What do you wish you had known when starting college?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by JVN

Are you going to college to get a degree, or an education?

John speaks wisdom. There will be some courses that will be more applicable to your career than others (Music Appreciation or Astronomy, for example, will not do as much for an engineering major), but try walk away with some knowledge from every course you take.

If you have to take some courses in a certain department, look beyond the 101s and 110s and find something that clicks with you. (I had to take a social sciences course. I looked at the master schedule and settled on GEOG 333, Geography of Popular Music. Definitely one of the best courses I've taken at USC, in no small part because it interests me.)

Meet as many people as possible. Bonus points for faculty. You never know where it'll lead you.

When it comes to going to class or reading ChiefDelphi, go to class. (No, this has not been an issue for me.)

Do at least one silly (but legal) thing a semester.

Procrastination is allowed, but you take your life into your own hands by doing it. You have been warned.

Try to avoid going home every weekend, unless there's some overriding reason.

Know where the nearest drug store, supermarket, and Wal-Mart (or your choice of big-box store) are. The student health center may have a pharmacy inside--check to be sure.

Oh, and a general guiding principle: Don't be stupid.