As a first-year student, staying healthy can be a challenge. Students may not know how to handle their newfound independence — lost at sea with no parental flotation device to mitigate diet, sleep schedule, or personal hygiene.

1) Exercise. Exercising is a great way to relieve stress and stay healthy. The Campus Recreation Center (CRC) is an excellent resource, offering intramurals, group fitness classes, club sports, and outdoor adventure trips to help you stay active and have a great time doing it. Taking walks around campus in your free time is also a good way to practice mindfulness, clear your head, and familiarize yourself with Tech’s campus. Be sure to avoid areas that are off-limits to students and follow the safety guidelines outlined below when walking.
 

2) Don’t wait until you’ve caught the plague to go to the doctor. Illness spreads widely and quickly when students are sharing bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. Be sure to make an appointment at Stamps Health Services when symptoms develop. You can also prevent the spread of flu on campus with a free flu shot during one of the student flu shot clinics available throughout the fall.
 

3) Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Rest is necessary to rejuvenate the body and the mind. Young adults should get at least seven hours of sleep each night, so budget your time to include a chance to relax, unwind, and catch some Zs. Health Initiatives offers sleep programming that can help improve your sleep quality and quantity.
 

4) Clean your clothes. The daunting task of laundry intimidates many new students. Thankfully, all First-Year Experience residence halls have laundry facilities within walking distance. Grab detergent, your BuzzCard (with a few dollars of BuzzCard Funds), dirty clothes, and some study material to pass the time. (If you’ve never done laundry, take a few tips from Real Simple.)
 

5) Wear shower shoes. Community bathrooms are a new experience for most first-year students. Wear flip-flops in the shower to protect your feet. Invest in a shower caddy to hold soap, toothbrushes, and any other bathroom items. 
 

6) Mental health is important. College can be exciting, but it can also be stressful, so make sure to take time for yourself. Find campus activities to get involved in, hang out with friends, explore Atlanta, or take up a new hobby. For professional support, contact the Counseling Center, which offers group workshops and various counseling services. It is located on the second floor of the Smithgall Student Services (Flag) Building. The new Center for Assessment, Referral, and Education (CARE), scheduled to open this fall, will be a singular point of entry for both counseling and psychiatry services, where students can discuss their needs with a counselor and develop a treatment plan as part of their initial visit.
 

7) Know your dining options. Tech offers several places to eat and fill your nutritional needs. These options include Brittain Dining Hall (East Campus), North Avenue Dining Hall (East Campus), and the West Village Dining Commons (West Campus). The First-Year Experience meal plans include four meal swipes per day (either every day or Monday through Friday) that can be used at any of these locations. Meal plans can also be used at select dining locations in the Student Center. Alternatively, Dining Dollars or BuzzCard Funds can be spent at all retail dining locations including Subway, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’ Donuts, Panda Express, Highland Bakery, Blue Donkey Coffee, and Starbucks.

West Village offers options for the west side of campus and is home to a Starbucks, Panera Bread, and several quick service dining options. A list of all of the dining locations on or near campus can be found at dining.gatech.edu. Note that leftover Dining Dollars roll over from summer to fall, and fall to spring semesters. And BuzzCard Funds never expire, so don’t sweat it if you don’t zero out your balance in December.

1) Georgia Tech will be more challenging than high school. Every student at Tech is smart. Once you accept this fact, it’s easier to cope with the rigorous academic environment. Stay focused and study hard, but remember that grades don’t define your character.
 

2) Find locations and study groups that work for you. Every student is unique, and so are study habits. For a silent study experience, visit the upper floors of Crosland Tower, several of which are also equipped with reservable cubicles and computers. Note that the Price Gilbert portion of the library renewal project — known on campus as "Library Next" — is underway until summer 2020. This construction phase includes the removal and reconstruction of portions of the Price Gilbert Memorial Library. Learn more about the full scope of the project and what to expect at librarynext.gatech.edu.

In addition to Crosland Tower, active study environments can be found in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons or the Student Center. Reach out to classmates, teachers, and teaching assistants (TAs) for more study tips specific to your class.
 

