Thrive, Don't Just Survive, at College

I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed about going off to college. My older brother dropped out during his freshman year before he flunked out. Do you have some tips that will help me survive my freshman year? -- Want to Succeed
Answer: We'd like you to go off to college with the tools to thrive rather than just survive. What you do in the first few weeks really will set you on the road to succeeding, both academically and personally, in college. Here are some hints from several recent college graduates:
For academic success:
1. You'll feel more confident in basic courses like the ones you took in high school. I started out with too many sophomore-level classes, and it was a disaster. -- Ginny
2. Don't ever get into the habit of skipping classes -- especially those at 8 in the morning. I had to take an incomplete in a class. -- Mark
3. Our dorm was so noisy and so much fun that I didn't study many nights. I advise doing a lot of studying during the day and finding a quiet place to do it. -- Martha
4. Pay attention to all due dates for papers, projects and tests, and put them on your calendar right away. -- Maria
5. Take notes rather than taping lectures. You can never find what you want on tapes. -- David
6. Do papers before the last minute. My computer crashed, and I lost an entire project for, of all things, my computer class. -- Ken
7. Review for tests with kids who are getting A's. This really helps. -- Pennie
8. Say "no" to fun when your studying isn't done. -- Bill
9. Get to know your professors. -- Matt
For personal success:
1. Don't rush home every weekend to be with family and friends. I never bonded with the kids in my dorm. -- Ann
2. Participate in an activity right away. I found more friends within the drama group than in my dorm. -- George
3. Learn how to handle the freedom without parental direction. -- Scott
4. Stay sober. Alcohol flows freely at college parties. Many of my friends had problems with this. -- Jane
5. Handle your money responsibly. Avoid credit-card debt. -- Shari
One book that you will really enjoy reading is "Been There, Should've Done That: 995 Tips for Making the Most of College," by Suzette Tyler. The tips are by college students.