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Um, it’s complete independence if you’re paying for it all yourself. If the Bank of Mom and Dad is funding your college years, it’s not quite all on your own.</p>
<p>Don’t buy into what greenvision says - throw yourself wholeheartedly into campus life. Try things you’ve never tried before. Make friends with people from vastly different backgrounds. Don’t be seduced by the superficial luxuries of off-campus apartment living; live on-campus as long as you can - the benefit you derive from the campus experience declines the farther away you live from campus. Work hard at academics, but devote yourself to generating passions instead of credits or cash. Hardly anyone makes a true career out of their baccalaureate degree anymore, and the relatively small amount of money you’ll make at an off-campus job will soon be spent. Invest your college years in making the rest of your life more interesting and better-informed, and you’ll be making a far wiser investment in your future.</p>
<p>Don’t do anything stupid that will get you kicked off =)</p>
<p>ap credit shouldnt be used for pre req cuz med schools dont count ap credit. also avoid taking classes at a JC over summer because the grad schools wil look down upon it</p>
<p>Don’t think that you have your life figured out in high school. Although you might, there is a very good chance that you’ll switch majors, maybe multiple times.</p>
<p>You will be overwhelmed with info when you first start college. Everything from trying to set up a computer to how to get voicemail started to how to get around campus. The more you read and learn about a college the better prepared you will be. They will hand you an armful of papers and books and expect you to read them because there are rules about dorms, classes, everything!</p>
<p>There is a happy medium between the guy/girl who gets wasted 6 days every week and the nerd who stays in the library till 1 every night. Just because you finally have the freedom to party whenever you want doesn’t mean you should; you will regret it when you see your gpa after the end of your first semester.</p>
<p>This seems obvious but SO many people I know don’t know how to manage their time and end up screwing up their first semester or two.</p>
<p>Learn your tolerance before coming to college</p>
<p>Go to class as often as you can - there is no substitute for it</p>
<p>Enjoy each and every day, but don’t procrastinate TOO much =P</p>
<p>1) College classes move a lot faster than high school - do NOT allow yourself to fall behind. If you get confused, go to the professor’s office hours, or an academic support session, or an upperclassmen majoring in that subject, but DON’T WAIT and assume you’ll figure it out. By the time you do figure it out you’ll be behind on 3 new topics. Get help fast.</p>
<p>2) Others have mentioned it but time management is key. You only spend about 15 - 18 hours per week in class (compared to 30 - 35 in high school) but a rule of thumb in college is 2 hours of homework for every hour of class work (it’s a pretty loose rule, though). Use your time wisely and you can still socialize without staying up till 4 am cramming for an exam. “Pulling an all-nighter” may be a time-honored tradition but it is NOT a good way to get a good grade on a test or paper.</p>
<p>3) Alcohol will be available all 4 years. You don’t have to drink it all the first semester. It’s not going anywhere - but you’ll be going home if you spend too much time drinking and not enough studying.</p>
<p>4) When you go home on break, remember “real-world-time” is different than “college-time.” Your parents still have to get up and go to work, and so do your friends parents. You may have been on your own on campus, but at home your parents will probably still worry if you’re out at 2am. Try to remember to let them know where you’ll be and when you’ll be home. Put up with their rules - you’ll be back at college soon anyway, where you can do what you want, and remember they’re probably paying your bills.</p>
<p>Realize that professors are not high school teachers–it is not their job to spend class time regurgitating what is covered in assigned or even optional readings; lectures may cover different material entirely. ALL of it is fair game come exam time. If you do not understand what is covered in the lecture…get help. If you do not comprehend the readings…get help. If you don’t get how the readings and lectures hang together…get help.</p>
<p>Check out your campus’ learning center. You can find out information from reading at college level, to writing good essays on tests. EVEN IF YOU WERE VALEDICTORIAN at your high school, get help the first time you struggle–even if it’s before your very first class.</p>
<p>I would say a few things</p>
<ol>
