The Q: As an incoming freshman is there anything in general (or specifically) that I should plan on taking to my classes on the first day?

The A: DO bring:

• a pen (or a pencil, if you're one of THOSE)
• some kind of paper-ish item (notebook, loose sheets, large block of wood, etc.)
• something to hold other paper-ish items (that same notebook, or a folder)
• excitement and energy! (unless it's a 9 a.m. class, in which case you should just try to stay awake)

Do NOT bring:

• a laptop (even if it's an intro computer science class, you'll look like a total dork)
• your cell phone, unless it's off -- 'cause if it rings, the prof is going to totally kick your ass
• a pet
• a bong
• a pet-shaped bong

Seriously, though -- what you might or might not need for The Big Day depends very much on the professor, but generally speaking, you won't need much. Some profs spend the first day of class actually teaching you stuff, and expect you to take notes and participate; others just hand out a syllabus and tell you to go on back to your dorm. So while it doesn't hurt to be prepared to at least write a few things down, you most likely won't need to bring the $200 worth of textbooks you bought for the class (with the exception of English/philosophy/math classes, you'll rarely use your book in the classroom), and you won't need to pack up your laptop and lug it around with you.

And anyway, take heart: It's almost a guarantee that, no matter how unprepared for class you think you are, there's always going to be someone who's drunk and/or dressed in pajamas and/or doing that embarrassing head-jerk thing people do when they nod off and wake up over and over again in their seat. Plus, if you forget to bring a pen or paper or a textbook, you can always mooch off someone sitting next to you. (Great way to meet cute new people!)

Best wishes, and have fun!

—Myles Helfand, General Advisor

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