College

[ulthar]

3.) Depending on what you want to do, internships are a great way to get experience.  Granted there is usually no pay but if you get into the right places, you'll learn usefull information.  Ask around for the best ones out there. 

On that note, don't forget about Co-Op - you DO get paid.  I did that when I was in college.  I Co-Op'd three semesters, which stretched out my degree to five years, but I HAD A JOB when I graduated.  The work experience was phenomenal, too.

[flackbait]

Thanks again for all the advice and I'll update you guys if anything interesting happens while I'm at college.

[CheezeFlixz]

Rice

Yes as mentioned above Rice is the wonder food, a few seasoning and a budget bag of rice can last a month or longer. I use to get those 25lbs bags for about under $10.00 (20+ years ago), I swear when I was in school I ate rice 3 meals a day. On those rare occasion I'd get one of those can of tiny shrimp to add to it, provided the budget allowed. To this day I can cook rice about 10,000 different ways. 

[JaseSF]

Try and figure out some plan for the future.  Tell you the truth though, my biggest regret is not having more fun I was so engrossed those days in my studies.

[sideorderofninjas]

Never let a discernable lack of talent keep you from your degree and also avoid the real world as long as possible. 

[ulthar]

avoid the real world as long as possible. 

I know what this means, but sometimes I have to take issue with segregating school from "the real world."  Chemistry lab can get pretty real pretty quick if you don't pay attention.

I've had students catch themselves, or classmates, on fire.  I've had a student ram glass completely through her hand - as in impalement.  I've had explosions (I've caused some explosions), cuts and burns.  I've seen concentrated acids burn away both clothing and skin.  School, at least labs, can be as real-world as you want.   

Sorry for the temporary hijack, but this IS a B-Movie site, so I thought I'd throw in some visuals....

[DodgingGrunge]

I've had students catch themselves, or classmates, on fire.  I've had a student ram glass completely through her hand - as in impalement.  I've had explosions (I've caused some explosions), cuts and burns.  I've seen concentrated acids burn away both clothing and skin.  School, at least labs, can be as real-world as you want.   

But surely in the real world consequences (legal and otherwise) would be steeper for, say, setting an accountant on fire or melting the H.R. receptionist's clothes with acid? 

[BeyondTheGrave]

I'm actually finishing college this January. Ulthar and Darksider pretty much nailed it on the head but here some other advice.

Try to stay away from joining Fraternities. While campus activies are great and actually teach you stuff  Frats eat up way to much time(especially in the beginning in you freshmen year) and don't give anything in return but "partying" and a windbreaker jacket. Rather you have a Job to pay your school or someother school actvity like "going aboard" programs send you to other countires for cheap fee. If you need friends just talk to people in class. Explore for yourself.

If you can because ,I know not all people are lucky as I am,try to have your parents help you pay for school. I'm not saying have them pay for everything just to help. Long gone are days where you tell your kids they have to start to live on there own and pay for eveything in college. If I had done that I would have Loans that would last me till I was in my 50s. Colleges are very expansive. Think smart and don't let colleges push loans on you that you don't need. My college was very aggresive toward me to take Loans. Worse than debt colletors.

[flackbait]

Thanks again for all the advice and I'll try not to burn myself or take too many loans.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Forget Ramen, learn to cook.  Keep up with exercise.   TALK to your profs.   They will cut more of a break to a student they know and you will have things like job opportunities and references. 
-Ed
(actually a  professor in his spare time)

[sideorderofninjas]

Living on campus can be exercise going from class to class if you take the stairs especially if the elevators are so old they should be retired...

[Zapranoth]

If you can because ,I know not all people are lucky as I am,try to have your parents help you pay for school. I'm not saying have them pay for everything just to help. Long gone are days where you tell your kids they have to start to live on there own and pay for eveything in college. If I had done that I would have Loans that would last me till I was in my 50s. Colleges are very expansive. Think smart and don't let colleges push loans on you that you don't need. My college was very aggresive toward me to take Loans. Worse than debt colletors.

Agree with Rich here.  If you pay for part of it, at least, you will invest more effort and seriousness into the classes, and the temptation to blow things off will be blunted by "but I'm paying for this."    But at the same time, if your parents help you pay as you go, you can finish your undergrad career without loans which is a VERY big advantage... thanks to my parents, I was able to do just that.  We split the bills about half and half, and I stayed at home for the summer and worked hard to make my roll for the year, but I did it.

[Torgo]

Ramen.

Lots of truth to that.