It is fall once again and another herd of clueless Freshmen have been dropped off to fend for themselves here at the University of New Hampshire. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid rookie mistakes and make the transition a little bit smoother.
1.    Get rid of your lanyard. I know it conveniently holds every key you need to unlock and purchase everything necessary, but don’t give in to the temptation of wearing it around your neck. Put it in your wallet, pocket, or purse instead.
(Just. Dont. Do. It.)
2.    Join a group, an organization, anything. The more people you know the more a part of the community you will feel. http://www.unh.edu/vpsas/activities.html
3.    There are places to exercise other than the UNH gym. If you don’t feel like waiting an hour to get on a machine check out the local running routes, alternate gym, (like Wildcat Fitness only $10 extra for unlimited tanning!) or join an intramural team. http://www.wildcatfitness.net/membership.html
4.    Don’t feel obligated to look your best at your 8 am. You’ll probably stick out like a sore thumb anyway and you’re going to thank yourself later for the extra sleep.
5.    Know where you’re going! The best way to blend in is to appear like you’re familiar with the area around you. Here is a map for some help. http://www.unh.edu/unhedutop/map
6.    Wear a backpack only if necessary, a large bag with a shoulder strap should do the job. If you do need to use a backpack put a ribbon or keychain so it doesn’t get lost in the mix at HoCo, here are some cute ones! http://tinyurl.com/28b67lv
7.    Be the person everyone knows for all the right reasons. Don’t be sloppy on weekends, avoid a reputation, and always be friendly. You never know who you will have to work on a group project with three semesters from now.
8.    Know your student and civil rights. This will make run ins with the law or campus officials go a lot smoother, especially Thursday-Saturday. http://www.unh.edu/student/rights/
9.    Save heavy makeup for weekends! Be comfortable and casual during the week, and try your hardest when it counts. A local makeup store with great product is Making Faces in downtown Portsmouth.
10.    Put your Hayden’s Sports class of 2015 t-shirt in the closet until 2015. I know it is exciting getting your first item of UNH paraphernalia but no one will think it is cool until senior year.Â