1. Don’t walk around campus holding your map out in front of you

This is a surefire way to show you’re a freshman. There are plenty of opportunities before classes start to figure out your way around campus. If you do get turned around, ask someone how to get where you’re going. Chances are, they know a better way than what is shown on the map. If you know some upperclassmen, ask them to take you around if need be.

2. Do find your classroom before the first day of class

Nobody likes it when someone shows up late to the first day of class because they didn’t have a clue how to get to the classroom. Finding your classroom a day or two before classes is a great way to make sure you know where you’re going and to figure out how long it will take you to get there.

3. Don’t wear all of your Cyclone gear at once when not going to a game

It’s perfectly alright to get all decked out when you’re going to cheer on the Cyclones at one of their many sporting events, but it is not necessary to turn your classes into tailgating parties. Wearing one item of Iowa State apparel is enough.

4. Don’t show your ISU card to the bus drivers on the Free Circulator routes

The key word here is ‘free’. The Orange, Cardinal and Gold routes on CyRide are free for everybody, whether they’re students, faculty, staff or the general public. These three routes will take you all over campus and to the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Iowa State Center and Frederiksen Court.

5. Don’t pull the cord on CyRide when the bus is going to stop anyway

There are certain stops the buses always stop at so there is no need to pull the cord if that’s the stop you need. If someone has already pulled the cord and the “Stop Requested” sign is already lit on the bus, don’t pull the cord again.

6. Do be aware of your surroundings when walking on campus and crossing the street

As frustrating as you may get when people are blocking you from getting where you need to go or it is to wait for traffic, others get just as frustrated with you. Pay attention to other people walking near you on your way to class and if you’re walking in the middle of the sidewalk or slower than those behind you, move over. When crossing the street, don’t take your sweet time and look to make sure no cars are turning in your direction before you begin to cross the street.

7. Don’t take all your homework with you all day, every day

Only take with you the textbooks, notebooks and other supplies you will need for class that day or that point in time. If you have class all day but have a long enough break in between, only take your stuff for the first part of the day and switch things out later. Twelve credits worth of stuff is a little too much to be carrying around at once.

8. Do eat healthy

As easy as it is to stuff yourself at the dining centers or stock up on junk food for your dorm room, don’t do it. This is a good time to learn how to manage your own diet and find what works for you. If you are going to stock your dorm room, make sure it’s healthier food such as granola bars, fruit and vegetables rather than candy, chips and pop.

9. Do learn to do your own laundry

It is very important to know how to do your own laundry, especially when there will be others needing to use the washers and dryers. Try not to wait until you have multiple loads of laundry to do so you don’t take up all the machines. If you’ve never done laundry before, have someone show you and ask whoever had been doing your laundry which detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets they had been using.

10. Don’t go to house parties with a backpack full of alcohol

First of all, you’re underage and should not be hauling alcohol around with you to begin with. Wedging a case of beer into your backpack is not as inconspicuous as you think because it turns your backpack into an unusual cube shape. This also goes for the drawstring bags you’ll get at orientation.