• Buy an umbrella, a big one. While it’s not cool in high school to carry one, it’s not cool in college to get drenched in the rainstorm and drip on the cute guy/girl next to you in class. Golf umbrellas are the best, or you can get the ones that reduce down to the size of a pencil. Some even have college logos on them and are pretty cool.
• Send a letter home. If you want to make big points with your family, especially mom, send a letter home. I can assure you it will be kept forever. You don’t have to say anything important, just let them know what you’ve been doing, how your classes are, and of course, how much you miss them.
• Ask questions (especially you guys). You are probably used to knowing the answers to most questions about your immediate environment. When you go to college that will not be the case, no matter how familiar you are with the college. Don't be too proud to ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Everyone needs help sometime, and you can be the expert later.  For now just ask and get your questions answered. In my experience, women are more likely to ask questions than men, and guys also seem to dig deeper holes for themselves. Sexist, maybe, but also pretty accurate.
• Although school is important, make sure you get out and have some fun! Take study breaks, watch the latest movie with a friend, or get a group together! Don't keep your nose in the books for the entire four (or more) years.
• Go to the doctor when you’re sick.  Don’t infect everyone around you.  And they have this cool new thing they just invented, called medicine…it makes you better!  Guys, I’m talking to you again!
• Make sure the people whose advice you choose to follow are actually the ones who have a clue what they’re talking about.  One of my favorite professors used to talk about the guy down at the end of the bar being full of advice, but NOT being someone to listen to.
• If you start having trouble in a class or get behind, whatever you do, don’t do nothing!  If you do nothing, things will almost assuredly get worse, not better.  Go talk to your professor or a GA/TA for the class, or your advisor, and ask for help, seek out a tutor, etc.  You might be surprised how many options you have to “fix” things.
• If you have a learning disability, don’t be too proud to register with the Disabled Student Services office at your college (I’d also seriously consider letting your academic advisor know).  You don’t have to share that information with anybody you don’t want to, or even have anything communicated to your professors if you don’t want.  But you definitely don’t want to have to start from scratch with the paperwork in the middle of a semester if you start to have difficulty because of your disability.  You may never need any additional assistance, but it’s best to be prepared, just in case.

Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit www.collegeanswerguy.com and www.collegeprep101.com.