For many high school graduates, entering college as a freshman can be a very scary time. They might not know what to expect. They may feel as if they are being pushed from an airplane without a parachute or walking a tightrope without a net.

And frankly, the dreaded freshman year can be a scary time. The homework can be harder than ever before; familiar friends may be few and far between; and being the newbie is rarely fun or comfortable.

But freshman year can also be an exciting time. A new start, a chance at a great future, the beginning of an exciting journey. Below are some helpful tips for incoming freshmen that will hopefully ease the transition.

Don?t enter college with any expectations.
Honestly, you don?t know what it is going to be like. Anything you?ve been told is coming from the experiences of others. Gain your own experiences and form your own opinions and wisdom. Whatever you expect will likely either fall short or be exceeded. So expect nothing ? just wait and see what it is actually like.

Be yourself and keep an open mind.
Yes, it is a cliché. But it is great advice. Don?t do anything you don?t want to do (well, except maybe homework). You?re going to meet a great deal of new people; don?t dismiss any of these people or different ideas. But don?t let anyone tell you what to do or who you should be. You can only be yourself, and your circle of friends will accept you for who you are.

Don?t forget why you are there.
Believe it or not: you are not just there to party. Certainly make time to have fun, but don?t allow your new social connections to bog down your schoolwork. You may regret it later when you are closer to graduating ? or when you are sharing your grades with your parents.

But have some fun!
College is your stepping stone to the rest of your life. Don?t let the experience pass you by! Join a club, go to some parties, have some fun! It is important to do well in school. It is why you are there. But you also don?t want to look back at your college experience and say, ?I wish I had done that.?

So there you go. Four tips that, while they may seem obvious, are very important, and it is nice to reinforce them. Be yourself, remember why you are there, have no expectations, and have some fun. Don?t worry ? some of the best times of your life can happen during college!

For more tips for freshmen, check out the following books:

The Naked Roomate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College

Confessions of a College Freshman: A Survival Guide for Dorm Life, Biology Lab, the Cafeteria, and Other First-Year Adventures

101 Things A College Girl Should Know

The Everything College Survival Book; From Social Life to Study Skills-Everything You Need To Know To Fit Right In-Before You’re a Senior!

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