Ten Things to Learn Before Your First Day of College Classes

When a lot of First-Year students show up for their first day of classes, they look something like deer caught in an invisible headlight. Instead of showing up unprepared for whatever your new school has to throw at you, try showing up already knowing where you're going, what you're doing, and how to do it! Here are ten things you should know before your first day of classes, or at least before the end of that first precious week.

1. Know Your Campus

Know the layout of the campus, or at least the locations of all the buildings where you'll have classes. Many colleges and universities make it pretty easy: all the classes for a major might be held in the same building. Some schools, however, might have one of your classes in one building and the next all the way on the other side of campus. Instead of wandering around forever and showing up late after finally asking someone where your building is, figure it out at least the night before classes start. Grab a friend, or go alone, and with a campus map scout out the locations for everywhere you might need to go during your first week. Besides academic buildings, learn the location of the medical center, library, dining hall or student union, registrar's office, the school's security provider, campus store, and career center.

2. Know the Rules

It's a popular tradition on college campuses to take that nice student handbook they give you the first week and toss it in the trash, or use it as a doorstop. But instead of disregarding it, try reading it! The only thing worse than getting caught breaking a rule you knew you were breaking is getting caught breaking a rule you didn't even know existed! What are visitation hours? Can you really have that hookah in your room? Is there a curfew? Can you be written up for swearing? Can you hold hands with your girlfriend on the sidewalk? Can you bring your hamster? Can you administer your own medication, or share your aspirin with your roommate? You'll never know unless you take the time to read your handbook.

3. Know Your Major Requirements

There's nothing worse than taking a class and realizing later you didn't have to take it yet, unless you find out you didn't have to take it at all. Knowing the requirements for your major is a must, even heading into your first semester. Even if you haven't declared a major, you might want to check out the requirements for the majors you're thinking about, so you don't fill your time with classes that won't count towards your degree. Be sure to know all the requirements, both for major coursework and general education requirements. Also check into when it's advised that you take your classes; some schools' departments may offer detailed schedules for when to take each class.

4. Know Your Advisor

Your advisor is often your number one resource for help with classes, scheduling, and a lot more. Beyond knowing his or her name, actually get to know your advisor. Don't be afraid to schedule a few meetings just to get to know the person who will basically be your guide for the next four years. Your advisor might not say it to your face, but many appreciate it when students want to know more from them than what classes they think they should take! And the friendlier you are with your advisor, the likelier he or she is to fight for you when times get tough, or teach you the little known secrets of your school!

5. Know Your Instructors

What goes for your advisor goes for your professors. Know their names, their correct titles, how they teach, and whatever else you can find out about them. If you know any upperclassmen who have had a few of your professors, ask them what they're like in class. Introduce yourself to your professors early on so they remember your name when it comes time to assess participation grades!

6. Know the Community

Whether your campus is in the middle of a roaring city or the only thing in a small hamlet, get to know what's around the campus. Know major landmarks and tourist locations. Find or make a list of shopping centers, grocery stores, hospitals, malls, movie theatres, and anything else that might come in handy. Find out if buses run, either from campus or somewhere nearby. If you're in a city with a metro or subway system, learn the closest stops. If your campus is in the middle of nowhere, learn the fastest way to get to the closest city or town. Know your surroundings so you'll always know where to go to get what you need, or where to go to find some fun and entertainment if the campus isn't cutting it.

7. Know What's in Your Wallet

College is expensive. What makes it even pricier is frivolous or unnecessary spending. Sure, everyone should have some fun every once in a while, but spending all of your money on having fun is not very wise if you want to stay out of unnecessary debt during college. Granting yourself an allowance is a great way to save your money, be it weekly, monthly, or a spending budget per semester. You should also know how much money you have to put towards real college expenses like books, housing, and tuition. If you have enough, either through your own money, a job, or scholarships, to pay for these things without loans, more power to you. If not, you'll still want to consider all possible options before taking the dive into loan debt!

8. Know Your Schedule

If you can have your time budgeted before classes start, you'll be amazed at how much of a breeze your first semester can be. Know when your classes are, and figure out when you have time to work, eat, sleep, and play. After your first week of classes you'll have a better gage of how much time you'll need to set aside for homework and research, but to get yourself off to a great start try setting aside a few hours early on. That way, even if you don't need that much time for all your work, you can use the leftover time for relaxation or fun, instead of subtracting from an unwind session because you left too little room for work to begin with. Set yourself a good routine, and stick with it, and by the end of your first semester you just might be the only one not going grey during finals week!

9. Know Your Interests

On many college campuses during the first week of the fall semester, clubs and organizations will host an opportunities fair. This is the time to sign up for clubs and organizations that meet your interests. So it's probably a good idea to know what those interests of yours are! Make a list of things you like to do, or things you're interested in. Use that list to check out the different organizations on campus. If you're into writing, check out opportunities to work with the school's literary journal. If you love music, you might sign up to be a DJ on the campus radio station. Whether you're into science or swing dancing, your campus will likely have something for you.

10. Know Yourself, and Your Limits

There's a party Friday night, and you got the first invitation-go you! But you know you have a midterm on Monday, and you know there will be beer there and once you have one you can't stop yourself, and you're already booked solid on Saturday, and you'd hate to have a hang-over at church on Sunday (because you know you can't get out of it since you're volunteering as a youth pastor), and if you don't get at least six hours of sleep you're a monster to deal with. Should you go? Only you know yourself well enough to know your limits. Only you know if you should join two clubs or twelve. Only you know if joining a fraternity or sorority is just begging trouble for yourself. Only you can tell if an all-nighter is going to cost you all day. Know yourself, and know your limits; know when you have to say "when," and with any luck you'll never have to.