a club for just about anything. Even if something seems a little bit interesting, check it out! You’ve got nothing to lose, and it might just turn out to be your favorite extracurricular activity in college. You’ll meet classmates who are just as nerdy (in a good way, of course!) about underwater basket weaving as you are and gain some great skills to add to your resume in the process.

3. Consider Other Options.

Clubs aren’t the only extracurricular activities in college that are worth trying. Internships and volunteer programs are other options that are highly regarded by employers as well as being a lot of fun.

There are many reasons for students to participate in internships in college. Earning college credits, experience and money are all pretty good motivators. It’s also a great way to get a foot in the door of your profession — you never know who you’ll meet while networking!

Volunteering is another safe bet as far as extracurricular activities in college go. What future employer wouldn’t like to see that you’re selfless, hardworking and concerned with the well-being of your community?

4. Narrow Down Your Choices.

I know, I know. There are so many options, and you want to try all of them. But it’s important not to overload yourself in the end. Choose only one or two extracurricular activities to be truly involved in at any one time. Between your course load and a couple of extracurricular activities in college, you’ll be swamped!

5. Make Your Own!

In the off chance that you’ve exhausted all your options and still haven’t found the right extracurricular activities in college, here is another option. Most colleges allow students to form new clubs!

If you have a unique hobby or interest that hasn’t yet been turned into a club, take initiative! There are probably others out there who are as into Star Wars action figure collections as you are, and they just haven’t found a time and place to get together yet!

Finding your passion is what college is all about, and extracurricular activities can help. The most important thing is choosing a direction and following through. Extracurricular activities in college can help you find your calling and spruce up your resume for the job you’re looking for.

Many students cling to their parents when they first begin college and never learn to be fully independent.

Don’t let that person be you! When you’re preparing to move, make sure you read this list of things not to do in order to get along with your parents in college.

1. Don’t Let Your Parents Decorate

When you move to college, don’t let your parents decorate your dorm or off-campus apartment! The whole idea of living on your own means breaking away from what your parents have decided for you.

If it’s allowed, buy some paint that they’d never let you use at home, hang some posters of bands they don’t listen to and snag some new sheets with a print that you like. Getting along with your parents means easing up on how much control they have over you. This is a great place to start!

2. Don’t Bring Your Parents to Class

I understand, you’re nervous. But bringing your parents to class with you is a huge mistake. You don’t need them to hold your hand — being on your own and navigating your way around the campus as well as the classroom is a part of the college experience. This is not a place for parents!

Besides, do you really want to be that kid that everyone remembers as the mama’s boy/girl who couldn’t let go?

3. Don’t Call Your Parents 20 Times a Day

Once your parents have finally left campus and you’re left alone for what may be the first time, it’s likely that you’ll be tempted to call them at the drop of a hat. Is your schedule not working out like you had hoped? Is your roommate pissing you off? Calling your parents to complain about it isn’t going to solve the problem. Instead, get in touch with someone (like your RA or student counselor) who can help instead.

Are you getting the message? The main trick to having a healthy relationship with your parents is allowing yourself to be independent from them. Set boundaries and schedule visits and calls in advance — and stick to your own rules! Though it may be tough at first, you will make friends quickly and see that being on your own isn’t as scary as it seems.

When I first started college, the transition wasn’t exactly a smooth one. I was overwhelmed with the different class structures, the amount of freedom I was suddenly granted and of course, the course loads.

But eventually I got  the hang of it! Learning how to succeed in college doesn’t just mean studying hard for exams and making it to class on time. Here are 6  secrets I learned along the way:

1. Listen to Books

Depending on your class load and college major, you may have bitten off more than you’re used to in terms of reading. There were periods in college during which I was assigned to read two to three books a week, and I was struggling to keep up. What saved me were (believe it or not) books on tape.

Rather than setting aside the time to read each book, I would simply put on my headphones and listen to the book on tape while doing something else. While this may not be available for college textbooks, it works great for novels. Exercising, cooking and sitting in a park were now accompanied by someone’s voice reading to me. It saved me a lot of time!

2. Eat Your Vegetables

Speaking of exercising, staying healthy is not always something people think of when they wonder how to succeed in college. But it’s certainly important! As I’m sure you know, there are countless studies that point to physical well-being being linked to mental well-being. If you keep your body healthy (and keep off those freshman 15!), you’ll be better able to take on the daily tasks of college life.

3. Make the Dean’s List

I found that a good way to start off each semester is by setting a goal for yourself. Have you always wanted to make the dean’s list? Do you want to raise your GPA by a few points? Make it happen! And the goals don’t have to be about grades. Finally take on that tough language course you’ve been putting off, or commit to a club that you’ve been thinking about joining. How to succeed on campus depends a great deal on the individual — make your goals work for you.

4. Rewrite Your Notes

When studying for your final, it’s the usual habit of students to simply reread their notes enough times to feel like they’ve retained as much as they possibly could. Learning how to succeed in college exams means taking it a step further — rewrite your notes, by hand! For some reason, the physical act of writing out the information helps you retain and organize it in your mind. And if you happen to be a good note taker, trust me, it works!

5. Keep a Budget

Listen, I’m not saying that you should take note of every single penny that you spend, but write down the basics! You’ll be surprised how much money you’re spending and how the little things add up. When you keep track of what you’re spending money on, you’ll realize that there are many things you could probably cut out, and you’ll save yourself a nice wad of cash in the long run!

6. Play Hard

Knowing how to succeed in college doesn’t just mean knowing how to get good grades. On the other hand, “playing hard” doesn’t just mean going to keg parties. You have to know how to keep yourself fulfilled both emotionally and creatively. Make sure that you have a healthy outlet for whatever creative juices are flowing inside of you — paint, keep a journal, join a fencing class — whatever! Just make sure it keeps you happy and gives you something outside of the box to look forward to.

Along the way, you’ll pick up a handful of tricks of your own and ultimately find what works best for you. Learning how to succeed in college is a journey — make sure you enjoy the ride!

For many college students, the next two weeks are crunch time. No, it’s not finals, but it’s time to pack up and head back to school.  Whether you are thinking about decorating your first dorm room or you’ve escaped the white dorm walls for your own off-campus pad, decorating can break the bank if you’re not careful.

Here are five ways to keep the cost of decorating your new digs right-sized.

• Make What You Have Work. Wherever you are moving to, you are moving from somewhere.  You already have the basics – bedding, towels, bed.  Yes, we’d all like new items for our new places, but using what you have – even if you don’t necessarily like it – is step one on moving and staying within your budget. Another great inexpensive option is to buy slipcovers for furniture – it’s like getting a new couch for a tenth of the price.

• Don’t Get It All Now. It’s tempting to have everything you want on day one.  Two things:  First, if you buy it as you go, you’ll see what you really need and what you can really live without (and what your roommates will spring for).  And, you’ll also have birthdays, holidays and other events to receive what you want/need as gifts.

• Shop the Sales. It’s easy to get caught up when you are at any given store. Sure, there is a price to convenience, but not when you are striving to outfit your apartment on the cheap.  Comparison shop, especially online, to make your money go further.  Keep in mind that many online stores (out of state) aren’t required to charge sales tax, which can save you 10% right there.  Plus, if you have it delivered to your new place, you don’t have to move it.  Bonus.

• Think Outside the Decorating Box. Decorating can be expensive.  Head to a thrift store and check out odd items for decorating potential.  Is there a huge map – that doesn’t need to be framed – that can cover a wall?  What about some cheap throw pillows to cover up your stained couch cushion?

• Think Dual Purpose. One great way to make things go further is to look for items that serve two purposes.  Can you get a bed with drawers underneath and forgo a dresser?  Does your kitchen table double as a desk?

One last move-in tip, don’t forget to sign-up for automatic rent pay at www.williampaid.com. You’ll never have to think about rent again.

Evan Silverman, the CEO of WilliamPaid.com, knows a thing or two about student loans.  Prior to WilliamPaid, Evan S, along with WilliamPaid President Jeff Golding, founded and ran one of the largest student loan lenders in the country.  Understanding the plight of the burden of student loans on many, WilliamPaid is on a crusade to help those with student loans pay them off faster by offering a matching contribution when you apply your WilliamPaid cash-back to your student loans.

Every year, the US News and World Report tries to figure out the answer based on many factors.

For example, they consider the school’s graduation rate, student stats (such as average test scores and high school performance), faculty information and the opinions of high-ranking officials at peer colleges, such as university presidents and deans of admission.

This year’s rankings placed (surprise, surprise!) Harvard at the top of the list for best university in the nation. But remember, just because a school got ranked #1 in the country doesn’t mean it’s the best school for you! There are plenty of very personal factors that come into the process of deciding which school is best.

The US News and World Report Top 25 Colleges

Curious which US universities made this popular and competitive list? Here are the top 25 colleges according to the US News and World Report rankings.  Schools with the same number indicates a tie among multiple schools.

