Academic - Pick a major as soon as you can, you don't want to waste effort and money going around in circles with major options. (if it's hard, just realize that whatever you read/write the most about, you will become interested in it. Also if you ever experience burnout, it will likely pass, and it is likely that you will experience burnout with anything you choose to study)
- Go to class, sit near the front, answer questions. Undergrad is full of consuming information for the first couple years, however, when you get to upper division courses you will be more likely to be expected to produce information on the spot as a prep for grad school, so start doing it early. That way professors will get to know you by name and you will have a good reputation with them.
- Get professors to know you by name (for good reasons!). Introduce yourself before/after class, state interests, go to office hours. Even asking questions that you already know the answers to will give you an inquisitive aura that professors really like. Get friendly with at least 3 professors by the time your a junior and you will be set for further education
- Never earn below a B. It's not that hard (I wish someone would have told me this before I cultivated a wonderful 2.7 GPA). It's as easy as starting assignments and studying as early as possible.
- Volunteer as early as possible as a research or teaching assistant. This is some of the easiest and most tedious work you will do in undergrad, but you will be in better standing with your professors and have something truly relevant to put on your resume.
- Don't smoke too much pot. As said by others, you might have classes you can get high and go to, but more than likely it will only distract you from your goals. I smoked nearly everyday of undergrad and felt the repercussions far too late. I consider the best way to use and be successful is to only smoke on weekends. This way you won't be too paranoid to be social and your lack of tolerance can turn a weekend high into a full fledged trip 8(
-Take summer/winter courses- You don't know your own limitations unless you can hack a course out in 3-8 weeks. This will amp your brainpower and will increase your ability to consume/produce information faster. Plus, if you take 2 summer courses and 1 winter course your first 2 years, you will have nearly enough credits to shave an entire year off of undergrad time and money.
Social- Make friends within your major, as soon as possible. Not only for getting notes, but also to collaborate on projects with.
- Keep hanging out with locals who aren't in college to a minimal. This one is a bit more subtle, but burnouts don't have a necessarily positive outlook on higher ed, and will let you know about it, and will even judge you for being a college student. The key to getting through all of this is to stay positive and have fun while doing your own thing. You need friends who you can not only have fun with, but who will also support you and who may be able to help you in some aspects of college life.
-He/She who has the most "fun" at parties is usually also the biggest asshole. Determine how much of the trade-off is worth it.
Housing- Get off campus. It's going to be more work for you, but you will learn necessary skills, have more freedom, and it is usually much cheaper to live off campus (consider that your expenses per year will need to be multiplied by the amount of years it's going to take to get out of undergrad and into a paid position) Also, if you smoke da buds, getting caught with it on campus and off campus are completely different charges.
- Sign a lease agreement with roommate(s). Yes it might be awkward to bring up, but just tell your roommates that it is for the best for everyone that you do so. The agreement should have things along the line of "I will pay 1/2 rent and bills on time" , "I will clean living area every other week" etc... Most rentors don't give a rat's ass who gives them the money that they are owed, they are only concerned with the amount they receive per unit. By signing a lease agreement between roommates, you have complete eligibility to take them to court if they don't pay up (the thought of which is usually enough to get them to pay up). Please please please do this. I would have about 400$ more in my bank if I had thought to do this. DO NOT accept roommates who are not willing to be put on the official renters lease. There is no reason that they should have the privilege of living with you if they don't legally have to abide by the same rules.
- Clean your shit- More than likely if you live off campus you are going to be RENTing a place. That means that it is not yours to screw up. Every time you move your past renters will be contacted and you will be asked about. Don't break anything, don't leave science experiments in the fridge, and take care of your plumbing. Do whatever it takes to not leave a permanent change in someone else's property
Endnote: don't ever give up. Nothing is too hard. If you think it is, then the problem lies within you. Stay focused and cultivate stamina. Don't let anything get in the way of what you initially set out to college for. It IS a huge time sink, but if you don't go and succeed, you are likely to have bigger problems later on in life.
