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College can be one of the greatest experiences you'll ever have. You'll make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Despite its benefits, however, college can also be overwhelming. You'll be leaving a place where you feel comfortable in order to face the unknown. You'll encounter situations and new experiences, ones that may not always be positive. As a freshman, you'll need to be open to the good, the bad, and the ugly. How to prepare yourself?

Get ready with some of these survival tactics, garnered from my first-year crusade. In fact, you might say that my experiences, and the survival strategies they've inspired, span the alphabet from A to Z.

Adventures
College is an adventure, action-packed with good times and bad. You'll discover new concepts, cultures, and career paths. And, since the unexpected will often occur, life on campus is anything but dull.

Balance
One of the first things I had to learn was to balance schoolwork with a social life. To be successful in college, you've got to commit yourself to spending a certain amount of time studying. After that, take a break and blow off some steam.

Classes
Go to them! No matter how smart you are, skipping class is a dumb idea. Since most of the material discussed in lectures isn't in the textbook, the students who have the greatest problems are the ones who don't attend all of their classes. Plus, if your grade is borderline at the end of the semester, the professor will be more likely to give you a higher grade if you've attended class regularly.

Discounts
College students are always looking to save money. Do some bargain hunting! Many local businesses (including movie theaters) give discounts to students -- all you have to do is show your college ID.

Eats
Fact: most college students do not eat nutritious foods. They prefer quick grab-and-go meals, most of which aren't necessarily healthy. Trust me, fast food gets old very quickly. Although many people make fun of cafeteria food, it's not as bad as you've heard. Many schools now boast a variety of foods, so you can eat what you like.

Friends
Since coming to college, I've met people who've become some of my closest buds. Although I've only known them for three years now, it seems like a lifetime. They're people I can count on, who have cried with me when I've had a bad day, and who've smiled when that "special guy" asked me out.

Get involved
With so many ways to get involved on campus, there's no excuse for boredom. Plus, students who are involved with campus organizations are more likely to graduate because of the sense of belonging and support they receive.

Homesickness
It's OK if you have days when you miss mom and dad. As much as I enjoy college, there are those days when I crave a home-cooked meal or the TLC given to me by my family.

Intramurals
If you love sports, this is a great way to get involved, not to mention a perfect way to meet new people and relieve stress.

Jobs
You'll most likely need one of these in order to afford your education. A good place to search is right on campus; various school offices that offer flexible hours are always looking to hire student workers.

Knowledge
You'll gain an abundance of knowledge at college, and this includes more than just book-smarts. You'll accumulate life knowledge -- things that simply cannot be learned in the classroom.

Laundry
Watch out -- this piles up quickly! After all, mom is no longer around to wash all of your clothes. You may even be forced into wearing jeans more than once before washing them. (Believe me, I know!)

Money
The "poor college student" classification is one that's right on the money. (Pun intended!) Since most students are on a tight budget, creativity is important when looking for ways to have fun without spending caches of cash.

Notes
Be sure to take good notes and review them every night. Reading them shortly after class is also important to make sure you understand everything you wrote.

Organizations
There truly is an activity for everyone at college, including departmental, religious, ethnic, and Greek organizations. By getting involved in organizations on campus, you'll be able to meet and discuss your interests with others.

Procrastination
Don't do it. This is one of the most difficult things I struggle with and you will, too. Professors will not "baby" you in college. They expect an assignment to be turned in when it's due without reminding you.

Quiet
Although you may be used to studying and sleeping with your stereo blasting, your neighbors may not. Talk about your habits with those around you, and try to reach a compromise that will make everyone happy.

Roommate
Take it from me -- living with a roommate will be a stressful adjustment. Since I never had to share a room before, it was difficult for me to suddenly be forced to share a small space with a complete stranger. My new room wasn't anything like my room at home. I had to learn to compromise, and so will you. In doing so, you may find that your roommate becomes not only your housemate, but a friend for life.

Study
Although we all wish it were possible to get good grades without studying, face it -- it's not likely. Studying is a fact of life, and everyone's study habits are different. Some like noise while studying; others need complete silence. Once you figure out your study style, find a place where you can concentrate. And remember: studying a bit each night works much better than cramming the night before a test.

Tests
Your future in school depends on tests, tests, and more tests. One helpful tip: don't change your answer unless you're absolutely sure the change is correct. Your first guess is usually the best.

Upstairs
Get used to climbing! Since I have to walk up several flights of stairs to get to most of my classes, I think of it as an excellent way to exercise. (Think Anti-Freshman 15!)

Vacations
College students love vacations -- we need them desperately after hitting the books for months at a time. Whether it's a three-day weekend or Christmas break, it's nice to get away for a few days and relax. Take advantage of your time off.

Weekends
College students live for the weekend. I'm already thinking about Friday night (and it's only Monday morning!). After all, the weekend is a great time to hang out with friends and catch up on schoolwork. Here's what to do: get your studying and homework out of the way on Friday afternoon. Then you're free to have fun!

Xciting
Okay, I got desperate here, but hey, college is 'xciting.' There's always something interesting happening if you look for it, and each day is full of surprises.

Yourself
Always be yourself; never try to be someone you aren't just to fit in with a certain campus clique. If you act a certain way to please someone else, you'll just be losing yourself.

Zzzz
It's no myth.... College students are frequently sleep-deprived. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, hence the popularity of all-nighters. If you can, try to get plenty of sleep -- your body needs it to function properly.

See, you're never too old to learn your ABCs!

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