Always be mindful of your mentor’s time, invest equal effort in getting to know them and be grateful. When they agree to mentor you, ask them all the burning questions that you have about college. Find an upperclassman who has a similar background to yours and ask them if they’re willing to be your mentor.

Having a mentor on campus will make your transition to college more comfortable for you. Find a mentor and don’t be afraid to ask them questions Pro-tip: Start speaking to E-Board members and show interest in becoming active in the club. You’re also going to make friends who’re interested in the same things as you are. You’ll get a head-start in your internship search by getting early exposure to companies. The benefits of being involved on campus are tremendous. How do you start building relationships? Join clubs that align with your interests and show up at their events. You’re in a new environment in a sea of unknown faces.

Pro-tip: Check out David Allen’s book Getting Things Done for fantastic productivity tips.

Take time out every weekend to plug your deadlines and commitments into your schedule and review them daily. Start using Google calendars, planners, and to-do lists religiously, if you haven’t already. Learn to manage your time by being organized. The key to being successful in college is managing multiple priorities all at the same time which, by the way, is an art that can be learned through continuous practice. As you start your very first semester of college, here’s my advice or rather five things I wish I knew when I was in your shoes: Get organized real quick But let that not scare you- you’re also in for a lifetime of memories in this beautiful journey of discovering who you truly are. You’re in for a rollercoaster of many assignments, stealthy deadlines, difficult internship searches, and frequent emotional breakdowns. Firstly, congratulations on making it through high school and daring to embark on this unknown journey called college.

Letter to incoming freshmen