College-Bound? Read These Tips

Mon., June 5, 2000

We asked readers for practical advice for high school graduates. Here’s what some had to say:

I wish that someone would have told me that no matter how hard high school may seem, it really was pretty easy compared to college. Also, no matter how much effort and work you put into studying for a college exam, half the questions on the test will seem completely foreign to you.

Enjoy college, make friends, go to some parties, but just remember to keep your grades up so you can come back again next year.

Most of all, enjoy your life and relax. At times, it doesn’t seem like you will be able to get everything done. But coming from a person who still gets stressed out over everything, try to sit back and realize that what gets done, gets done. - Kristi Carlson, 1999 Kellogg High graduate

If you are going to live in the dorms, take your vitamins! The dorm environment is like a Petri dish and you will get sick if you are not careful. Plus, you will be getting about half of the sleep you got in high school, so it will be much harder to stay healthy.

Stand up for yourself. It is OK to do your own thing. I was told that I would not be able to make it in college unless I drank like everyone else, but I had a great time staying sober this year. You can still be cool and have a good time without drinking. My advice would be if you are going to drink (or indulge in any other college temptations), do it moderately. You’ll have a better time if you aren’t passed out, and there will be fewer stories about you at brunch the next morning.

Parental visits are like Christmas! Same with care packages! Encourage your parents to visit because they will take pity on you and take you shopping for clothes and food because you are a (poor) college student. Plus, if you tell them how bad the dining halls are, they will take you out to nice restaurants.

Sleep whenever you can! Have fun! Take it easy! Do your homework! Stay out of trouble! - Tammy Scholz, 1999 Colfax High graduate

Calling cards are the only way to go.

Be who you want to be; no one in college knows who you were.

It takes a lot of faith to wake up and go to church at 9 Sunday morning.

Three words: TV and VCR.

Internet access is mandatory.

It’s OK to keep your stuffed animals with you.

Memorize pizza delivery phone numbers.

Even if you’re a nerd, there are people you’ll fit in with at college.

The people from high school you’re still talking with a year from now are friends for life.

Keep a thousand bucks on hold for textbooks.

Remember to take study breaks. After two minutes of studying; it still qualifies as a study break.

You do your best school work in the laundry room, best bonding after midnight, and the best parties have squirt guns.

Sometimes, the most important things you learn aren’t in a classroom. - Matthew Weaver, 1999 Rogers High graduate

What’s your advice?

Q: My parents are divorced and my dad moved to another town. He wants me to spend the summer with him. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I want to be with my friends. What do I do?

Q. When my friends call, my mom often lectures them about how rude they are on the phone, like not giving their name or saying hello. She may be right, but it’s embarrassing. Any suggestions?

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