The Three S's for College Survival.

• Author: GONGORA, VANESSA
• Position: College student conduct - Brief Article

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS--When my family and friends in New York City packed me up and sent me here to Northeastern University, they forgot that along with the twin sheets, the halogen desk lamp, the kisses, the hugs, and the "You better study hard" speech, I was given little preparation for the experience of being independent, which can kick butt--or kick your butt. I've found that the easiest part is the schoolwork and the hardest part is the college life. Don't worry. Here's what you can do in your waning days of high school to get ready.

SLEEP with noise: In high school, I never thought twice about getting sleep. At home, I had my own room, a reasonable amount of privacy, and immediate cooperation when I complained about the noise level. Parents grant you this right of serenity. Roommates don't. My roommate Katy has held late-night shouting matches with her boyfriend and blasted her MP3s. Outside the room, fire alarms are pulled at 4 a.m. and beer bottles fly out of windows from the floors above in a crashing melody. These, my high school friends, are weekdays. Try to go for a week of sleeping five hours a night with a radio turned down low. If you can handle that and stay conscious in class, you're in good shape.

SAVE till it hurts: You'll find the saying "All college kids are poor" is true. The last worry you want amid exams is how to come up with extra cash. Many students work, but some then have little time to do their homework. I've had to pick up extra shifts as a waitress at a hotel. To avoid this, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! I cannot stress it enough. Try to put aside a nice amount each week in a savings account, especially loading up during your summer job, so that you have less pressure to...