One of the dumbest, smart things I've ever done in my life was choose to go to a small college with even fewer people than where I went to high-school. If you are reading this than maybe you are thinking about doing the dumbest, smart thing too or you may have already done it. If you have you know that there are some very important things in your new life such as, books, tuition, loans, your car, and if you have one your significant other or friends.
The reason I say that books are important is because of one basic fact. In college YOU have to pay for the books. The problem many people face is that they have to take out student loans just to go to school, now they have to take out more to get the books for school. Many people are smart enough to just go on the web to site that sell the book for less than half of what your college wants, but for many of us we can't afford it without the student loans anyhow. Books will become your life you will probably see a book for college more than your favorite food, tv show, or even best friend if you want to be successful in college.

Tuition and loans, these things are the two of the main reasons I hate going to college. If you are lucky enough to read this before your senior year of high-school please take my advice. Apply for scholarships, as many as you can! When the semester starts and you have over three thousand dollars in tuition alone you can easily become over-whelmed. Scholarships are the reason I am a college student and without them I'd never have stepped foot in those buildings. If you think that applying for a $100.00 scholarship is not worth your time than you need to change your mind. I have heard this phrase thousands of times in the two years I've spend in college, "Anything Helps," and it is true. If your family is rich you still should apply for scholarships based on one point, if your family is rich that means your parents are rich not you. So please take my advice and try to apply to as many scholarships as possible so that tuition and loans don't become your life after college.

The Car, The Love, The Friend
Depending on where you live one of the most important things you can have that you can't take to the classroom is your vehicle. If you live in an area that has a high amount of snow fall each year and you have a nice little sports car, it might be time to give up on that one. You need a "dependable" vehicle to get you from point A to point B. If you have to give up a few miles to the gallon to get it than it is still well worth it. There is no point in saving money on gas if you crash the car because it isn't good during the winter season.

Something that may become strained because of your life as a student is your life as a boyfriend or girlfriend, especially if you end up going to different colleges. I've been in a relationship for over 7 years and right now I'll tell you how to maintain such a thing. The first rule is simple, communicate with them. If you can't call use facebook or an instant messanger because if you can't find the time of day to at least talk to them than they may feel you don't care. The second may be a little bit more difficult depending on your class schedule. This step is do as much homework as you can so that one day a week you can see this person. I know it may not seem like much but 7 years can't be wrong. One day a week, as long as its a well spent day is all you need. The final step is extremely simple yet people keep screwing up, DON'T CHEAT! I don't have to explain this so I'll just tell you a joke I heard from comedian Ron White, "If you are only with one woman you can't get caught."

The last thing I'd like to talk about is your friends and maintaining your friendships. Most of my friends went off to big cities for college leaving me and few friends in the same place we've always been. Thanks to the internet you can still talk and see these people even if they only come back on rare occasion. The same thing with keeping a lover you need to work hard so that your schedule is more open in case you get a call from a friend or you want to do something. Even if you are just going to the bowling ally for a round or two being with your friends will help you maintain your sanity while in college.

I hope that the knowledge I've bestowed helps someone out because it would be a shame if something were to happen because you are unprepared for what college will throw at you. If your college is huge or if it is tiny it makes no difference, these points all ring true. Work hard, be smart, and as always if it works, don't change it.