22 Things You Need To Know and What They Don’t Tell You About College Life

I’ve been in college for 5 years on and off due to financial strain. After attending the community college to get into the university, I decided I didn’t want to spend another 5 years in school to major in Architecture and changed my major to Business Administration instead. Now I have 2 years left.

College life can be the fast track to success or failure. This list will help you get an idea of what to avoid in college and what to look for to succeed. Make smart choices with your time, money, and health. Hang out with smart people who make a vow for success and not a vow to party.

1. About 50% of freshman students enrolled dropout of college
2. Most college students have extremely poor eating habits. This is the staple diet of a college student-fast food, pizza, ramen noodles, soda, sandwiches, smoothies, and
Starbucks.

3. Fraternities and Sororities have people they can buy term papers from or have them written for free so they don’t have to do it themselves. They also have a pile of old test papers members can study from.
4. Outside Frats and Sororities, college students CAN find someone to write their term papers for them and some college classes allow you to view old test papers to study before an exam. (I do not advocate cheating through college because I believe in honest hard work toward your successes.)

5. Most college students are unhealthy. In addition to poor eating habits, most students don’t get enough sleep at night nor enough exercise.
6. Drugs and alcohol are easily attainable. I am surely not advocating this, but it is a hard fact.

7. Rape and STDs are more common than you think. Try to bring your own drink to a party and always go with friends you know will take care of you. Never travel alone at night on campus and carry Mase or some other type of protection. Always practice safe sex.
8. If you meet with your professor, sit near the front of class, and participate in lectures, he will be more lienient with your grade.

9. If you feel there is an error in your test or term paper always speak with the professor or graduate student grading it.
10. Banks and some retailers around town have special promotions or discounts for college students. Some food establishments offer free drinks with your meal.

11. Make friends with someone in the same class with the same intellect and interests, desire to learn, excellent attendance, and gets good grades on tests and papers. Have him or her proof-read your term papers, vise-versa, exchange numbers in case the other person cannot make it to class, and study together.
12. Don’t get tempted to party until papers are done and you’ve studied for every class.
13. Get a tutor to increase your chances of passing your class with an “A”. If you are a minority you can get free tutoring.

14. Make money in college by tutoring, fixing computers, fixing cars, sell drawings, sell DVDs, or just get a job.
15. Most students max out their department store and bank credit cards.
16. Most students get smashed with cell phone fees and overdraft bank fees over $200.00 after a few months of service. Keep track of your minutes and make sure you don’t overdraw your checking account. Don’t ever depend on online banking to keep track of account because they don’t always post transactions especially over the weekend.

17. New books are expensive. Buy used books (sometimes you can buy from other students) or check online at Amazon, eCampus.com, or Textbooks.com Wait until the first day of class to make sure your book list is correct. On the first day of classes you are rarely instructed to use any books so just go to class with a notebook and pen.
18. Get a bike. Not only will this save you money on gas, get you into shape, and is better for the environment, but you can save time getting around to your classes.

19. Many students overnight at the library or coffee shops during midterms and
20. Find a roommate to save on apartment rent and utility expenses. Make sure your roommate is not a party animal. Find someone that has the same goals and aspiration to succeed in college.
21. If you are not paying for your student loan yet and have no debt, start investing. Sharebuilder.com and eTrade.com have investments starting as low as $4.00 or open a savings account at your local credit union.

22. Shop at thrift stores, garage sales, Craigslist, hallway bulletin boards around campus, dollar stores, and other discount retailers for home furnishings and college supplies.