- Learn to do your own laundry. If you don't have much, throw it all in together and wash on "cold".
- Change your clothes (underwear, socks, shirts) at least daily, more often if they get wet or sweaty. Have enough clean clothes to go two full weeks between laundry days, if necessary.
- Change your bedsheets weekly. It takes less than 5 minutes. You'll need at least two sets. (1.-3. Personal Hygiene matters - shower daily, brush your teeth. People will notice and remember if you don't. Oh Yes They Will!)
- Respect your dorm roommate's right to live reasonably. Don't leave a mess in a shared room, she might invite guests over. Don't keep the lights or music on too late at night or too early in the morning - agree on quiet hours and lights out times, and go somewhere else if you need to be awake at those times. And No Overnight Guests, but you can leave a signal on the door if you need privacy (up to 1 hour) in the daytime.
- Learn etiquette. Say "please" and "thank you" to everyone who does anything at all for your. The serving woman in the dining hall, the janitor, your TA, your RA, your professors - EVERYONE. If you see the same people regularly, address them by name.
- Phone home. Tell us what you're learning, what you're generally doing besides schoolwork, what you are enjoying and disliking. We're not sending you to college to get rid of you.
- Ask for help. Don't be reluctant. Adulthood and college aren't easy, and we don't expect you to get anything right away. Anyone other than other freshmen has probably dealt with your problem before. Most people want to be helpful, and for many of them it's literally their job to help you.