Once the initial excitement settles, things get real. You’ve finally picked your major and are diving into those core classes. These are the tough ones that actually count toward your degree and start to shape your future career.

You move out of the dorms and into an apartment with friends, learning how to be a good roommate and manage a household. Your friend group becomes tighter, and you might take on a more committed role in a club or campus job.

This is the year you figure out a routine that actually works—finding a balance between getting your studying done and still having a social life. You’re learning how to build habits that will set you up for success, not just this semester, but for your entire time in university.