1. Harvard University
2. Princeton University
3. Yale University
4. Columbia University
5. Stanford University
5. University of Pennsylvania
7. California Institute of Technology
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9. Dartmouth College
9. Duke University
9. University of Chicago
12. Northwestern University
13. Johns Hopkins University
13. Washington University in St. Louis
15. Brown University
15. Cornell University
17. Rice University
17. Vanderbilt University
19. University of Notre Dame
20. Emory University
21. Georgetown University
22. University of California–Berkley
23. Carnegie Mellon University
23. University of Southern California
25. University of California–Los Angeles

Do Your Own Research!

While college rankings are a great tool, don’t forget to do your own research before making any grand decisions! Visit the school, talk to the students, listen to the professors and discuss your choices with your parents. Your #1 school may not have even made this list!

Personally, it’s one of my biggest pet peeves. Sure, it may be comfortable, but come on! You can’t make the effort of throwing on a pair of jeans before you leave your room? If it’s a question of waking up, choose classes that are later in the day!

But hey, that’s just me. Many students seem to think that wearing pajamas to class is not a faux pas at all. Here are the pros and cons of donning your nightie to Biology 101:

Pros of Wearing Pajamas to Class:

• It’s comfortable. Of course, we sleep in pajamas for a reason — they’re comfortable! And who doesn’t want to be comfortable all the time? Wearing pajamas to class certainly takes care of that.

• It’s convenient. How often do you get up early enough to take a shower, comb you hair and get dressed to go to a class that’s in a building across the street from your dorm? Yeah, we thought so. If you instead want to wake up five minutes before that early morning class starts, wearing pajamas to class is certainly convenient.

• It’s accident proof. If you’re still waking up, you might not be terribly coordinated yet, and you’re more likely to be clumsy.  So if you knock over your mug of coffee or drop your donut on your favorite sweater, you start the day off annoyed.  But if you stain your pajamas, who cares? It’s a much less urgent trip to the laundromat.

• It’s fashion? As much as I don’t want to say that wearing pajama pants to class is a fashion statement, I guess it must be for some. But this begs the question — what exactly is the statement that you’re making? I’ll let you answer that one.

Cons of Wearing Pajamas to Class:

• It’s unprofessional. I’m not by any means saying that you should attend each of your classes like you’re dressing for a job interview but simply that you should make an effort to look presentable. Your professor took the extra time to get ready for class in the morning — you should be paying him or her the same courtesy.

• It screams: “I’m lazy!” Back to that fashion statement you were making. Ultimately the statement is none other than you’re too lazy and care too little about what you look like. While that might have been cool for a brief period in the ’90s, the edge has certainly worn off.

• It suggests bad things about your hygiene. If you’re presumably wearing the same thing you were last night, you probably didn’t shower in the morning. Classy!

• It’s unattractive. If you’re trying to impress that cutie in your economics lecture, wearing pajamas to class is probably not the way to go. Think about it — would you want to date someone that appears to care very little about his or her appearance?

In a nutshell — unless you’ve got a horrible cold and can’t bring yourself to exert the energy it takes to put on some clothes (in which case you probably shouldn’t be leaving your bed to begin with), I think wearing pajamas to class is one heck of a faux pas!

But what do you think?

There are, however, the exceptions.

Every once in a while, you’ll get stuck with a roommate who makes your life absolutely miserable. Although living with the roommate from hell is terrible, it sure makes for a good story in retrospect! Here are a few horror stories about living with a roommate that we collected from our readers.
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The Control Freak

“I lived in an apartment close to campus with three other girls. One was a complete control freak. On top of that, she was rude to me, my boyfriend and my other friends. When we decided to confront her, she told us she couldn’t change her ways because she had an eating disorder (?!) and proceeded to yell at me for hanging up a picture in my bedroom.” — Katherine

The Shirtless RA

“It’s not a horror story, but it is a funny story. I had a RA one year who, the first five or so times that I met him, was not wearing a shirt. He’d either just gotten out of the shower, or was going for a run, or was just hanging out around his room in his jeans. I started to wonder if he even OWNED any shirts. It was pretty hilarious.” — Jessica

The Bed-Wetter

“One of my roommates was a total nightmare. In addition to being a compulsive liar, he was known to hide booze in our (alcohol- and tobacco-free) dorm, and he wet the bed. Not once, but habitually. AND he had the top bunk. Thankfully, I slept in the other set of bunk-beds.” — Dan

The Pooping Kitty

“One time my roommate’s cat pooped right in the middle of my bed when I was gone for the weekend. That was NOT fun to clean late on a Sunday night.” — Diane

The Exercise Junkie

“One of my roommates on campus loved exercising at odd times. I only found this out when I woke up at 3 a.m. in the morning and she would be doing crunches/pushups next to my bed. Freaked me out the first time I woke up to grunting noises. She apologized and promised to keep the noise level down, but kept waking up at odd times in the morning and exercising. And apparently it’s hard to exercise without making noises. Lots of sleepless nights!” –Mellisa

Have your own horror stories about living with a roommate? Please share!

