[AOIIalum]

If I'd realized the following as a freshman, I would have had a much better collegiate experience (not saying that it wasn't good, it was, but it would have been so much better.)

1. Chose a major that I *wanted and liked*, not one that I was *expected* to have. If I had done this one thing, I think I would have eliminated a lot of my academic problems.

2. Been smart enough and responsible enough to get to every class every day (goes with #1.) I truly believe this, because I lived it. My grades were horrid when I didn't. When I returned to school years later, I did this and it worked. I earned a 4.0 every one of those semesters, and I have no doubt that my attendance and involvement pulled a B into an A in at least 2 of those classes.

3. Develop a relationship with your instructors. Yeah, in a 300 person "Introduction to ..." lecture it can be next to impossible. But, if I had done this at an earlier point in my academic career it would have been a good thing.

4. If you work and go to school and are in a sorority/fraternity, be honest with your employer about your school responsibilities. If they are not willing to work with your reasonable requests, then find another job that works with your schedule. Let your boss know that your class schedule may change from semester to semester, because we all know it can and does. When you're a 17 or 18 year old, it can be really hard to stand up for yourself at work. Don't stay at a job because of loyalty or a salary if it doesn't fit with how your own life has changed. I missed out on a lot of things (classes, lab sessions, almost my entire pledge period!!) because I didn't realize I could find a better job. Thank heavens I did. It makes a world of difference.

5. Make an appointment with your local banker, family accountant, trusted adult financial guru and work out a real and realistic budget for yourself. Parents don't always have the right answers when it comes to a college student's budgetary needs and wants. Neither do freshmen themselves. An impartial third-party goes a long way in helping a college student earn and maintain financial independence.

6. STAY FAR, FAR, FAR AWAY FROM CREDIT CARDS. PERIOD. If you can't do that, know that you can and should contact your CC company and request a lower credit limit than they give you. Many, if not most, will lower your limit. If you have one and they keep raising your limit because of your "good payment history" or whatever, ask them to lower it right back. Eliminate the temptation. If you have a real need for a CC, make sure your limit is something you can honestly live with.

None of this on the surface may appear to be related to a freshman greek. But it does. A freshman with decent grades because he/she likes their classes and goes to class won't be restricted from chapter activities and offices because of lower grades. A freshman who has a job that fits well in their life will be able to focus on work at work and have sufficient time for school, chapter, and personal responsibilities. A freshman with a solid financial education hopefully won't have issues with credit card bills or being able to meet their chapter and other personal financial responsibilities.

Christin