Back To School Series: Social DO's and DON'Ts

DO: Be nice to everyone right from the beginning.

The first day of college is absolutely essential in determining your social life for the rest of the year. Be open and friendly right when you arrive at your dorm to get things started on the right foot. Even if you are tired or grouchy, don't show it. Otherwise you might forever be seen as the bad-tempered girl who thinks she's all that.

DO: Establish ground rules with your roommate.

Obviously, don't do this immediately after you two meet (or you will come off as a a bossy tight-ass), but on day 2 or 3, after the initial, "Oh my gosh we're gonna be such great roommates!", set some ground rules with her.

You two need to establish rules about bring boys over, coming in late in the middle of the night, playing music, etc to avoid conflicts as the school year goes on. Also, set a cleaning schedule so your dorm doesn't become a total pigsty.

DO: Go out on your first nights.

Frats pretty much always throw parties on freshmen move-in day and they're generally free, so take advantage of that. It'll be a lot of curious and inexperienced freshmen - many who are drinking for the first time - so there will be lots of making out and throwing up.

If drinking and partying isn't your scene, check out some school sponsored events. Most schools offer concerts or shows on the first few nights. Some clubs may also host info sessions and social gatherings.

Whatever the case, just make sure that you go out there and socialize during those first couple of days. Don't sit in your room while people are running around and laughing in the halls. Plus, there's nothing worse than realizing that everybody in your dorm seems to have become BFFs overnight while you still don't even know anyone's name.

DON'T: Bring up sensitive topics in conversation.

This includes everything from race to gay marriage to the use of stem cell technology. Don't run the risk of offending someone on your first few days. Since college is a mixpot of people from all kinds of background, something that you discuss with friends back home might make someone at your college very uncomfortable.

DON'T: Use swear words.

This is something that applies for everyday life - a classy girl should never swear. However, we all have our bad habits. If you have a dirty mouth, be sure to watch yourself during those first few days of college. Some people might find swearing very offensive.

Plus, you don't want to come across as having bad manners or a bad upbringing. There are few things worse that a beautiful, well-dressed girl with a sailor's mouth.

DON'T: Be "That Girl" at the party.

The girl that's in stripper heels, layers or eyeliner, and a butt-bracing, low-cut dress. The girl who is dirty dancing on the table flashing everyone with her hot pink underwear. The girl taking shots, shots, shots, shots and then making out with the juiced-up frat guy. The girl who ends up throwing up everywhere.

Yeah, don't be that girl. Drink responsibly and if you don't know your limits, slowly find that limit. For a 120 lb girl, try to have no more than one drink per hour (one drink = 1.5 oz hard liquor or a can of beer). Oftentimes, it takes an hour or two for the alcohol to hit you. Don't get the reputation of the "easy" girl or the one who can't handle her liquor.