If you’re starting college soon, you likely have a lot on your plate. Whether you’re trying to find the best nearby pizza place or the best essay writing service, a little of the right assistance can help you make your way through that web known as the college freshman experience. Your first year in college can be quite chaotic even if you think you’re prepared, so below are a few tips that can make that entire year a little easier on you.

1. Make it a Priority Not to Miss a Class

Let’s face it, it’s always tempting to skip class, and it’s normal for you to miss a class or two every once in a while, but you should still make it a goal to attend every single class. The end of the semester will creep up on you faster than you think, and to be truly ready for your finals, you have to make it a priority not to miss a class at any point.

2. Learn About the Evils of Plagiarism

Plagiarism, or the copying of another person’s work, is not only unethical but illegal as well. If you think your professor won’t notice, think again. There are now websites where they can enter your work to discover if it’s been plagiarized, and that is not a “test” you want to pass. Keep it simple and make all of your work originals.

3. Become Proficient at Writing Well

Writing well is something all college students have to learn, regardless of how hard you try to avoid it. Even if you use professional essay writing services, you’ll still learn something about writing a good paper, so take all of your writing assignments seriously. If you need help, ask your professor or writing service that is usually available on most college campuses, because learning to write well is crucial.

4. Take Notes the Old-Fashioned Way

When taking notes, try using paper and pen-like they did when your parents were in college. You might find it a little easier than trying to mess with a computer, especially since it takes you less time to go back to an earlier note and make a revision. You can get as messy as you like without making the notes unusable. When you get back to your dorm, you can translate everything onto your computer and neaten it up.

5. Meet with Your Academic Advisor Every Semester

Regardless of your department or major, try to meet with your academic advisor at least once a semester, maybe even twice. This way you’ll know for sure if you’re on track to take the classes you need to take to graduate. Nothing is worse than thinking you’re about to graduate then finding out you still have classes you need to take. Avoid that by meeting regularly with your advisor.

6. Pay Attention to Your Health

It’s easy not to take care of yourself once you get to college, especially if this is the first time you’ve been on your own. But the truth is that a healthy student is a much more productive one. Not only will you be able to make better grades, but you’ll also feel better both physically and emotionally all semester long.

7. Consider Using a Professional Writing Service

A top-notch essay writing service will produce essays and papers for all of your classes, giving you time to concentrate on other things. It isn’t without your assistance because you’ll need to work with them so you get what you want in the end. While some people consider it less than ethical, these are legitimate services that present you with a product you can learn a lot from.

8. Don’t Shy Away From People Who Are Different

One of the reasons college is called a “well-rounded education” is because a lot of this education occurs outside of the classroom. Even if you go to a small college, you’ll end up meeting people from all over the world, meaning they’ll have ethnic, religious, social, and economic backgrounds that are all different, which is a good thing for everyone. It means you’ll look at the world through a different set of glasses, and most of all, it makes you realize you aren’t the center of the universe.