Moving away from home and starting college is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do, but, at the same time, it’s exciting and fun! College could easily be the best years of your life and a period you’re always going to remember, but only if you know what you’re doing and how to survive hard times and challenges. These will start right away and won’t stop until you graduate, but there are lots of things you can do if you want to survive the first couple of days of college. If you’re currently preparing for this moment, yet are still unsure what to do, here are a few ideas you might want to consider before the school starts.

Find one friend

This is the first day of the rest of your life, and the best way to get through it is by having someone by your side. An old friend, a new friend, a friend you’re never going to see again, it doesn’t matter – basically any friend will do!

Some freshmen group together with strangers and share their experiences, while the others stick to people they know from high school. These are usually individuals you didn’t use to be friends with back home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be social at college, or at least during this stressful first day. When it comes to meeting new people, there are different places to do that – in the dorm, at a party, during classes, etc. – so pick the method you prefer and say hello to your new friends!

Make a great first impression

Whatever you do during your first week of college is going to define the next four years of your life – in good ways and bad – so make the best first impression you can. Try not to trip over your shoes, spill your drink all over yourself or ask inappropriate questions because that’s how people end up  with nicknames like Shoelaces, Wet Pants and Miss Nosey, and that’s something nobody wants.

What you need to do is dress adequately, wear your new school’s colors, come prepared for orientation and act like you own the place. Being confident is the way to go, so don’t be afraid to smile, give off positive vibes and be social with your new colleagues.

Get some help

Surviving college is a challenge no matter how hard you try, and one of the ways to do this is by asking older students for help. They can tell you tips and tricks on certain courses, teach you how to approach different teachers and what you need to do in order to get the best grades. Also, they’ll show you the coolest hangout places and that’s where you’ll meet more new people, possibly including your future best friend or the love of your life.

Another thing older students can help you with is the curriculum – after all, they’ve taken the same courses you’re going to take, so they already know what you should and shouldn’t do. If you really hit off, they’ll even share their helpful SACE notes that will prove to be more than helpful once the midterms and finals arrive.

Go to a great party

Let’s face it – college students just love partying! This is something they do all year long, starting from day one, and you should join them as soon as possible. Getting invited to a great party is going to be easier than you think, especially if you make friends on your first day, but nobody is going to turn you down even if you come alone.

Whether you were a shy kid in high school or a party maniac, you need to keep in mind that college parties can get a bit different from what you’re used to, which is why you have to get prepared in advance. So, don’t forget to dress to impress, arrive on time, respect your host and, of course, have a great time!

Once you survive the first day of college, everything else is going to be easier – you’ll be surrounded by friends and go to a bunch of parties, yet still ready to attend your classes and do your learning, thus combining these two equally important aspects of a great college experience.

Emma B. Joyce is blogger based in Australia. She is a true home decor and DIY fanatic. Emma is interested in music and also is a big reading enthusiast. Finding new designs and patterns is her daily task. She is a regular contributor on https://smoothdecorator.com.