All new students to college or university should be well aware of the drastic change you are going to face as you make the transfer from high school or a year off to college. There are many discussions with mom and dad in regards to money, drinking and eating and then you are packed into the car and sent on your merry way.

What parents and teachers forget to inform you students about is how to actually survive and make it through your first year. There is so much more to the college experience than scrounging for pennies or strategic grocery shopping and many students experience a sense of culture shock as you are thrown to the wolves.

Of course the more extreme situations (binge drinking, money management etc.) are covered. Parents try to relay as much adult information onto their children as possible but they have yet to understand that college has in fact changed since they last attended school.

As a third year student at Fanshawe I have already been through the initial transition and of course experienced the good and bad approaches to attacking college so I am here to help. Of course high school is very different from college, however there are those similarities that are unavoidable and hopefully you have learned something over the past four or five years.

The first week of school is known as Frosh Week or Orientation Week. All first year students receive information regarding the events that will be set up in order to help you adjust and as much as some activities may not strike your initial interest it is important to take this seriously. You are here to experience something new and begin to develop your better-rounded self and Frosh Week is the perfect opportunity to do so. Those who are organizing these events have a much better grasp on the school than you do and can supply you with all sorts of useful and fun information to make the most of your time at Fanshawe not to mention the freebies offered during Frosh Week.

Take some of your precious time to get to know your roommates, dorm mates and floor mates as you will be spending a great deal of time with the majority of them. Recognize that you will be bombarded by hundreds of students all in the same situation as you, looking forward to meeting new people and having a good time so the more people to get to know, the more fun you will have and it will set the tone for the remainder of your year.

During the first few weeks most students are getting to know anyone and everyone they can as they begin to develop their own groups and cliques, which WILL happen. Many times, the people you meet the first day are not going to be your best friends through out the whole year. As personalities develop; people become comfortable and find their place so don't be afraid to meet people from all different walks of life.

Get a feel for the college by hanging onto a campus map and using college services in order to have a grasp on where your classes will be for your first semester. The Student Handbook supplies you with a map of the college and the school itself offers campus tours as well as the Information Centre located in F building in order to direct you in any way they can.

Call and update the family and recognize the feelings of being homesick. This is very common among first year students who have never lived on their own where they are experiencing a lack of support systems, academic and social challenges as well as being completely overwhelmed by their new lifestyle.

It is important to know where to turn for assistance such as the Student Life Center or confiding in R.A.s (resident assistance) who have already gone through this and can help you cope.

Be able to contact home but do so in moderation as you must learn to stand on your own two feet. Create a sense of comfort by decorating your living space and making it as individual as you wish in order for it to feel like home. Give it time and you will recognize what a huge step in the right direction this is for your future.

When asking yourself "what the hell do I bring to college" there are a few things that will come in handy aside from the bare essentials and will save you some frustration after moving in.

Boxes are a lifesaver as they are great for storage as well as being used as furniture by covering them and using them to put your T.V or CD player on. Don't throw them out, at the end of the year you will need them again and won't be stuck scrambling.

A full-length mirror is always key for both guys and girls to assist them in finding that perfect outfit. Trying to judge whether or not those shoes go with that pair of pants can be difficult if you are standing in the bathroom, but be prepared to share as you may be the only one to supply it.

Mini fridge, mini fridge, mini fridge! I cannot express this enough, yes it may take up some room and yes it will cost you about $100+ but it will be worth it when half way through the year your other roommates are duking it out over who ate who's food.

Please leave the stuffed animals at home. As much as you may love Mr. Winky it is time to let...it...go. Allow mom to hang onto him in loving memory and replace the animal with some decorative pillows or throws, hell you might even find a real life cuddle buddy that will greatly appreciate the gesture.

Bring washable bedcovers! Anticipate that people will be sitting on your bed and you better believe that food will often accompany them as they use your bedspread as their table.

Pretty soon your bedroom will become a high-traffic area, which means laundry will need to be done on a regular basis and you will thank your lucky stars that bedspread can be tossed in the washer.

Stock up on toiletries. Anticipate that other roommates will use your shampoo, conditioner, soap or styling products so be sure to have a back up stash somewhere other than under the bathroom sink. It also won't hurt to have a decent supply of towels, washcloths and a robe so that you can do washing without having to postpone shower time.

If some of these things are lacking, it may be time to make it a day at Walmart because I guarantee sooner or later you will wish you had splurged and bought that mini-fridge. First year is a great opportunity as it opens so many doors and these little hints may just make it that much easier for you to adjust so embrace all that Fanshawe has to offer, learn from your first year mistakes (as I am sure there will be some) and enjoy every minute of your new life here at college.