The beginning of college marks the end of six-hour school days, after-school activities, family dinners and bedtimes. Goodbye, structure; hello, freedom! If you’re wondering how you’re going to fill the hours between jotting notes in Anthropology 101 and practicing flip cup, keep reading.
Work Your Dorm

Truth be told, most college kids fill their days with a little bit of class, a little bit of schoolwork and a lot of hanging around the dorm. As for the latter -- well, it’s only boring when you do it alone.

Even if you can’t stand your roommate -- or don’t have one -- finding camaraderie among your neighbors is easy enough and even easier if you start early in the semester. Dorm league intramural sports and dorm-wide competitions are great icebreakers, but you don’t need to wait for an organized activity to get your friendly game on. Knock on doors and introduce yourself, leave fun messages on your neighbors’ whiteboards and talk to people you meet in your lounge or bathroom. Trust us, most people love it when you start a conversation while they have a mouthful of toothpaste.
Join the Club

Whether you’re an athlete who didn’t make it to varsity, a former student-body president with political aspirations or even a die-hard fan of the TV show Lost, chances are your school will have an organization to suit you. (If it turns out your school doesn’t, then make a little history by starting your own.) It doesn’t hurt to do a bit of research before you head off for first semester so you know what is available and whether you can (or want to) commit.

College clubs and recreational sports teams are usually much less demanding than those in high school, which can meet up daily, and they can also have more perks. A networking club for your major might offer road trips to local cities, while a movie club might show free films. Plus, most meetings come with free food that’s not from your dining hall. Sweet