Heading off to college next year, here’s a little advice from NH alumni who have survived year one away from The Nest:

You should take classes when you’re most awake. Personally, I like to sleep in but I also like to be done at a reasonable time so I like taking mid day classes. – Hannah Richardson, NHHS alumni and freshmen at University of South Carolina.

You have to remember you are most likely going to be in a tiny dorm room so you probably shouldn’t bring every piece of clothing, 100 stuffed animals and other unnecessary things like that. – Richardson

FaceTime was huge for me! I would face time my parents, brothers and even my puppy when I felt homesick. Also, getting mail from family is the best so occasionally I would write a letter to my family. – Richardson

The only other advice I would give would be to work hard. It’s a lot different than high school. It’s a lot harder to procrastinate. Instead of staying up late cramming in a 3 page paper for Ms. Duncan, if you procrastinate you could be staying up to write an 8 page closed reading and studying for a test that’s worth 50% of your grade. Just learn how to manage your time and work hard but also have fun. – Richardson

If you get done your freshman year and decide you’re not happy where you are, it’s never too late to change- whether that means getting more involved next year or transferring, you’re not committed to the decisions you make. – Richardson

Personally I enjoyed taking morning classes over afternoon. It was nice to get up, and get my classes over with so then I had the rest of the day to relax and get my school work done. Also, many school activities are held in the afternoon so it is a good thing to keep your afternoons open. – Claire Matta, NHHS alumni and freshmen at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

A good way to get involved with campus life is to first attend the clubs and organization day. Not every college will have this, but at IUP(Indiana University of Pennsylvania) we have IUP Day, where all clubs and organizations set up a booth letting everyone know what is available on campus. Another way to get involved is to read your school newspaper, look at flyers posted on the walls, and talk to your friends. – Matta

Regarding school supplies, I found that for almost every class all I needed was a note pad and a pen, most of the time your professor will tell you if you need any other supplies or books. – Matta

General eds are a great way to transition from high school to college, plus many upper level classes require certain general eds as a prerequisite before you take the course, so it is good to start with your generals. This normally includes a math, science, English, and history (most of the time, not always). – Matta