Aside from the things you learn in classes called Psychology Fundamentals or DNA to Organisms, it’s amazing how much you realize about yourself when you go to college. You discover how to create your own menus at the dining hall, how late you can really stay up and still drag yourself to a morning lecture, and how much more there is out there for you to store in your brain. These, among others, are things that nobody will tell you but things that you figure out for yourself soon after you have arrived on campus.

Still, there is plenty that people don’t tell you, things I wished someone had taken me aside and talked about my freshman year. But I’ll share with you what I know. (I already knew how to do laundry, otherwise that would be on my list).Consider yourself clued in.

You’re welcome.

The list:

1. Professors and teacher assistants are there for you. If you’re attending a big university with 400 people in your class and a 50-minute time limit, it can be hard to comprehend all the material thrown at you during lecture. Take advantage of office hours; every instructor has a time slot set aside once or twice a week where he or she sits in the office, hoping to be bothered. Ask questions, write e-mails, and don’t be afraid to look like the professor’s pet. Remember: your tuition is paying their salary. Going to office hours puts a face to your name and shows them you’re serious and ambitious about fostering your own education. Getting to know the professor on a more personal level is a great thing if you plan on going to graduate school and will need letters of recommendation. Keep in touch with the ones you form a bond with.

Teaching assistants — or TAs — will save your life. OK. Not literally, but they might save you from falling down a long black hole when you’re lost in a class. Sometimes professors are too busy to respond to e-mails with specific questions and that’s why they have TAs. Basically, they’re the middlemen between you and the professor. Teaching assistants are usually graduate students or upperclassmen who have proved command of that subject. You will gain a personal mentor who often gives hints as to what will be on the next exam, what the professor expects of you, and how the class works in general. Attend the review sessions they hold before midterms and finals. At my school, the University of California, Irvine, graduate students conduct English classes. Though they are under supervision, they basically run the class how they please. They want to help you and may be easier to talk to than a professor. They’re enthusiastic about the subject. It’s a win-win situation.

2. How to balance a personal checking account. It’s a scary thought isn’t it? It’s actually pretty easy and I recommend opening up an account as a safe place to keep your financial aid and pay checks. If you’re 18 or older, you can open one up for free at many banks or look for back-to-school promotions. You’ll be able to write checks and get a debit card. Checks are useful in paying rent and application fees, etc. Remember to record your spending. A debit card can be used to withdraw money from an ATM or for purchases at grocery stores or shopping centers. The money will be taken right from your account — every so often, check on your bank’s Web site for your balance to make sure you don’t spend more than you have in the bank. Negative numbers are not fun to see, and you’ll be charged an overdraft fee. If you plan on getting a credit card, don’t abuse it. Watch your spending and keep your receipts. You need to start building your credit now.

3. People still act like they are smarter than you and they still cheat. And you thought know-it-alls and poor ethics were a thing of the past. College is extremely competitive, and some people will do anything for the high grade. Instead of being annoyed with those who are the first to raise their hands just to hear themselves talk, listen, take notes, and be inquisitive. You are in a safe, academic environment to think about different perspectives and question ideas. If you don’t agree, speak up. Everyone will learn a lot more through debate, and trust me, people will be thanking you silently.

Because many classes are graded on a curve — meaning how one student fares in comparison to the rest of the class — students, then, are reluctant to share insight, study together or do anything that may help someone else. Others will resort to cheating. DON’T second-guess your own smarts. DO report academic dishonesty if you witness it. NEVER cheat. It is taken very seriously at the university and can mean a tainted academic record or getting kicked out. It’s just not worth it. The best thing you can do is study your hardest and try your best. And when procrastination has gotten to you and you’re kicking yourself at midnight for not studying for that 8 a.m. exam, learn from it.

4. Sleeping and eating well is a must. I don’t mean to sound like your mother, but I really did learn the hard way how lack of sleep and nutrition can totally drain your much-needed energy. Try to get into a routine. Eat a good breakfast that’s not too heavy. If you’re not a morning person, schedule your classes for later in the day so you can get those few extra hours. If you’re one of those people who needs to eat and take a break every couple of hours, schedule classes that are one or two hours apart. For dinner, find balance: think vegetables, carbs, and protein. Make sure you purchase a sufficient meal plan. Take naps when possible. They’re really helpful in giving you an extra midday boost but remember to have someone wake you up or turn your alarm clock on. If you need your sleep, let your roommates know ahead of time when you’ll be sleeping and that you’d appreciate it if they kept it down a bit.

5. English skills are very important, and I’m not just saying this from a writer’s perspective. The primary method of communication with your professors and other administrators will be via e-mail. Know your etiquette. The subject line should be concise; don’t write “hi”; instead, write “question regarding lecture on Thursday, April 10.” Address the person appropriately: “Dear Professor (or Dr.) Smith,” not “Hey John.” Introduce yourself. Be specific and brief when asking a question. Lastly, do not end your e-mail abruptly. Provide a suitable valediction such as “Sincerely” or “Best” and your full name.

