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| Success in College |  1) Be honest about your abilities and goals
If you don't want to go to college, then don't go. You will only be miserable and frustrated. You will kill your motivation by forcing yourself to attend college. Note, it takes dedication and persistence to finish. When you are dying to work as a poodle-groomer after high school, then do that.
When you do go to college, be sure you are prepared. The tricks you pulled in high school might not go over so well with college professors. If you were not diligent before college, you will likely be not diligent in college and you will likely not meet your main goal-which is to graduate on time. Try not to make a career out of being a college student. The tuition is awful.
2) Figure out the college zone
You can choose from a great variety of different colleges and universities. A person with a good academic record has many choices. Each university or college has a specific mission or purpose. It is important to know that purpose. It is strongly recommended to visit the campus and talk to some professors and students in order to determine if that particular institution is right for you. The college you choose should fit you. Do not try to fit the college.
3) Don't dig a big money pit
Unfortunately, the cost of higher education continues to go up. Usually students acquire debt in order to finance their education. You should be wise. If you are admitted to a college or university it doesn't necessarily mean you can afford it. You can get a good education at a cheap school. Of course prestige is beneficial; however, what really matters most is not the school itself but the professors who teach there. The job market for college teachers has been saturated for years. It is not unusual to find PhD's from prestigious universities teaching at small state colleges and community colleges. That’s why it is very possible to get a first rate learning experience for a fraction of the cost. For sure, you've probably heard that student loan debt is "good debt." If it is true, try missing a few loan payments and see what happens.
4) Know that the money is in the major
It is true. It is good to major in something that you love. At times, doing what you love does not pay the bills. If you love money, then preparing to enter a field that will provide you with opportunities to make money is very pragmatic. You need to find balance. Try to major in something that you love and that brings you the amount of money that will allow you to be comfortable, if not rich. Besides, capitalism requires only a few rich people and many not-so-rich people. Which group will you be in?
5) Get the experience you need to get the job you want
In today's competitive workforce the degree that you earn will not be enough. Every person will need experience and you will not gain experience until you get a job. Any employer will not offer you a job because you lack experience. You should know the cycle is cruel. But there is something that you might not know: While in college, you can offer your labor for free as an intern or volunteer. You will gain the experience and the relationships which you establish with people in the workforce. In such a way you become more employable when you know someone who knows someone who used to work for someone who is now the boss at the place where you applied for a job.
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