Newly HBCU Freshmen! It's that time... Welcome to college at an HBCU! The D.J's Music Site HBCU Campaign Fund wants to share some tips (listed below) with you to makes sure that you are mentally prepare for your first year and for the years to come until you finish your degree.

1. Go to Class! The first class period is very important; missing the first class deprives you of critical information regarding course assignments and expectations.
2. Set ground rules with your roommate. You'll never regret knowing exactly where both of you stand.
3. Be considerate of your roommate. Selfishness has no place at college.
4. Set a goal for your grade point average (GPA).
5. Know the names of all your professors and where their offices are located.
6. Get to know your academic adviser. Be sure to make your first contact during the first weeks of the semester.
7. Find the quietest place on campus and visit it for three hours, three times a week.
8. Develop a sense of belonging, get involved, and make friends. Join a student organization.
9. Know where you can receive academic assistant, i.e., writing labs, computer labs, tutoring.
10. Get plenty of sleep! Sleep is very important. Staying up until 3:00 a.m. could begin to take its toll with missing morning classes.
11. Always have a classmate or tutor read over a paper before submitting it.
12. Be very careful about disobeying University rules. CHEATING and DRUG USE will get you expelled.
13. Be prepared for some homesickness. It will go away soon.
14. Keep lines of communication open. Talk with parents, friends and teachers. Use e-mail and text! (Only if you like to text)
15. File for financial aid FAFSA early (beginning in January and as late as April 15th) - Failure to file could cost you to lost the big bucks that you were suppose to be eligible for to help you pay for your tuition.
16. Treat other students around campus with respect! You want to be treated the same way.
17. Fully understand: "You are responsible for your actions." You will have an incredible amount of freedom - DO NOT abuse it!
18. This is NOT high school! Be prepared to work hard!

(Partially adapted from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Jackson State University)

Good luck and please stay connected with the HBCU Campaign to let us know how your HBCU experience is going!