The beginning of college can be overwhelming for freshmen. The size of the campus, the new locations, new faces and the giant leap in freedom. Unless you are still living with your parents, there isn’t anyone looking over your shoulder anymore telling you what to do.

For some kids, that is the green light to party. I ran into some kids from my old high school who asked me about college life. They told me how they planned to party constantly in college. Unfortunately, too many kids come to college with that “party, party” mindset.

Or they get into the habit of staying up way too late the night before a morning class. Others just skip class whenever without a good reason, since the school won’t call your parents anymore if you are absent.

All the above are a part of the freedom of college. Just don’t have too much fun late at night. Not even during the first week of school when some teachers aren’t taking roll yet.

Some teachers start off class in mid-semester form. For varying reasons, some teachers only or mostly grade you on a few tests and quizzes.  Missing or failing one of seven similarly weighted tests could kill your chances of getting an A.

And that’s just one grade. Do this two or three times and you will find yourself forced   to make at least high Bs on all of your work just to escape class with a C. Even if you are not interested in getting good grades, knowing you have to put in your best effort to finish the class with a mediocre grade is kind of depressing.

Don’t be that student who waits to put in your best effort late in the semester. By that time it will be too late to make a significant increase in your grade. Don’t count on the teacher offering bonus points as sympathy for your low grades either.

You also shouldn’t wait until drop period to realize your lack of effort’s going to limit the grade you can make. Having to drop a class you’re really struggling with is understandable in certain situations. Dropping due to a lack of effort is less understandable..

Remember the reason you took out that loan. Recall why you received your parent’s, the government’s or an organization’s money. It is to help you pay tuition while you aim to get a degree.

Most scholarships have a minimum GPA requirement. Your parents might decline to pay for tuition if you bring home a report card with all Ds and Fs. And you certainly don’t want to throw away your own money.

You don’t want to have to drop out of school because you pulled more all nighters partying instead of studying.

Staying up late drinking will make being attentive in class the next day hard. Talking with your friends until 4 a.m. when you have an 8 a.m. class is a good way to oversleep. Sometimes when you are dead tired you will subconsciously turn off your alarm. Even if it is password and scribble locked. Never underestimate what your body can do to get needed sleep.

Unlike grade school, no one is beating down your door to wake you up if you miss class. Too many unexcused absences can get you removed from a class. Plus it is hard to take notes when you are not in class.

The parties will be there every single week of your college career. Classes only last a semester at a time as will an all-night movie watching marathon.  Or however you choose to spend your spare time. Just remember to take classes seriously from the start and keep up that effort all semester.