1. You can skip class and still pass.

   Sitting in a lecture hall with 300 students may make you feel anonymous, but most professors do grade down because of attendance. Even if your professor posts all his notes and lectures online, there is a synergy that develops in the classroom that helps you absorb what you are learning. If you are not a morning person, schedule as many afternoon classes as possible. It is not your roommate’s responsibility to get you out of bed.

2. You can only buy books at the university bookstore.

   Students typically spend $300 to $600 each quarter at the university bookstore. The trick to lowering costs is to arrive early and find a used copy that is not heavily marked up. Most textbooks are also available online, often for a third of the cost, while many can be downloaded or rented. If you must purchase new, sell your textbook to someone who will be taking the class. You can often get half your money back instead of the third you will receive from the bookstore.

3. It is okay to drop a class to protect your GPA.

   An I (Incomplete) or W (Withdrawal) on your transcript will look better than a D or F, but dropping or withdrawing from a class is rarely a good idea. You literally throw away the time and money you invested in the course, and you may even forfeit some financial aid for failing to carry a minimum number of credits. Worst of all, you still have to make up the credits. If you need motivation, figure out how much you pay for each class. It is difficult to languish in bed all day when you know doing so costs $100.

4. You must choose a major right away.

   The beauty of college is that you get to explore who you want to be. Most universities do not expect students to declare a major until junior year, and programs generally require special testing or portfolios to even enroll in courses. Spend your freshman year exploring every subject you find interesting so you can move forward confident in the choice you make.

5. Everyone gains the Freshman 15.

   If you are relying on the school cafeteria, pay attention to the posted nutrition facts, stay away from midnight pizza orders and take advantage of the campus workout facilities. Since you are likely walking several miles each day between your dorm and classes, you should be able to stave off most of the Freshman 15 if you are mindful of what you consume, particularly alcohol.

6. Your grades are your business.

   Schools typically send quarterly grades to your home address. If you fail a class, your parents may even receive an academic probation letter.

7. Professors hold you accountable.

   In college, the only person responsible for how you live your life is you. Professions will not hand out extensions, offer extra credit or understand if your dog ate your homework. Some professors may offer an extension in exchange for dropping your grade one letter. While you may need this breathing room in pinch, be careful not to abuse the privilege.

8. There is no harm in signing up for free credit cards.

   A free T-shirt, a colorful Frisbee or a spin on the prize wheel is tempting, but the most important thing you can do to prepare for your future is to steer clear of the dozens of credit card offers thrown at college freshman.

9. You can only make friends if you go Greek.

   Joining a sorority or fraternity is an incredible way to get involved and make lifelong friends, but the Greek system is just one of many activities offered on college campuses. Your first friends will be the people who live in your dorm and peers enrolled in the same classes. Student government, multicultural clubs, intramural sports and on-campus internships will also introduce you to a colorful assortment of people.

10. You will lose touch with your high school friends.

    The first few months of college life is a whirlwind as you settle into the groove of independence. Facebook certainly makes it easy to keep in touch with your high school buddies, but you should call them at least once a month to catch up. For something a little more personal, drop them a funny postcard in the mail.

Many students use college rankings as a part of determining which schools they choose to apply to or which they ultimate decide to attend. While college rankings offer up some helpful information, it's important to remember that they aren't a perfect science and may not highlight some aspects of a school that truly are great, even if it's low in the rankings. As a prospective student, you need to know how to best make use of college rankings so you can choose the school that's really the best fit for you, rather than top of the list when it comes to rankings.

First, it's important to keep in mind that just because a school is highly ranked doesn't mean it's the perfect match for you. While going to a prestigious and well-regarded school can do wonders for your resume, it may not always be the best learning environment. There may be factors specific to your major that would make a particular school a better choice than one that ranks higher overall. Some schools have prestigious departments even though overall they may not rank as highly. These are important things to keep in mind.

Rankings tend to evaluate and compare institutions in general rather than focusing on the individual factors that might make your college experience better or worse. While they can be useful, they will not be able to predict your real life experience on campus as well as the things you desire from a school based on major, a program, a dorm and your professors. What will be more important to you is how you feel on campus and the type of experience you want to have as a student there, something no rankings list can quantify.

Although rankings give you useful information, they should not dictate which college you choose. You can only determine which college is best for you by considering your specific needs, goals and desires for both your academic and post-graduation career. In many cases, it can be useful to develop your own ranking system based on the factors you find most important in a college. If you want small class sizes and a great English department, you might rank that more heavily. If you don't care about new dorms or the science facilities you might rank that less so. This can be a much better way to figure out what's really right for you, and help you make the best, most informed decision you can about where to attend college.