Reading is as important as writing. You will be doing a lot, let me repeat myself, a lot, of reading no matter what your major. Learn how to skim texts, use a highlighter and write in the margins. Take notes if you have to. Most universities require fulfillment of one or two lower-division (sophomore standing and below) writing classes as well as an upper-division class (junior standing and up). So if English was never your thing, make it your thing. Edit your papers at least three times and let as many people as you can read it and give you suggestions (but don’t have anyone write it for you). Read other people’s stuff. Think about what you read. The more practice you get, the better you will write. And when you write clearly, you speak clearly, and people understand you better.

6. It’s cheaper to buy used textbooks online. What I usually do is go to the school bookstore and copy down the edition, price and title, and then check online to see if it’s cheaper (and it almost always is). I often compare prices between www.half.com and www.amazon.com. It’s OK if there’s highlighting or some bent pages; just make sure all the pages are intact and that it’s the right edition. If you’re not sure if you’re going to stay in a class, hold off on ordering books. (I have tons of books I’ve never even opened under my bed). But if you’re pretty sure you’re going to stick with a class, it’s best to buy your books as soon as possible because teachers often assign readings by the second meeting. For books less than $10, it may just be easier to buy it used at school; but get there quickly because they go fast. Also, don’t sell your books back to the bookstore; the buyback amount is small compared to the price you paid. Try selling it to someone else who’s taking the class or online.

7. You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, or anyone for that matter. This might sound callous, but being real will bring you real friendships. It may be difficult adjusting to a new environment and not having your old friends around. It may be easier to act overly enthusiastic about other people’s lives. Your roommate is just that, a roommate. It’s great if you get along— please, be courteous—but expand your network. Start with your hall, for instance. Most likely, you all will be doing different things: some will pledge fraternities or sororities, some will be swamped with schoolwork, others will never be there. Try not to label them. Eat dinner together one evening and get to know them instead. This doesn’t mean you have to hang out with your hall mates all the time. For some people, a social network becomes immediate. Others, like me, take longer to find a niche. Put yourself out there, but remember who you are. Check out clubs and organizations that grab your interest. Stick with those you like. It doesn’t mean you have to stay around if you went to their first meeting and ate their free food. Take some time out to explore the campus, find a new place to eat, or watch movies on your computer. Then, when you’re ready, find someone whose company you really enjoy to share it with.

8. There are tons of services and resources available; you just have to find them. Use the school gym. Do you know how much a gym membership costs? I don’t because I can use my school’s huge gym for free; it’s part of the tuition. There’s a running track, weight machines, locker rooms, a pool and basketball courts. Take advantage of some of the free beginner classes offered or pay a small quarterly fee for more intense classes. Use the library often. It’s a great place to study and almost all course books are put on reserve so you can check them out for a couple of hours at a time. Free, fast Internet is available as well as a wireless network throughout campus. During finals week, various places on campus will offer later hours and free coffee and soft drinks. Make an appointment with an academic counselor whenever you come across a problem with classes, your major, or if you have any questions at all regarding your course of study. There is usually tutoring — cheap or free — available for rigorous courses.

Need help writing a resume or looking for a part-time job or internship? Every campus should have a career center that has everything you need. Attend the free information sessions they hold. If you’re feeling disconnected or are having any personal mental health or physical health issues, make an appointment with experienced staff psychologists or student counselors. There are pamphlets on how to eat better, manage stress, deal with relationships, and quitting smoking. Remember that people are there for you to talk to, no matter what the problem. Everything is confidential.

9. Invest in a good desk lamp, laptop, flash drive and sheets. The lighting in dorm rooms is not sufficient. You will want a sturdy desk lamp that doesn’t get too hot. Laptops are better to have than desktops because you can bring them to class or to the library. Get one from a reliable brand. There are usually deals at the school bookstore or back-to-school specials at various computer stores. While you’re at it, get a flash drive. Flash drives — quickly replacing floppy disks — are removable storage spaces that can hold up to 4MB (if you purchase that size), allowing you to transfer images, data, and music from computer to computer. They are about 3 inches in length — the size of a small key — and connect to almost any USB port. If your printer breaks down or you need to load a PowerPoint on a friend’s computer, these definitely come in handy.

Most dorm rooms have extra-long twin beds. They’re not the most comfortable things but you will get a better night’s sleep if you have cozy sheets. I found a comfortable jersey set at Target for a good price.

10. As the cliché goes, be open-minded to new experiences, people, and ideas. I can’t count how many times I’ve played out situations in my head only for the real thing to turn out completely differently. Do not pass up an opportunity because you’re afraid that it won’t turn out how you want it to. I went in as an undecided/undeclared major (they say it’s the best major) but soon was determined to be a neurobiology major with a minor in management and digital arts. I spent hours researching my supposed major and planning out what I would take each quarter to graduate on time. I soon realized I despised chemistry and could not handle five more courses of it. So my four-year plan went in the trash and I took some general education classes and explored different things. I’m a psychology major now and love it. Bottom line: It’s OK to change majors.

Take your academics seriously, but not too seriously. One grade will not determine your future. Take yourself seriously but not too seriously. Go out during finals week to clear your mind. If you feel like wearing pajamas to class, do it. Find a balance between academics, friendships and relationships, family and “me time.” Some people tend to forget that college life is still real life, only more nurturing, and many would agree, more fun. Everyone else is making mistakes and figuring things out.

Some people say college is the best time of your life. Others say that it’s completely overrated. College, I say, is only what you make of it.