Surviving College: this has to be the worst of it

College. I finally understand why people drop out. It isn't just the lack of sleep, the countless exams (all on the same day), or the uneeded drama your roomates add to your life. Rather it is all of that put together, plus so much more. The stuff that doesn't make sense starts to add up, and you ask yourself, how did this even happen? (Yeah, just like that time the computer decided to freeze during YOUR PowerPoint presentation or when you studied the wrong chapter and still had to take the test.) But, just think, how much worse can it get? Unless you are all of a sudden shipped to the depths of Africa or are diagnosed with a life-theatening disease, well, college is about it.

I read a book my freshman year on "how to survive college," and it only took me about to chapter two to realize that the authors must have never stepped foot on a college campus. Never. I am still trying to figure out why that book was one of the top rated. My only conclusion, they paid somone to lie.

Okay, so a real college student's perspective on how to survive. I will take a shot at it.

1. Stuff all of your money under your matress. If you want any state grants or other grants, you have to make yourself look dirt poor. Something a little more realistic is to invest in a good safe that you can keep at home or in another place that is safe. Have a bank account of course, but don't keep very much in it.
2. Choose a college where you know someone. When you get dropped off for the first time, life seems to end, and time seems to stop. You die just a little inside as your parents drive away and you realize you don't know a soul. If you go somewhere where you know someone, especially if they have been there for a year or so, life is soooo much more easy. (okay for the parents: you must pick a school that is good for you that you are going to academically acheive in, that is number one before the friends) If that person is a first timer like yourself, well at least you will get to discover it together.
3. Stick up for yourself. This lesson should be taken everywhere you go, with every person you meet. Older students like to make the freshman their puppets, even though they may seem like great friends. Greek life is skilled at creating clones. Once you start falling into the trap, the real you will never see the light of day again. You came to college for one reason, to better your future, don't screw it up.
4. Don't get caught up in the party life. Okay, so you are going away from home for the first real time. You will not have to come home to anyone except yourself and your roomate. No one is watching you. Or so you think. You might experiment, but just remeber one underage drinking violation could kick you out of your major, your school, and stay on your permanent record. Employers aren't a big fan.
5. Study, study, but make sure to get some sleep. If your want that A, or even a B, plan on nights where you fall asleep on your books. Some profs are much easier than others, but once you start getting into your core courses, life as you know it disapears. The books get thicker and the print smaller, and not to mention more difficult to comprehend. This means study your butt off, but make sure to get some sleep. If not, you will regret it when your eyes start closing during your exam. (And remember, in college, naps are amazing!)
6. Take sometime for YOU. As you get futher from the begining of the semester, you start to realize you might just go crazy. With profs and friends taking up every minute of the day before you pass out at night, remeber to take care of you. As simple as it sounds, when life get hectic, you do forget the simplest things. Whether you just take time to read last month's magazine or watch a back epidsode of your favorite show, make sure YOU are enjoying yourself. This sometimes take the tip of the stress away and makes a little room for you to breath.
7. Don't fall into the freshman 15 statistic. (Oh sorry, now the freshman 20.) ALthough the campus food may not be the greatest, don't live on hamburgs and french fries. In one of my classes a prof taught me good lesson, plan out your meals. Okay, so it takes 5 extra mintues (which means alot to a college schedule, dont' get me wrong) but you won't see that extra weight packing on. On mypyramid.gov, you can go to the menu planner and find out just what you should and should not be eating. One tip: put all salad dresssings and sauces on side, you eat a lot less of it, consuming less calories and fat that you would otherwise eat.
8. Only sleep in your bed. By this I mean do not study, watch TV, eat, or just chill in your bed. Living in a dorm room can make this difficult, but it will completely mess up your sleeping habits without you even knowing it. Try to find a study lounge, or get a comfy chair for your room. You might just sleep a little better.
9. Be rational, do not let stress eat away at your sanity. This happens so quickly that before you know it you will go from happy to sad in a few seconds. Don't try to overload yourself. (Although you will.) The best thing to do is before you go to bed, go over all of your notes, this way in the morning the info will stick. Also, make a schedule or keep a list of what you have planned out for the week. This way, you can figure everything out.
10. Don't die, you will make it. We all do. And you won't believe this until you get the diploma in your hands.