College can be an immensely rewarding experience. It can also be one fraught with stress, financial woes, panic and a myriad of other complications-- especially when trying to juggle school, family and work commitments. For some students, it may just not be the right time in their lives for college, or perhaps college just isn't the right career path for them altogether. If you're considering dropping out of college, there are a number of factors you need to give some careful thought to before making anything final. Remember, this is a big decision and one that could potentially change the trajectory of your career and life-- so make sure you get it right by asking yourself these questions.

Why are you dropping out? Before you withdraw from your university, you need to think long and hard about the real reasons you're dropping out. Is it simply too much of a time commitment? Do you find yourself uninterested? Or is it that you've just let yourself get sidetracked or have issues you could resolve? Being honest with yourself about the real reason you're dropping out is essential to determining whether or not it's the right decision for you.

Are there other options? There may be alternatives to dropping out if you have time or money issues. You can cut back to being a part time student, take classes online or seek out financial help. This may solve many of the problems you have with your degree program and make dropping out the less favorable option in comparison.

What are your goals? Before leaving college, you need to think about what your long term goals are. If you want to open your own business, college may not be essential. But if you've always dreamt of being a scientist, sticking with the college path may be the only choice you have, even if the going is tough. Take the time to sit down and write out your priorities and goals in life to make sure this decision is going to be the right one for you.

Can you find help? If you're feeling out on your own and don't have the support you need to make it through college, there may be help out there if you know where to look. Financial aid services, tutors, counselors and other professionals are all trained in helping students like you get the most out of their college experience. Remember, there are few students out there who haven't thought about quitting at one point or another. Stick it out and you may thank yourself later.

Life is full of bumps and unexpected events, and sometimes those events may change what is right for you and your educational goals. If you feel that you need to drop out of college, make sure you have all the facts, keep a clear head and consider what the best possible choice will be for you, not only today but in the long run as well.

Pursuing an online education may save you some money when it comes to extra expenses like cost of transportation, but tuition is still pretty pricey. If you are struggling trying to come up with the funds to pay for school and do not want to take out any loans, another option you have is to try to get corporate sponsorship to pay for your education. Corporate sponsors make investments in certain individuals and will pay for a student’s education as long as he or she promises to work for their company for an extended period of time. Generally contracts last anywhere from 3 to 5 years, but after the contract is expired the individual is free to pursue other endeavours and acquire a job else where. It’s pretty ideal for those who are nervous about the unsteady job market. Not only is your tuition paid for, but you are guaranteed a steady job right after graduation. Thus it’s important that you get corporate sponsorship from a company that you would like to actually work for. A 5 year commitment is still a long time after all.

So how do you get corporate sponsorship? The first move would be to do a simple Google search and see which companies offer corporate sponsorships. Typically those that choose to participate in corporate sponsorships are very wealthy and established. There are a variety of different industries that participate, but health facilities and technological companies seem to participate in corporate sponsorship the most. It makes sense too. The health and technological sectors are two of the fastest growing industries in the market and they need reliable and committed individuals with quality training to help them flourish. But if a Google search doesn’t get you the results you want, another way is to compromise a list of the top five companies you would like to work for and then call to see if corporate sponsorships exist. Typically you would call the HR department to ask about these kinds of things, but you can also try to contact a department head such as a CEO or manager.

If the HR department or department head says that no corporate sponsorship program exists, you can always suggest that they start one up. This is where you will need to really sell yourself and convince employers why he or she needs to invest their time and money on you. If you’re lucky, he or she may request you come in for a formal interview. It’s highly important that you don’t blow it. This is where you need to really shine and explain your interest in the subject, the company, and demonstrate how you are not afraid of commitment. Employers need to know that you follow through on everything and that you are not going to quite college midway through the semester.

Whether a change of life is in store for you or you simply feel like you would be better off at another university, you one day might have to face an academic transfer situation. This process can seem intimidating and hard to understand; however, it doesn't have to be this way. If you're thinking about trying to transfer schools, there are a few things you want to do to make sure your transition from one academic institution to another is as smooth as possible.

The first thing you should do is gather all of your current school's course materials. It's important to have these materials because if a school is concerned about whether or not your previous credits can transfer, they might be able to use these materials to determine the quality of your previous class work. For this reason, if you ever think about transferring to a new school, you should never throw away you old school materials, such as your papers, notes, and especially your course syllabi.

