Starting college can feel both exciting and a bit daunting. For the first time ever you're on your own, and it can take awhile to get used to "adulting." Getting advice from other students and professors can really help you ease into the college lifestyle. Here are a couple tips to give you a head start on the competition!

1. Do not buy textbooks early unless you know for sure those are the ones you will need!

Wait until your first week of classes, and your professor will give you a syllabus with the textbooks needed. This will help you save a lot of money, because sometimes you won't need a textbook for your class. If you are curious you can go to the Campus Bookstores website here to get an idea of the books you may need.

2. There are other cheaper places where you can go buy textbooks.

There is the main campus bookstore that many people go to, but you can go to the off campus bookstore called the University Book Exchange where the books are cheaper. There is also Amazon, Facebook, and even texts.com where people sell their textbooks cheap.

3. Always keep your R'Card with you.

Your R’Card is not just an ID card. You can use your card to buy that emergency cup of coffee before your 9am lecture, or load it up with money so you can wash clothes.

4. There's a difference between Dining Dollars and Bear Bucks.

Both forms of payment are only accepted at the UC Riverside campus. Dining Dollars can only be used to buy food or drinks, and you get a certain amount on your R'Card every quarter as part of your meal plan. Unused Dining Dollars will rollover to the next quarter, but will be erased at the end of the year. Bear Bucks must be loaded onto your card which you or your parent can do online here, and Bear Bucks will never be erased from your account. Bear Bucks can also be used to buy anything, and they are needed to do laundry.

5. You can waive the University's health insurance USHIP, and your immunization record should be automatically sent to UCR by your high school. The waiver opens June 1.

To waive USHIP you must have your own insurance plan. You can save up to $300 a quarter, but that means if you get sick you have to go off campus or pay out of pocket at the Student Health Services. If you want to do the waiver, or have questions about the immunizations you can visit the Student Health Center's website here.

6. Bookmark the ILearn, Blackboard, and Growl websites cause you'll need them.

Growl is the website you will need to keep track of your classes, and financial aid. Blackboard and ILearn are used by the professors to post any updates like homework, grades, and if you're lucky, a canceled class.

7. There is free printing everywhere!

Free printing is available in the Sproul, Statistics, and Watkins computer labs where you will get a 200 print quota every quarter. Freshmen also get free printing from their Residential Hall computer labs, and get $15 worth of printing for the whole year.

8. You will need to change your Net ID password.

You automatically get one from the university, usually a bunch of random numbers, but you will have to change it before or after you move in. If you don't change it you will not be able to log onto the schools Wi-Fi or computer labs. You can change your password here.

9. Go to office hours. Go to office hours. Please go to office hours.

Sometimes studying isn't enough, and office hours give you the chance to get straight answers right from your professors or TAs.

10. Invest in shower shoes!

There are custodians who clean the restrooms, but still you never really know what touched those tile floors.

11. Get off campus and visit University Ave, Downtown Riverside, and Tyler Mall using your R'Card's free bus pass.

University Ave is just a stone throw away from UC Riverside. There you'll find the movie theater (where we have the free movie premiers), different restaurants, and stores. Downtown Riverside and Tyler Mall are all very short bus rides away from the University. Take a day trip with some friends, and spend the day trying new foods, stores, and sightseeing!

12. Go to the SRC to workout, play an intramural sport, or go on a trip with Outdoor Excursions.

Your SRC gym membership and intramural sports fee are automatically included in your tuition, so why not take advantage of it? The Outdoor Excursions is also a program where students can gather their friends together to go scuba diving, snorkeling, or even snowboarding. This program is not covered in the tuition, but if you are a current UCR student you get a major discount on many of their expeditions.

13. Free! Free! Free! Well, almost.

UCR has an amazing student run program called the ASPB. They are the ones who help coordinate free movie tickets, free R'Gear, and free admittance to UCR's biggest concerts like Block Party and Spring Splash!

Take advantage of it all, because it's also part of your tuition.

14. Don't go home every weekend.

Some people get home sickness, and it's nice to see your family after some time apart. However, going home every weekend really takes away from the college experience. Try to stay and get to know the people around you. Also, the university throws a lot of events over the weekend, so don't miss out.

15. Keep track of your stuff; replacements cost money!

When you go to orientation you will get your R'Card, and any replacements costs about $20. During move-in day you will receive your room key, mail key, and facility key. Losing any of these can cost anywhere from $50 to $75 each to replace! However, if you accidentally forget your keys in your room you can go to your RSO to get a spare key.

16. Come out to support your Highlanders at any of the sporting events! Admittance to these events are free to current UCR students. Throw your R's up, and represent the blue, black, and gold!