FRESHMAN YEAR: no A/C, Econ 101, RAs making sure that it was apple juice in your red Solo cup and not beer, a 20-minute trek to class and food from a dining hall that tasted like 3-week-old leftovers.

Doesn’t that make you super excited to be a freshman here at UNC- Chapel Hill?

Well, it’s the God-honest truth, and it is what I wish I could go back to every time I begin to think about the fact that I’m entering my senior year of college.

When your parents drop you off at your 10x12 dorm room, drowning you with hugs, kisses and tears before leaving you alone in a place completely foreign, don’t be surprised if your heart begins to pump a little faster than usual. You’re going to get through it, and in less than four years, you’re going to realize that you’re not yet ready to go.

So for this special CTOPS issue of Blue & White, we’ve got a few pieces we hope you’ll enjoy while getting ready to enter your first year as a Tar Heel that will make sure you enjoy your time here to the utmost.

Take a sneak peek at the different lifestyles that come with dorm, apartment and Greek house life to see which best fits your personal style (page 20).

Getting involved with a group or club on campus is one of the best ways to find your niche, and the Diversions dance group isn’t afraid to take you under its wing (page 14).

Check out the Carolina Athletic Association and how you can get involved in UNC-CH’s Division 1 athletics (page 28).

It may have happened back in April, but the 5th NCAA men’s basketball tournament win will be spoken of for years to come, so take a look at a few memorable accounts from two 2009 graduates’ experiences in Detroit and on Franklin Street. (page 17).

We hope that this issue provides you with a little something to look at while you’re sitting through those unbelivably boring CTOPS informational sessions (yes, we all skipped them, too).

And the moment you set foot on this campus, get that heel buried deep in the tar. Don’t waste a minute, because once you’re here, you’ll never want to leave.