1. The academic work in college is more difficult than it is in high school. This means that you will have to work both harder and longer. High school students typically study 2 to 3 hours a week for each class. For each college class, you will probably need to study 2 to 3 hours for each class hour. Since most college classes meet for 3 hours a week, you will have to study 3 times as much in college than you did in high school. Be prepared to take on this commitment.
2. In high school you are required to attend every class session. This is often not the case in college classes. Many college teachers don't take attendance. It will be easy for you to find things you would rather do than go to class. Don't give in to temptation. Students who attend and participate in classes on a regular basis get higher grades than students who don't. Make every effort to attend every class session.
3. You are going to have to be an independent learner in college. High school teachers often check to see that you are doing your assignments and readings. College teachers simply expect you to do these things. It is up to you to make sure that you do.
4. Your schedule of classes in college will be more spread out than your classes in high school. High school classes typically meet daily. College classes meet 2 to 3 times a week, and some even meet just once a week. It is very important for you to carefully manage the time in between classes. Creating and sticking to a study schedule is crucial.
5. Tests in high school classes are often given frequently and cover a small amount of information. Tests in college classes are given less frequently and cover a great deal of information. Sometimes the only test is the final exam. Make-up tests are rarely given in college, and you usually cannot raise a low score by doing extra credit work. To do well on tests in college, you must take good notes in class and from your textbooks. You should also have a good strategy for taking tests.

Have Clear Goals

• Be clear about why you are going to college.
• Establish specific goals you wish to accomplish.
• Know what it will take to reach these goals.
• Be certain your goals are consistent with your interests and abilities.
• Be flexible - change your goals if needed based on your experience as you progress through college.

Get Financial Aid if Needed

• Consider all possible sources of financial aid in addition to your college's financial aid office.
• Meet all deadlines for submitting applications and documentation.
• Respond quickly and completely to all requests for additional information.
• Be persistent in following up your application.
• If you do receive financial aid, meet all requirements to keep and continue your aid.

Manage Your Money

• There are many ways to spend money in the college setting for other than education purposes. Take steps to ensure that you do not waste the money set aside for your college education.
• Set a budget and keep to it.
• Be careful about your use of credit cards. Don't overspend. Pay balances promptly to avoid high interest costs.
• Open a checking account and carefully monitor your balance.
• Keep your cell phone under control. Those minutes and fees can really add up.

Stay Physically and Emotionally Healthy

• Get enough sleep.
• Don't rely on coffee and drinks that contain high doses of caffeine to provide you with energy. Foods such as pasta, peanut butter, non-sugar cereals, and fresh fruit are healthy alternatives to provide the energy you need.
• Avoid junk foods. Fast food is convenient but usually not good for you.
• Use the services of the student health office. These services typically include emergency treatment, low cost examinations, and low cost or free medication.
• Use the services of the counseling office. The professionals there can help you overcome feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

Choose a Professor Carefully

• Maintains adequate office hours.
• Provides constructive feedback.
• Adapts to different styles of learning.
• Grades fairly.
• Is highly competent in the subject being taught.
• Establishes clear and reasonable requirements.
• Provides a positive learning environment.

Work With Your Adviser

• Know your adviser's office location, schedule of office hours, and contact information.
• Schedule an appointment with your adviser at any time you have problems that affect your academic performance.
• Consider your adviser's ideas when selecting your major or at any time you are considering changing your major or career goals.
• Have specific questions in mind whenever meeting with your adviser.

Make Good Use of the Library

• Get to know the resources of the library as soon as you get to college.
• Learn to use its computer resources and card catalogs.
• Make good use of its equipment such as copy machines, microfiche readers, production facilities, etc.
• Check out its quiet study areas. Sign up for their use if required.

Get Involved in Campus Life

• Join a student organization that is consistent with your interests. You will find many organizations from which to choose.
• Join a club in your major. This can not only help you in your studies but can provide contacts that may be very useful in your future career.
• Join an intramural team. This is a great way to keep yourself in good physical shape and make new friends.
• Attend social events. Your college experience should not be all work and no play.

