My first week of college at North Carolina State University was one of the most nervous and exciting times in my life.

It included everything from meeting tons of new people, decorating my dorm, finding my classes on campus, and not to mention the millions of free t-shirts I seemed to receive.

But during a time of change and unfamiliarity, things can get blurry. You’ve heard people tell you to be yourself and do your best, but let’s take that a step further.

Read on for my 5 tips you’ve probably never heard of for first-year college students.

If you’re a student don’t forget to check out our #CampusFaves and apply to get featured.

Our featured image is Nia Doaks, student at North Carolina State University.

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Jessica Ekstrom is the founder of Headbands of Hope, a college leadership speaker and a graduate of North Carolina State University. This is an excerpt from her book, The Freshman Fabulous: The Girl’s Guide to College.