Without an older sibling in college, I had to wing it my freshman year at Ithaca College when managing my course load, dealing with bad roommates and living on my own. But with two years behind me, I am declaring myself a sufficiently savvy student to offer a few tips to the incoming class of 2013:

1. If you really want to save money, do not buy your books at the bookstore, and do not buy them new. Looking at my eight books from last semester (a little on the lighter side for me), I would have spent $200 before tax, but instead I spent a little less than $100. I recommend http://www.Amazon.com or http://www.Half.com. You should always sell back books on one of these sites because bookstores generally don't offer good buy-back prices.

2. Complete the roommate-agreement forms many colleges hand out. They allow you and your roommate to find common ground on matters like overnight guests and noise. As insignificant or annoying as they sound, these forms will inspire an open conversation with your roommate and possibly help you avoid some sticky situations.

3. Unless you cannot live without a car, don't bring it. A lot of colleges have high prices for parking permits, especially for first-year students. You'll see more of where you're living by walking or taking public transportation, and you won't end up "the kid with the car" who chauffeurs everyone around.

4. Put down the ramen noodles! For whatever reason, people think these are the quintessential college food, and parents buy them in bulk. These salty noodles push the "Freshman 15" to 25 pounds. Several kids who lived in my dorm freshman year ate ramen noodles all the time and were then baffled when their pants didn't fit.

5. Try not to go home a lot during your first semester. The first few weekends of school are when you will meet most of your new friends. A friend from high school transferred to a college in Ithaca, N.Y., during our sophomore year but struggled to make friends the first semester because she drove home every weekend. Staying in your room all semester doesn't help, either. Get out and meet people.

6. Leave your door open (when you're inside, of course). A lot of people will tell you this when you get to school, but it really does help you meet other people on your floor.

7. Go to orientation. I met my best friend on the first day of orientation and stayed in touch with her for the rest of the summer. When I got to school, I automatically had someone to sit with at dinner, and our mutual friends became an inseparable group.

8. Go to class, take notes and do the assigned readings. It's that simple. I know far too many people whose GPAs tanked simply because they didn't go to class or do the homework and just dropped by for tests or to hand in papers.

9. If you can, take one fun class each semester. Ithaca offers a class on dinosaurs and one on gardens, and I've taken both. People may laugh at this, but these classes are the easiest way to fill general education requirements and will be an easy A.

10. Scholarships aren't just for high-school seniors. You can apply for scholarships all four years of college, and you should, especially when tuitions are rising. Talk to the office of financial aid at your school, or visit sites like www.scholarships.com.

3 TIPS FOR PARENTS

My parents didn't suffer empty-nest syndrome when I went to college, but they didn't just slow down and push me out of the car, either.

Remember to:

1. Send mail. I still love getting packages or letters from my parents and grandparents when I'm at school. My friends love when my mom sends cookies, because I always share.

2. Try not to call every hour, on the hour. Let your kids branch out and enjoy their newfound freedom. My parents usually call, e-mail or text every other day, and that's been perfect for us, but certainly it depends.

3. Expect move-in day to be marked by yelling and a lot of mumbles along the lines of: "You packed way too much." Plan a visit about a month into school, when your kids are finally settled. That way you can enjoy a nice weekend together that doesn't include hauling a TV and microwave up three flights.