What are some basic plans I need to have for college when I get there?

Angelina, great question. This is a big question so it's going to be a long response...get ready.

Friends:

• Freshman year is the best time to make friends as everyone is new and in the same boat as you. I found people to be the most friendly the first year so this makes it the perfect time to meet people!! Keep your dorm room open and people will often walk in and introduce themselves. This is a great way to meet people on your floor and others in general
• Spend the most time possible in communal areas where there are lots of other people. This could be the library, the quad, communal dorm spaces etc. By putting yourself in the most amount of communal space possible, you will increase the odds of striking up conversation with people.
• Join extracurricular activities and clubs. This is a great way to meet tons of people that you normally wouldn't have interactions with. All sort of people join activities so if you are wanting to meet people from all walks of life, this is your chance

Academics:

• Sit towards the front of the room if possible during one of your larger classes. Sitting at the back can be fun as you can talk to your friends without the professor finding out, but you will be distracted. Sitting more towards the front will ensure that your attention doesn't wander, that you are actively engaged, and so that you have limited things to distract you.
• Never bring your laptop to class to take notes and instead opt for the old fashioned (but effective) notebook and pencil. During my first semester I brought my laptop in to class to take notes but it was a bad idea. I would get distracted with Facebook, YouTube, Twitter etc. Using a notebook will prevent you from getting distracted, but it will also ensure that you take better notes as well. There is no way that you will be able to write down everything the professor says, so this will force you to only write down what's the most important. Writing your notes will also improve your retention and overall memory.
• Go to professor office hours if you need the additional help. Professors make time during the week where students can go to their office to have a question answered or receive some help on an assignment. Don't feel embarrassed or intimidate, everybody goes to office hours and professors or more than happy to help.
• Do any and all extra credit offered even if you have 100% in the class, you never know when you'll need those few points. There were a few times where I'd have a 93.4 (A-) and those extra credit points got me that A. Don't be lazy, you'll regret it when you have a borderline grade.

Housing:

• Living with a roommate can be challenging for some people and it definitely can be at times, but it is also a vital college experience that everyone goes through. I've found that they best way to get along with your roommate, get along, and have a smooth housing situation really is contingent on clear and honest communication. Bottling things up may seem tempting, but exploding at your roommate could happen and this will end up ruining your relationship
• Dorm rooms can get messy quickly so be sure to come up with a cleaning schedule to ensure that your room is in good shape and not completely disgusting.
• Be sure to establish rules for your room to ensure that you and your roommate are on the same page throughout the year,