Don't waste time.  
The semester will fly by much faster than you think. Hit the  ground running and get yourself involved from day one.

Attend one stop session.  
Each of the one stop activities is important in helping you make the transition to college.

Use the helping network that's there for you. This includes your academic advisor, your teachers, and the counselors. There are many people around HCC to help you get the most out of college, but they have to know you first.

Pick your friends carefully.  
Avoid the complainers, the negative people, and all those escaping responsibility through the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. They'll never get much out of college.

Try to find the students who are upbeat, open to what college has to offer, and willing to take some risks in getting involved.

Learn to manage your time.  
Often this is the single toughest challenge in college. You need to set your own schedule. This can be accomplished only by taking an honest look at your habits, home responsibilities, work schedule, and social life.

When students combine school with work, the hours available for study time are limited. In general, there is a positive correlation between study time and student success in class. Students working 20 hours a week may need to consider registering for no more than 9 credits. Students working 30 hours or more a week should consider an academic load of no more than 6 credits a semester.

Practice effective study habits.
Have a study schedule to follow. Learn to use small blocks of time, such as the hour between classes. Rather than waiting to study the night before class, try to study immediately following class when the lecture and discussions are fresh in your mind. Then study again the night before class. You will be surprised at how much more you will retain and understand. Read each assignment before going to class. This helps you to understand the next lecture, and it reinforces what the teacher thinks is important.

To make study time pay off, find a quiet place to study.

You can learn effective study habits by enrolling in Success in College and Beyond (H.D. 110). This one credit elective course helps students to read more effectively, listen to a lecture and take notes, manage time, and set realistic goals. In addition to Becoming a Master Student, HCC offers workshops on topics such as math anxiety, test taking strategies, reading techniques, and self-defeating behaviors.

Study with as many senses as you can. 
If you have something to read, try to write an outline. You might even put the highlights of what you are studying on an audio tape and then play it back later. It also helps if you can explain what you are studying to someone else. Some students find study partners worthwhile.

The college provides group study opportunities through a program called Supplemental Instruction (SI).  If SI is available for any of your classes, attend sessions regularly.  If group tutoring is not available, take the initiative: find one or two study partners and start your own study group.  Whether you work alone or in a group, study regularly.

Go an extra step. Be ready for the class, and when the teacher asks the first question, be there with the answer.

Develop a love for learning. 
Try to study for more than just grades. The biggest secret of college is to become an "active listener." This means that you are not being pushed around by deadlines and assignments, but rather that you are in control, calling the shots, and in charge of your own learning. When that happens, you'll know the difference.

Hang in there for those first weeks. Don't be surprised if some of the adjustments are tough. For most of us, the first semester of college is the hardest. Be patient with yourself.

Pay attention to what you really enjoy. This is usually a good clue both to your major and to some aspect of your future career. Don't push it. If you pay attention, you'll know when you are getting some career direction.

HCC offers a three-credit course called Career and Life Planning (HD 103). This is an elective course which helps students assess their values, needs, and interests while they explore career options.