okay this is probably going to be a super long answer but i’m going to go for it cause i want all of you to be happy in school! also i’m not sure if you’re in school yet or like starting to look so parts of this may not help omg

so! before you start school: VISIT schools you’re thinking about! i literally cannot stress this one enough like do not do what i did and not visit. Even if the school brochures and photos online seem like a place you would love, you won’t know until you see the campus firsthand and get a grasp on what it’s really like! i can tell you my experience with this vs. my brother’s experience, but like if you want that just send me another ask cause this is gonna be long omg

okay once you’re in school: 

if you’re going to the same school with a friend from high school, as hard as this may sound, i would advise against rooming with them. if you room with someone you already know from home you’re already in a comfort zone and you may not want to meet as many people once you’re there because you already know the person you live with. i know it’s a huge risk rooming with someone you don’t know. you could get someone who sucks (i did my freshman year and i survived) or you could get someone who ends up being your best friend! i was really good friends with my second year roommate, like she was a good egg so at least i had a good experience too! a lot of schools now have surveys to fill out so that you’re matched with someone with similar interests, so you should get someone who you at least have things in common with!  

join clubs or activities! honestly college has A MILLION things to get involved in. there’s usually activity fairs that you can go to to see all the clubs. i’m not exaggerating when i say there’s something for everyone…like…my school had quidditch so… but joining clubs or organizations is a great way to meet people without having to like put yourself out there in class if you’re shy like i was :)

carve time out to study! being away from home is ridiculously fun but it’s also the first time you usually don’t have someone there reminding you you have work. just carve out a little time each day to just work on things that you need for class so you’re not stressed!

most horror stories your teachers tell you in high school aren’t true. most teachers in my experience don’t take attendance, and if they do, you get three free absences. they don’t care where you are, they’re not going to look for you. it’s honestly up to you. teachers are mostly super chill in my experience. also, class gets canceled so CHECK YOUR EMAIL. there is nothing worse than walking across campus to find out that you had an email that class was canceled last minute.

make sure you actually eat some healthy things okay this makes me sound like such a mom but you can get into such a habit of eating shit (chick fil a was my spot like..all the time) but get a salad every once in a while, your body needs it and will thank you for it

okay, with textbooks: 99% of the time your school will charge you RIDICULOUS prices for textbooks. like i’ve seen kids cry in the school store at how much their textbooks were. check on Chegg.com (rental textbooks) or amazon to see if they’re any cheaper. you can save so much money this way honestly like the money i’ve wasted in textbooks makes me want to cry so definitely look at those options. also if the textbook says it’s required and you look at your syllabus and think you may not need it, don’t buy it. i’ve literally just not bought them sometimes and i’ve been fine. and check the library, there’s usually a copy or two on reserve if you need it that you can look at it.

the library is a v cool place to hang out, like go spend time there!

don’t be afraid to change your major. there’s no reason to be stuck in something you thought you would like but then ended up hating. i changed my major 4 times total, and i graduated on time, so it can be done!

Guilty: second degree murder

Guilty: third degree murder