YOUR PROFESSION AND YOU:

Professionals, regardless of their fields, be it medicine, law or accountancy, face a “no-win” situation today. They are either making a lot of money because of their talent and experience in that field but have no time to enjoy the same with their family, or they end up having neither money nor time at the end of the day.

You as a professional may be having an income that is much higher than those doing a job, but, you have to constantly update your knowledge to maintain that income and work long hours.

Usually, the more money you make, the lesser time you have to enjoy that money. Long vacations become a dream and even when you manage to go away for a week or two, the constant fear of losing clients, does not allow you to enjoy even that short holiday.

You are earning solely on basis of your ability to work/perform. Consequently, you cannot be replaced or substituted by your spouse in your absence so you cannot even afford to be sick for a long time. This leads to insecurity about your income source which is a very risky one, since it is entirely dependent on one person – YOU.

YOUR BUSINESS AND YOU:

No matter how much you would like to believe you are the owner of your business, it is not true, because you don't control your business, your business controls you.

You face day to day hassles with regard to increasing competition, constant expense of updating know-how and technology, your stock, debtors, creditors and thinning margins of profits etc.

If you desire to free yourself from these mounting pressures, you seriously need to take a look at this unique business so that you can appreciate everything it can give you, which you would never otherwise get by continuing your present business, within the next 2-5 years.

YOUR INDUSTRY AND YOU:

Running an industry means constant stress due to workers unions, fierce competition, rapidly changing customer preferences etc., and stress can lead only to ill health.

Apart from everything else you may gain by running an industry, after years of hard work, one thing is assured – it definitely gives you stress-related health problems.

Investments in shares and other related securities go bad overnight, adding further tensions. Insufficient, unreliable and sometimes even corrupt employees are another major part of this deal.

Family life, of course, is almost non existent and consequently the fun of making a lot of money and being famous in totally lost...

You certainly did not study and work so hard for this day to day endless drudgery, did you?

Inspite of the above mentioned drawbacks, why do you work so hard in your job/business or profession?

You do it to fulfill the dreams of -

a) Securing your family while you are fit and fine.

b) Material luxuries – a better home, car, personal possessions – Home Theater/DVD players.

c) Higher education for your children in India or abroad.

d) Discharge of debts – personal or business.

e) Vacation abroad.

f) Charity

g) Peaceful financial retirement before 60 years of age.

h) Pursuing hobbies, sports or other personal or spiritual goals etc.

How many above mentioned dreams do you actually, successfully realize after putting in 35-40 years of your life's prime time in hard work? Not too many right.

TIME AND YOU:

In today's busy and hectic life the single most important demand that all of us struggle to meet up with, is that of TIME! Why is it that Time along with money, never seems enough? That's because of the manner in which each one is busy creating income either through a job, profession, business or industry. Let us consider each one and see where you stand in life today and whether that is truly what you want to be a part of, for the rest of your life.

YOUR JOB AND YOU:

Jobs are not only hard to get, but harder to retain. Long years of education, sacrifice and effort mean nothing when all they fetch you is a salary that rarely matches your worth!

Whether you accept it or not, your employer definitely controls your destiny! He decides how much you deserve to earn, which in turn decides each of the following.

a) Where you should live?

b) Where your children can study?

c) Where and when you can take a vacation?

d) What vehicle you can use? Etc..

After years of efforts all you get is 10% to 15% increment while your long hours of work have helped your employer realize his big dreams so that he lives in a bigger home, drives a better car and takes vacation abroad.

You are thus a victim of 50-40-30 plan, which means you work at least 50 hours a week, for at least of 40 years and retire on 30% pension.

There is never enough savings to fulfill your dreams and desires even after retirement. Of course, it is impossible to save enough to start your own business, thus leaving you and your family's survival at the mercy of your job owner.

Why not find out exactly how much you are worth and do what it takes to enjoy the benefits of financial and personal freedom, rather than remain in debt and keep living in the same house, through the same job, for the rest of your life?

Why not work hard for your own dreams and retire financially free in the next 5-7 years?

Believe you can succeed and YOU WILL