I wrote this elsewhere, and quite liked it.
- Read things early. Read things often. Take notes. Review them regularly. Doesn’t have to be long, just keep up. Sounds easy at first, becomes progressively more difficult.
- First week of every semester, scan every single bit of class materials that you can get in loose-leaf form. Sort. Archive. I’m kicking myself that I don’t have some of my reading material anymore, and that’s from 15 years ago. Go to professors’ office hours. Before you’re in trouble. Remember that, in addition to helping you, these guys will write you letters of recommendation.
- Network like a motherfucker. This can be with professors, it can be with people you apply to internships with, it can be in a purely social form with people you like. Go to job / career fairs. But network. And maintain those contacts. Do not be shy. Confidence attracts people.
- Learn some non-academic skills. I was building super for a student coop. Taught me to paint, fix plumbing, install electrical fixtures, and a bunch of other stuff. I learned how to deal with UNIX boxes from the university computer club. I majored in international relations. It was amazingly interesting, and I’m glad I did it, but boy, am I grateful for that hands-on practical knowledge.
- Expand your mind. If you’re a science geek, take literature classes. If you’re liberal arts, expose yourself to some math, science and engineering. You’re not there to learn a trade, you’re there to broaden your horizons and to learn methodologies of learning and dealing with people.
- College isn’t there to learn vocational skills. It’s there to learn how to deal with people, and to learn how to learn. You’ll pick up a lot of extremely interesting information along the way nonetheless. But don’t rely on it.
- Don’t skip class, ever. Yes, early classes suck. Don’t skip them.
- Do recreational sports, work out regularly. Make a routine. Hang out with others who do the same. Eat well. You’d be amazed at how easy it is to gain weight.
- Watch the booze and pot, stay away from anything harder. Seriously, bad news. I turned borderline alcoholic at one point, and boy, was that wasted time.
- Try for a part-time job that lets you learn something semi-useful. Sysadmin, clerical worker, whatever. Stick with it. I found a stockbroker who paid me sub-minimum wage under the table to cold-call mutual fund clients. In return, he insisted on spending an hour with me every evening to teach me about equities-related stuff.
- Don’t waste time. It’ll be over before you know it. Note that lying in the sun with a good piece of classic literature is not “wasting time”.
- Never stop learning.
- Above all, don’t fret. Go your own way. You need to know what music, fashion, art, friends, and general style is your thing. This is when you’ll develop like crazy. This should be awesome. Look at it as a hilarious challenge, and enjoy.