3) Use your resources. Georgia Tech has a lot of options when it comes to academic support. Talk to professors and TAs, schedule an appointment with an academic advisor, and check out the Center for Academic Success in Clough Commons. If your class has a Piazza page, keep it in mind if you start to struggle; it includes questions and answers from other students, professors, and TAs. Sometimes it takes a village to earn that A.
 

4) Don’t wait until it’s too late. A bad grade on a quiz can be jarring, especially if you were used to getting good ones throughout high school. Many grades can be balanced out by your work throughout the rest of the semester, but depending on the weight of the assignment and how confident your feel in your ability to recover from it, a bad grade can also be the first sign to reach out for help. Don’t wait until late in the semester to talk to a professor or tutor; if you think you’re starting to really struggle with a class, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

1) Join an organization that you’re passionate about. Check out OrgSync and the Division of Student Life to explore the hundreds of clubs that Georgia Tech has to offer. Find something of interest to you and get involved.
 

2) Go to sporting events. Many Georgia Tech sporting events — including baseball, softball, women’s basketball, volleyball, and tennis — offer free admission to students with their BuzzCard.

For football games, students can purchase reserved season tickets or opt for free single-game tickets. Purchase tickets here. These seats are located in the north end zone. Students have the option to register and sit with an organizational group, the SWARM, or individually. The SWARM includes priority seating and T-shirt and costs an additional $20.

About 2,500 free single-game tickets are available for each home game. Online registration begins a few days before every game. Free tickets are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. These seats are located in the south end zone. This year, there are seven home games. View the schedule for Head Coach Geoff Collins’ inaugural season here.

There are also plenty of ways to get hype before the game. Check out the pop-up stands along Bobby Dodd Way (at the bottom of Freshman Hill), watch the team enter the stadium through Yellow Jacket Alley, or enjoy a tailgate with some friends on campus. The Georgia Tech Marching Band sends two small spirit bands to play as the team enters the stadium and then throughout campus. Approximately an hour before kickoff, the full band will get together at the Campanile, and fans are encouraged to follow them as they run, march, and play their way down to Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Men’s basketball tickets are free with your BuzzCard but are also awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 900 students.

3) Explore Greek life. For women, the Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC) hosts formal recruitment each fall semester. Formal recruitment is a highly structured process that takes students to each CPC sorority, and registration is required. Register by Aug. 15 for Fall 2019 recruitment.

There are also two associate member sororities that do not participate in the formal recruitment process: Alpha Delta Chi and Alpha Omega Epsilon. The associate member recruitment process takes place a few weeks after formal recruitment in the fall and during the second week of school in the spring.

For men, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) hosts rush each fall, also beginning on Aug. 15, with another opportunity to rush for a fraternity in the spring semester. Register here for Fall IFC rush. Georgia Tech also offers fraternities and sororities within the Multicultural Greek Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council.
 

4) Go to campus events. Tech offers many opportunities for first-year students to get to know each other while becoming acclimated to campus life. For example, Welcome Home Month is a collaborative effort across campus divisions, departments, and organizations to showcase the many opportunities at Tech. Events will occur during the first month of classes, so be sure to check a few of them out.
 

5) Participate in school traditions. Georgia Tech is built on traditions, which are an excellent way to make students feel even more like a part of the community. From getting a RAT cap at New Student Convocation to participating in the many activities during Homecoming week, there are plenty of ways to show your school spirit. The Student Alumni Association has a Tradition Keepers program that allows students to record all of the traditions they’ve participated in; those who complete 28 will receive a medal to wear at Commencement.

1) Call your family. It’s easy to get caught up in your new life. Between a full schedule of classes, friends, extracurricular activities, and the adjustment to living on a college campus, there may be little time left for parents and siblings. However, it is important to take a few moments to catch up with family. FaceTime is a blessing!
 

2) Discover the real you. College is a great time for students to explore aspects of themselves that they may have overlooked in high school. Every first-year student should do at least one thing that scares them. Georgia Tech offers students a unique opportunity to learn, innovate, and mature. Take advantage of it.
 

3) Time flies when you’re having fun. Your first year will be over in the blink of an eye. Make a photo album, keep a journal, or just take amazing mental notes of each new experience. Get ready for a great year!