I’m sure you want your first semester at college to go as smoothly as possible. Wondering if you’ll make friends with your roommate? If your classes will be exciting? If you’ll make any dating blunders in the first few months?

Don’t worry! I’ve got a list of 10  mistakes that I made during my own first semester of college. Learn from these (many) blunders, and you’ll be just fine!

10. Taking Early Morning Classes

While early morning classes may be right for some people, they’re certainly not right for everyone. (I belong to the latter group.) If you’re not a morning person, do not sign up for 8 a.m. classes! A very common mistake students make in the first semester of college is scheduling classes for when they are least productive. If your brain isn’t fully active until after noon, make sure that you’re not doing any heavy thinking before then.

9. Studying in Groups

While there are the few people for which this method of studying works, I am certainly not one of them. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because you’re chatting with a group of classmates, you’re studying for your upcoming exam. Studying is best done alone, and in a quiet place. Your on-campus library is one of the many college resources available to you for a quiet study space.

8. Last Minute Scheduling

Scheduling is something a lot of students make mistakes on during their first semester at college. While scheduling classes in college can be tough, it doesn’t have to be stressful or impossible. Just don’t put it off to the last minute. The perfect class schedule in college is possible, just know how to make it!

7. Living Off Junk Food

While it might be convenient and cheap, living off junk food in your first semester of college is a big  mistake. Don’t cater to the stereotype and avoid gaining those infamous freshman 15! There are lots of cheap and easy meals that you can make in your dorm kitchen that can be healthier than the options your local Pizza Hut has to offer.

6. Signing Up for Credit Cards

Sure, they may be giving away an oversized t-shirt that you’ll never wear,  or a pen that you could add to your collection during your first semester of college. But really, that’s not a reason to sign up for a credit card with that particular bank. Think about it — do you really need a credit card? If you decide that you do, do your research and make sure you don’t make the mistake of signing up for a credit card with the first bank that approaches you.

5. Ignoring Your Roommate

It’s simple: getting along with your roommate is absolutely essential to a good college experience. Think about it — you’re going to be living in a tiny room with this randomly selected person for at least a semester. It’s probably a good idea to be as friendly, respectful and understanding as possible so that you can hopefully get the same treatment in return.

4. Keeping Your Door Closed

This common mistake is a big one, and it may be something you’ve never thought of! During your first semester of college, you want to make as many friends as possible, especially with people living on the same floor as you. And it’s easier than you think.

All you have to do is keep your door open, literally! Keeping your dorm room door open is inviting for people passing by to pop their heads in and introduce themselves. And while sometimes you need a little privacy, there’s no better way to make friends than to appear interested in doing so.

3. Dating Someone on Your Floor

If you’re living in a co-ed dorm, it’s highly likely that you’ll find someone on your floor attractive during your first semester of college. But as much as it may seem like your romance will last forever, chances are your first crush in college won’t be the person you marry.

So here’s a tip from the wise: do not make the mistake of dating someone on your floor! If for some reason your romance fizzles out, you don’t want to have to see that person (along with the new person they decide to invite over) on an everyday basis.

2. Going to Parties Alone

You know yourself better than anyone else. If you know that there is no chance that you might need a friend to babysit you so that you don’t do anything stupid during the night, then going to parties alone during your first semester of college is not a mistake at all. But if you have the tendency to get a little carried away, make sure you know that there’s someone around who will keep an eye out for you!

1. Not Getting Involved

Student life on campus has plenty to offer. If you don’t take advantage of all the clubs and organizations, you only have yourself to blame. Joining campus activities during your first semester of college is a great way to make friends and get involved.  Interested in joining the Greek life? There are plenty of options for that as well.

The first semester of college is an exciting time for students, full of situations that will both fascinate and surprise you. No matter how much you plan to avoid them, mistakes are bound to happen. But don’t worry! As long as you learn from the mistakes and quickly bounce back up, I promise that your college experience won’t be ruined.