<li>Forget what you saw in the movies or read in a book, especially anything that romanticizes or intellectualizes college, i.e. you don’t sit and have leisurely philosophical discussions on the quad</li>
<li>If you go to school on the East coast or in midwest, don’t underestimate the effect of cold weather on overall well-being, its hard to get to 9 am class in 20 degree weather and it leaves you stuck inside a lot, and a high probability of S.A.D.</li>
<li>College is supposed to be a preparation for the “real world,” but sometimes it couldn’t be farther from that, w/ the majority being young ppl w/ different priorities that those post college</li>
<li>Partying isn’t just a time to time occurrence, it is a lifestyle, and if you don’t participate it cuts social options</li>
<li>Often times college is living in a small cramped room w/ tons of work, not getting enough sleep, not getting good healthy food, and having to deal w/ various stress/ negative externalities</li>
<li>People are always around, but college can feel very lonely at times for anyone. Even the ppl who seem happiest have their downs, it just is not publicly displayed bc weakness is seen as a stigma</li>
<li>Your on your own, so it is up to you to do what makes you happy and what you make of your experiences, don’t worry what others are doing</li>
</ol>
<p>visit a university/college in your early high school years so you have an idea whats coming up after high school. I totally got excited after I visited USC when I was a freshman (my older sister was going on tours), and I started getting more focused on my goals.</p>
<p>I still think that any ECs are just a waste of tome unless you really make headlines. Enjoyment should be left the day you get your diploma from high school.Although its wont hurt to have fun once in a while. If your going to an engineering school, life can be pretty tough.</p>
<p>Work full-time at a ****ty retail job for a year. You’ll appreciate college and higher learning on a higher level than most everyone…trust me. Do your school work during the week even if it means sacrificing time with friends or fun activities. Come weekend, you’re free to do as you please. And as someone else stated, do your work asap so you can go out and do things in the evening if you wish.</p>
<p>As far as not participating in EC’s. That’s a bunch of bologna. DO THEM. They pay off in the end. They are even MORE important in college. It’s a great way to meet people and network especially in your field of study. I joined the economics club at my CC and it gave me the chance to participate in the CC Federal Challenge. We actually won and I learned a lot about myself and the people on my team. Getting to go inside the Federal reserve bank and present was awesome. We also got a free lunch on the top floor with an amazing view of Boston. $500 scholarship to each memeber. You might think this is a rare case but I doubt it. These opportunities exist in your EC’s. I joined the club on a whim/spur-of-the-moment thing and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Oh and greenvision, I did make headlines =D so maybe I’m a little biased.</p>
<p>As another user stated, learn your tolerance. Alcohol can kill you. I know this because it almost killed me. I’m a fairly responsible person but alcohol makes you lose all inhibitions. I hardly ever drink now to get drunk, in fact I don’t. It’s no fun for yourself the next day or the people around you. I try to limit myself to a six pack or so.</p>
<p>Take a year off if possible, get a job, live away from home if you can. People will try to discourage you from doing this, saying “I knew someone who took a year off and never came back blah blah blah” but everyone who takes a year off and returns comes back much more grounded than before.</p>
<p>It’s hard to make friends in college. People likely won’t admit this, but they form cliques just like in high school. These cliques are formed in the first 2 weeks of college and it becomes difficult to change. You should get a roommate even if you’re afraid to because living alone gets old quickly.</p>
<p>There is a goldmine of useful information and tips in this thread. I will definitely look back on this when I start college in a few months.</p>
<p>Like i said, unless you make headlines, ECs are useless. I applied to some internships… wait forget that… i applied to a stupid $7/hr student aide job. they didnt hire me because my ECs( yes i was one of them…) WERE UNPAID. Thats BS if you ask me. On the other hand, if you do get involved in this wastage, try to get to know people who will be useful someday. A nerdy kid working for Verizon is better than a 4 time eating contest champion.</p>
<p>Couldn’t you have a job and some EC’s or is that too difficult?</p>
<p>yeah working at a retail store wont help you get an internship at the FBI.</p>