“Vampire Diaries” fans better prepare to welcome a few fresh faces when the hit CW series returns this fall. Judging by the recent leaked casting snippets, it appears that Elena and gang are heading to college sooner rather than later.

According to SpoilerTV, viewers will be meeting three new characters in the season five premiere, episode one. The first two castings are said to be recurring, while the third is currently unknown. So, who are they?

Nadia: Nadia is described as an “emotional and beautiful” twentysomething-year-old. And like Elena, Caroline and Bonnie, she’s not your average girl. Nadia has “traveled the Earth on a mission of vengeance.” Sounds to us like she has it out for either one supernatural being in particular -- or the whole lot of them.

Jesse: Based on the spelling, we’re assuming that Jesse is a male. He’s in his mid-20s and a college upperclassman.

Megan: Megan sounds like she might be in for some trouble, which is why we’re not sure if she is a recurring character or not. Like Nadia and Jesse, Megan is in her 20s. However, Megan is the “head of her class” and “too smart for her own good.” Competition for Caroline, maybe?

Another recurring character will find her way on screen in episode three of season five. That character is named Tessa and is a nobleman’s daughter. Tessa is described as both powerful and insightful.

As fans of the “Vampire Diaries” already know, Elena and Caroline (and potentially Bonnie) will be heading to Whitmore College when season five kicks off. Executive Producer Julie Plec teased at the 2013 ATX Television Festival that just because their heading off to school doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be attending any lectures. “Class is boring,” Plec said laughing. “We might see it once or twice.”

Mystic Falls will still be in the mix in season five as well. Jeremy, Damon and Matt will be hanging around the troubled town, which according to Plec is only about a 30- to 45-minute ride away from Whitmore.

“The Vampire Diaries” returns to the CW on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. Are you excited about Whitmore College and the new recurring characters? Let us know in the comments section.

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