Next, you should schedule an appointment to talk with your assigned academic counselor at the new school. This person should go over your current list of academic credits and help you figure out which ones will transfer and which ones won't. Of course, this advisor won't be the last word on what transfers and what doesn't, but he or she will be able to help you target weaknesses in your academic history. Then he or she will help you plan out a course schedule and track that you can follow at your new school. Always stay in touch with your academic advisor, especially because he or she is your first contact at the school regarding your academic standing.

Finally, if you have any pending academic credits that are under review, be sure to keep up on the status of these reviews. You don't want to let your university take a long time to figure this out because the longer your university takes to complete its review, the longer you won't have any idea as to whether or not you need to make up those credits. This could either delay your schooling or it could cause you to take a class, and pay for a class, that you don't need to pay for.

Often these transfers go well, so you shouldn't worry too much; however, it is best to have a good plan in place that will make your transfer easy and efficient.

When many students declare a major in college, they often have a very good idea as to what exactly they'd like to do with their major as far as their careers are concerned. Unfortuantely, other students are often forced to declare a major by the academic administration of their colleges, even if they are not ready to declare. This means that some students might spend extra time studying in a field that might not benefit them later on should they choose to switch majors. Don't let yourself be one of those students. Instead, follow these guidelines for switching majors easily and painlessly.

When you first declare a major and begin taking classes in that field, make sure that the major is one that you are actually interested in. I mean, make sure that the subject matter in the discipline is interesting to you regardless of how it could lead to a career. Most likely, you'll want to continue studying a subject matter that you like, which means you'll hopefully do well in that area. Even if you don't have a career figured out, your doing well in that subject area could actually lead to a career that you never knew existed.

Next, you should continue taking classes that would translate best should you decide to switch. You might not get to keep the credit, but at least the concepts might be similar. For example, if you major in history, but find yourself wanting to switch to international business, see if any of your history classes will help in that switch. Say your focus is on Asian markets; did you take a course on the history of that region? Or did you study a foreign language from that area of the world? Many classes can, in fact, help you gain new understanding of new academic concepts; you simply have to reorient the way you think of your education.

Finally, if you do discover that you absolutely have to switch, you should immediately contact your academic advisor. Ask him or her to help you recreate a new academic course track. You should understand that you might have to sacrifice in order to graduate early: maybe you'll have to take a summer class or take a heavy course load one semester. This will be tough, sure, but it will help you graduate on time and get out into the job market sooner than later, thus helping you start earning a salary in your new field as soon as possible.

For many online degree students, taking courses online is in many ways a supplement to their current career pathway. In other words, online college students must juggle multiple priorities, namely their jobs and their education. This can be especially tough if they don't see a clear connection between their schooling and their career. Often that lack of connection occurs when students take classes to help them shift careers; however, it can also happen if they are taking foundational courses within the field of their career. Sometimes, the foundational concepts are needed to earn a degree, but are already familiar to the student.

In any case, it's important for you the student to feel as though you are getting everything possible out of your education. After all, you're paying for it, so it should be worth it, right? You want both a long-term and a short-term return on your investment. You want to derive immediate benefits from what you're learning, and you want to have that degree help you earn a greater salary down the road.

Although you can't be sure that the degree will help you down the road, you should at least know that there's a way to make the immediate connection much more explicit. You simply have to do a little more work to make the connection happen. For example, if you are assigned a project by your professor, ask him or her if you can incorporate it into your daily work. Simultaneously explain to your supervisor the nature of your assignment and ask him or her for approval and ideas as to how it might be useful to the organization. That way, you can combine your education with your career and get the most out of your effort.

Another thing you should try to do is be aware of the links between the two: your job and your education. Always question the link and whether or not it is there. Constantly ask yourself how what you're learning might influence how you act tomorrow at work, and ask yourself how what you've accomplished at work might affect your ability to succeed later in the course. If you cannot find even a weak connection, then maybe you should reevaluate your decision to pursue the degree or retain employment. Most likely, however, you'll see a connection. This connection should encourage you on your career and educational journey.

Attending an online college may not seem like the most fruitful social experience. A class consists of students dispersed throughout the country, brought together by the internet, which, as it has evolved, has become somewhat of haven for the not-so-social social. As you probably know, the medium can be used to facilitate relationships with new people – you've probably used Facebook a time or two. With a little effort, you can transform the somewhat impersonal experience of attending an online college into one that'll result in new beneficial friendships.

