<p>For girls, I would just say to be aware. </p>
<p>Take alcohol with caution and drink it slowly, especially your first time when you don’t know how it’ll affect your body. I don’t go out to a party and drink if I don’t trust the people I’m with. Even if you’re going with friends, unless you trust that those friends will be sober enough themselves to keep an eye out for you, you put yourself in a dangerous situation. I agree with a previous poster that you should not aim for blackout drunk. There is really nothing to be gained from it.</p>
<p>Take boys with caution, too. A lot of freshmen boys on campus are not looking for a relationship, just a hook-up. I would decide early on whether you want to be part of the hook up culture or not, so you have something to hold on to when you start feeling pressure to go one way or the other. If you think a relationship with a boy is going too fast, it probably is.</p>
<p>Take control of your actions! It’s easy to go with the flow, and I suppose that’s where the “but it’s a college thing” mindset comes from. My first semester, I went with the flow and it was kind of a disaster. My grades, while not horrible, were way below what they should have been for the classes I was taking and my abilities. My personal life was a nightmare, as I thought I wanted to be part of the hookup culture but later learned I wasn’t really mentally prepared for what that meant. I also put myself in precarious positions with alcohol, which is why I strongly advise to only drink when you’re sure someone has your back! (You will need it!!)</p>