Congratulations, you've been accepted into college!

Now what?

Success is within your reach only if you can navigate the murky waters of freedom, flexibility and choice. But all this decision-making can be intoxicating and a little scary.

I was so entranced by all the choices and freedom during my first year of college that I went overboard. As if enrolling in sixteen units weren't challenging enough, I also pledged a sorority, joined a vocal ensemble, dated on weekends, worked part-time at a soda fountain, and volunteered to play piano for the primary Sunday School department.

I spent many hours writing papers for my favorite subject, English, but did last-minute studying for Zoology. When cramming for my Zoology final I didn't pull off the miracle I had hoped for, I realized while repeating Zoology in summer school that I needed to set priorities and become realistic about time management. It became clear to me that college success was going to require conscientious effort.

Here are six steps to get you off to a good start toward your college success.

1. Show up the first day of class and be on time.

College teachers may drop no-shows the first day of class and you may not be able to get into another class easily. When classes fill, many teachers won't add anymore students. The first day of class is also important because that's when teachers distribute their plan for the semester, often called the course syllabus. This is the bible of the class and should be read reverently. The course syllabus indicates what you will learn from the class, a list of the books and materials you'll need and the grading policy. It's important to know, for example, if your teacher grades on a curve or not.

2. Be realistic about how many courses will fit into your life.

If you plan to work and date like most students, you must allow time for studying, sleeping and eating. Don't forget to leave time for commuting.

If you commute by car, allow time for traffic, weather, train crossings, parking and then walking to class. If you commute by bus, plan to take the one that will get you to campus too early, rather than too late.

Even if you live on campus you must allow time to walk across campus, climb stairs or wait for elevators. There are 168 hours in a week. Do the math to see how many hours you have to devote to all of these important activities.

3. Decide during the first week which classes you'll keep or drop.

You have the freedom to switch from classes or teachers that you don't think are good match for you, but you must do it immediately. This is because there is a deadline for dropping classes and you need to get started on assignments right away.

4. Buy all books and materials as soon as you've settled on which classes you will keep.

Even before you start assignments, browse through all of your books to get an overview of the subject. College studies require a lot of memorization. Regardless which memory techniques you use, an overview of the material is a good place to start. For more on memory principles, go http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl/mem.html

5. Choose a seat in the front center section of the classroom.

It's not only easier to hear and see, but this is where the higher scoring students tend to sit. Begin associating with the students who seem to be serious about doing well in college, and who are also balanced between school and non-curricular activities.

Avoid the students who focus only on socializing--in and out of class. To discover your learning style, complete the 18-item inventory at http://www.mtsu.edu/~devstud/advisor/lea...

6. Balance your life among school, work, family and recreation.

Although school is a serious endeavor that requires your focused attention, you must allow time for building family relationships, earning money for your needs, and having fun with friends (and of course, sleeping). For a wealth of information on the wide variety of influences on your college success, go http://www.hmc.edu/acad/Learning/Learnin...

Your journey through college is laced with challenges and fraught with pitfalls. Follow these six steps to ensure that you get off to a good start toward your college success.