You should enroll in your online college classes with the mindset that you'll constantly be in contact with other students. Don't treat the experience like it's any different from any other class you've ever attended. Some classes will ask you to chat with your peers as a part of your daily activities. On the first day, send an email to your classmates introducing yourself and asking if they'd like to partner as note-takers. Inevitably, you and your classmates will each miss a class or two and will be note-less for the those particular days. Here's where the relationship immediately become mutually beneficial.

You can also offer to correspond with them on homework and other assignments. This can be done through Facebook, Gmail, Gchat or any other medium that allows you all to message one another. As you've probably discovered in the past, studying with someone can be more entertaining and rewarding than doing it on your own. Don't be fazed by the fact that it's done entirely over the internet – after all, you are attending an online college, and this is 2011. Of course, if you happen to live near a classmate, you can meet them in person if they're willing. Forming such a relationship would only enhance to the online college experience.

If you manage to cultivate a few friendships in an online college class, ask if they'd like to enroll with you in future classes. Their presence will make it a more worthwhile experience. Ultimately, online college should be treated like a real college. This isn't to say the relationships you forge in online college will last for a lifetime, but they certainly can do you a lot of good. In fact, some online colleges offer student and alumni special events that allow them to mingle with their peers, something that should be used to your advantage if you happen to attend such a school.

As recent news headlines have explained, schools around the nation are experiencing massive budget cuts. As a result many teachers, untenured professors and lecturers will unfortunately lose their jobs. Many fear the consequences that will develop as schools begin to see a major shift in the imbalanced student-teacher ratio. For instance, how will districts and colleges ensure that students are still receiving the same high quality of education? And most importantly how will issues of overcrowding in classrooms be resolved? Overcrowding can be exceptionally troublesome for college students who need a particular class to graduate. If they cannot get into a desired class, this means they will be forced to stay in college longer and spend more unnecessary money.

But experts are suggesting that distance education could resolve a majority of parents', students' and administrators' concerns regarding the budget cuts. This is because distance education does not have the same barriers that traditional classes do; and does not compromise the value of education. For example, teachers can instruct more students since there are not a designated number of available seats in a virtual classroom. That’s not to say that teachers will able to juggle thousands of students at a time—they are human and have to take time to grade exams and essays. But they can certainly take on a few more more students. After all, some traditional college professors are accustomed to teaching up to 300 students at a time. With that said, some instructors will be able to increase the reach with ease in a virtual classroom setting.

And the beauty of online education is that not only can online instructors reach a broader audience, but some students may be exposed to some of the "best" instructors in the industry. For example, experts argue that students in rural and poorer areas may still be able to be instructed by elite instructors that live in an entirely different part of the country. A better education means that these students will have more opportunities in life and will strive to do better, at least that is what experts hope will happen. So will online courses dominate in the coming future? Quite possibly, but only time will tell.

For some, the joys of attending a traditional college is having the opportunity to organize political protests and demonstrations and have the ability to discuss their political views with their peers. While it may seem like something impossible to do on an "online campus" that is not entirely true. Continue reading to learn how you can still participate and organize as an online student.

The first thing you want to do is find classmates who have the same interest and political views as you. This does not suggest that you flood discussion forums with your political views and see who responds. In fact that approach is highly inadvisable unless you are enrolled in a political science course where that kind of topic is deemed appropriate. But do look for classmates' political views by analyzing subtle clues. For example, pay close attention to links they post or comments they say. They may even have a clue in their email signature. You can then contact those students directly and state your purpose/intent and just see where it goes from there. However, do be aware of the age group of people that are in your classes. Typically older students sign up for online classes and are less likely to be zealous about participating in rallies than younger students are.

Once you gather a couple of people who seem to share your same interests, it's recommended that you form your own outlet for you and other classmates to engage in "activity." It's highly important that this outlet is not related to school. Like stated above you do not want to spam other students by using the school's official discussion board. In fact, your school may have strict rules about this. Don't risk getting in trouble. Instead, you should form your own blog where these topics can be discussed. Even better, you can use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate with your peers. On a social networking site you can post links, talk about upcoming events, ask members to sign petitions, arrange times for in-person meetings if you want to participate in a demonstration at the local Wal-mart for example, or just post notices about upcoming rallies. Meeting in person may be difficult to do, especially for students who are taking online classes because the nearest brick-and-mortar college is miles away. But chances are you will find a few people who live in close proximity to you.