One thing that I have found invaluable when it comes to college success is my planner (tracker, daybook, what have you…). Writing down my classes, tests, anticipated visits to the rec center, etc will make your life so much easier. Not everyone used their planner in Middle/High School (and you might have been considered a dork for doing so). However, we’re not in high school anymore and I am here to tell you that planners are cool…and organized people shoot straight to the top (or maybe that is...

Oh boy, getting mail brings my day to a whole other level when I am away at school. In the midst of my daily routine and scrutinizing studies, it is so nice to receive friendly cards, care packages, etc. Make sure that you let your family and friends know this, so that they will keep them coming!

Better yet, set the precedent by writing letters to your family once you get settled in and, hopefully, they will return the favor. It can make such a difference to keep in touch with family...

Let me say from experience that your dorm room is more than likely going to be tom thumb tiny compared to your room back home. Therefore, you can draw the obvious conclusion that you don’t need to bring everything that you own.

Some things I brought and never needed my first year…

• An over abundance of clothes & shoes
• A bathing suit (I live in a hot climate but go to school where it is cold as ice for a majority of the year!)
• Too many pictures/picture frames…not enough shelves

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Staying healthy at college is all about requesting changes to the food that you order. Sure, the friendly student employee may or may not abide by your requests, but you will never know if you don’t try! Here are some of my typical requests…

• Skim Milk in Smoothies
• Dressing on the side
• Vegetables sautéed in water (we have a Wok and they will use water as opposed to oil)
• No Cheese (Unless you are running low on the protein for that day, then I wouldn’t skip it!)
• No mayo or creamy sauces
• Fruit

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Because of the limited options in the dining hall and the weird hours, you will find yourself eating out more often than not. That is another reason for the stereotypical broke college student. My advice is to set aside a certain amount of money to spend on food eat week (Whether it be going out or getting groceries). When your stash is up, it’s time to suck it up and use your dining plan…until next week! This is a great way to change your habits and reform your ways, especially if you are a big...