I had a dream last night that I helped two freshman girls navigate campus for the first time. My dream even went so far as to help them buy toilet paper.. kind of unnecessary. So, my advice, sans bathroom tissue:

Make friends with people besides your roommates. I lived in a quad freshman year; which was great because someone is always there, but sucks because someone is always there. If the only people you know live in the room with you, what are you going to do when you need to complain about their dirty laundry or their crazy boyfriend/girlfriend? How do you go about doing this?

Join clubs. People with common interests? No way! Duh. First place to look if you haven't found a niche yet. Better yet, a new place to try out something you have always wanted to do. I joined rugby, broke a bone in my first game and said, no thanks ladies. BUT, the point is, I never would have had that experience had I not have joined.

Do activities not revolving around drinking. Maybe it was just me or my campus, but college life revolved around the party. Find people you can play Scrabble with or make brownies on a Friday night. Not to say that you won't drink (come on, it's college), but spending time with people when you can both remember the night is pretty great.Not to mention, you don't have to clean up vomit or get a hangover the next day.

Take advantage of your area. Most colleges are located in really great towns, cities, fields, whatever. Why else would you go there? Do things specific to the area! If you are in a metropolitan area, go to a museum. If your school is in cow town, learn how to milk. I know that I was in one of the biggest cities in the world, and I probably only lived it 80%. Live it 110 %. Suck the fun and experiences out of everything that place can provide.

Don't eat the cafeteria cookies everyday. Those things are, let's face it, addicting. 3000 cookies and 10 pounds later, not so much. That is, unless you want to gain 10 pounds, then power to ya. I made a rule that sweets were for the weekend, but on the weekend, I could have as much as I wanted. Same idea goes for ice cream and those french fries.

Learn to cook. Not just Ramen. Even if it is just your favorite recipe that someone at home makes. Better yet- get the basics. Boil water, learn to cut the fat off a chicken breast, read directions on the recipe (add 1 cup sugar, not salt). Another word of advice- do this BEFORE you leave home. "What was the secret ingredient in your lasagna, Mom?" doesn't really fly while she is trying to get dinner ready too.