In my first semester in college, I was placed into an ‘entertainment technology’ course. For those who are unclear about what ‘entertainment technology’ is, you are not alone. I was unclear about what it was, and I was also unfamiliar with the drop/add process, so I stayed in the course. I learned many things along the way, most importantly that ‘entertainment technology’ basically means all backstage theatre processes and set-development. Confused as I was, I couldn’t have asked for a more hands on class.

Starting college without a major might seem intimidating, but it’s far more common than people think. Going to college itself is a major accomplishment, and there’s a reason you don’t have to declare a major at freshman orientation. Your four years of college should contain growth, both personal and academic, for the student. If you were to declare a major before you allow yourself the chance to change and grow, you might regret your decision and find yourself trapped in a major that doesn’t suit the person you have become. Going into college without a major gives you the opportunity to explore and find what best suits you.

Ever wondered why college students stress extremely hard about finals week? I remember being in high school, seeing all of my college friends freak about finals week, while I cruised through high school finals with no more stress than a regular test. Well, the reason college kids stress a little, actually a lot more, is because finals count for a huge part of your grade in most college courses.

I'll never forget the day my professor walked into class and told us that our negligence would make it impossible for anyone in the class to receive an A. The only thing that's exceeded our surprise was our confusion. Why all of a sudden could none of us get an A?

At my school, you’re assigned an academic advisor before you even get on campus. At first, to me this seemed excessive, but after talking to my advisor the summer before college, my perspective changed entirely. My advisor guided me through class selection, areas and subjects I might want to pursue, and even general tips for tackling my first semester of college.

Leaving for college is an exciting time for any student, but especially for freshmen leaving the nest for the first time. Now I’m sure if you’re like me you will look up a ton of different ‘college lists’ when you start shopping and packing for school, and they’re super helpful, but not always reflective of what you’ll actually use.

Before college, the combination of ‘summer’ and ‘school’ sounded about as appealing as juvenile detention, but in college, summer school takes on a completely different meaning. In high school, summer classes take away your liberty, but if you take one in college, you get your freedom back. College is a time of liberation and responsibility, but so many students struggle with living under their parents’ rules when they go home for break. After spending months at a time on your own, it’s hard coming back home to curfews. Luckily, for college kids we have the option of taking summer courses, and there’s actually a ton of benefits aside from the freedom.

As I wrap up my first year of college, the only thing I can think is “how?!”. How on earth has a whole fourth of my college career already passed? While I face the sad reality, I can’t help but reflect on the amazing time that college has been and look forward to the next three years with the people and professors who have made the experience worthwhile. Personally, I love college so much that I can’t even imagine a semester away from these great people, and that’s why I think study abroad during the summer is a great option for people like me.

In high school and college you probably get sick of peppy people forcing the ‘get involved’ spiel on you from the minute you step through the doors, the only difference is in college getting involved is much more consequential than in high school. In high school it’s okay to slide by without being on a team or joining a club because you’re in a classes with people you already know and many times you have multiple classes with these same people, so making friends is easy. In college you can throw that out the window, making friends in a lecture hall where you don’t speak or interact isn’t exactly a piece of cake. In college getting involved is a must if you want to meet new people and make friends.

College is the best four years of your life, but it’s also notoriously the four poorest years of your life, but there’s ways to avoid feeling miserable whenever you check your bank statement. If you manage your money right, budget strictly and even invest correctly you can escape the chains of your credit cards. Here's 5 tips to get started: