It’s that time again: back to school! Millions of people are preparing to venture onto a college campus for the first time, which can cause anxiety for both the students and their guardians. Even if they’ve been to orientation, they may have questions that remain: How do I make friends? How do I make the most of my meal plan? How many classes should I take? Should I rent my books or buy them?

In preparation, there are plenty of articles online offering advice to students gearing up for their first college experience. Here’s a collection of some of the best.

In a recent article for the Atlanta Black Star, Nicoly Y. Myles, who works at Life University as a director of academic support, stressed the importance of connecting to the community at your school, stating that “a lot of students end up leaving a university or college because they don’t connect with it”. To prevent this, be adventurous. Join clubs, sports, or organizations that interest you. It’ll make it much easier to connect with people and get you involved in the school.

Janet Eve Josselyn for the Huffington Post offered in an article that calculating how much each class costs out of your greater tuition can provide incentive to not skip class. It can be harder to rationalize ditching that 8 AM GE when you remember that it’s costing an average of 150 dollars each time. She suggests, “Treat each class as though you worked for the money and paid your hard earned $150 in order to attend that class. If you think of it that way, you’ll be less likely to skip a class.”

In an article for the Today Show, Sarah Bourassa interviewed different graduates, inquiring about what they wished they knew before they went to college. One element that she stresses was getting to know your professors and establishing a healthy relationship with them. “Introduce yourself, visit them during office hours and ask questions about your courses and interests,” she recommends. “Who knows, they may be able to connect you to others in your field or help you get your first job out of college.”

Alicia Harris penned an article for Essence that addresses the amount of accountability that a student comes into when they enter college, leaving the world of parents and teachers who will provide prompting to do assignments, daily reminders when things are due, or leeway when things are late. “Whether or not you pass or fail a class, eat lunch or even wash your clothes is dependent solely on you. This is the pivotal time in life where your destiny is truly in your hands,” she writes. The good news is that, if you find this to be overwhelming or find yourself juggling too much, colleges are rich with resources. Reach out and contact an advisor if you find yourself in need.

Harris also points out one more crucial, all-important thing. Even though college is difficult and every student will experience trying times when they may want to throw in the towel, you can do it. Just keep going and enjoy the journey!