Think about the courses you want to study, and take your time deciding on a major. Many schools put a lot of pressure on students to declare a major by a certain time, but you want to be smart about your choice and make sure it's the right decision for you. After all, this will be your career path for life (unless you eventually go back to school to study something else). I wish I had taken more time deciding on a major.

Take your time. It's so easy to jump into every activity and social experience that's offered to you, and then find yourself lost, anxious and overcommitted in just a few weeks. It's OK to say no—you'll have more opportunities to get plugged in once you are settled.

Get a planner! You are going to have so many club events, group projects, meetings with advisers and of course, homework. It's easy to become overwhelmed, but having it all organized in one place will make life much easier.