So this is it. The lazy days of summer are over (that is, if you found time for lazy days while earning money for school) and your first year of university or college looms on the horizon.

Whether you've just graduated from high school or have spent the last few years working, adjusting to life as a post-secondary student can be a bit difficult. With that in mind, here are some handy-dandy tips to help you survive your first month in the ivory tower.

Textbooks - Do not, I repeat, DO NOT buy all the textbooks on your reading list. You might think professors would only put textbooks they were actually going to use on a list, but you'd be surprised how often a "required" book ends up being used once and then never again.

Profs will usually tell you during the first class which books they consider absolutely essential versus those you might be able to borrow once from the library or never even read at all. In some cases, they may even tell you that while the expensive new edition is what they're using, a cheaper older edition will work just fine for a poor student like you. Find these things out before you go nuts buying a stack of shiny, new, and expensive textbooks.

Speaking of buying new textbooks - don't. If at all possible, try to find used textbooks. Some first-year students don't even realize their school has a used bookstore, but lots of schools have one run by the student association. Find out where it is and use it as much as you can.

Start good habits - In university and college, no one is responsible for your education but you. The good part is that there's no one breathing down your neck to make sure you do your reading assignments and attend class. The bad part... well, ironically, the bad part is sort of the same as the good part.

It can be so easy to get into the habit of skipping a class or "forgetting" to read your textbook, but it's really not worth it in the end. Once you get used to doing it, it can be twice as hard to get back into good student mode. Remember, you're paying for this stuff, so you might as well get the most out of it.

Get an agenda - Even if you have your own, always pick up a copy of your school's student agenda (again, often handed out by the student association). You may never use it, but it will be full of important information (like what time the computer labs are open, and, more importantly, where to get a good cup of coffee on campus), phone numbers, and campus maps, which can also come in handy if you're completely lost - which you will be.

Spare time - The truth is, you shouldn't have any. Okay, that's not completely true, but it is really easy to think that just because you only have, say, three classes all day, it means all that extra time is for goofing off. It's not. Leave it open for studying. Don't schedule to work during it, don't plan to sleep for a few extra hours during it (‘No class until 1 p.m.? Woohoo, I can sleep ‘til noon!'), and, worst of all, don't register for extra classes to fill it. Trust me, as the year progresses, you will need that time for schoolwork.

Notes - Take good ones, especially from your textbook. This isn't like high school where the teacher would only test you on the stuff covered in class. In university and college, you're often expected to know everything in a reading assignment - even that stuff the prof never talked about.

If you don't like taking notes while reading, at least highlight the important passages. What may seem like a pain to do now will be a godsend come finals when you're trying to remember stuff you read months earlier.

Get involved - With all this work ahead of you, you might be wondering exactly when you're going to find the time to do anything besides school. But it is important you find something to keep you sane when schoolwork gets nuts. Find out what clubs, faculty associations, and other events are available at your school as soon as you get there and look into getting involved. It'll give you something to do to get your mind off school and will also help you make new friends.

Get help - Most schools have a bunch of workshops and tutorials designed specifically for first-year students. They can range from basic time management sessions to more detailed workshops on how to write a post-secondary level essay or take proper notes. If you're feeling uneasy about any of these things, get the help offered early in the year before it starts to affect your schoolwork.

There's so many more questions you might have about university and college, and, the truth is, you won't find all the answers here. So the last piece of advice I'll give you is to go to your school's orientation week events.

Sure, it may seem like a pain to go to school a whole week before classes start, but, trust me, you likely won't regret it. Aside from all the other froshes you'll meet, O-week also gives you the chance to learn the ropes from older students as well as all the ins and outs of your own school.

And, last of all, enjoy your first year of post-secondary education. You only get one chance at making it a memorable one!

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