High school students receive a great deal of advice about gaining admission to college, but much less about what to do when they arrive there. More than ever, a college education represents a major investment of time and money. In this perceptive and witty guide, written by an experienced teacher and counselor of both high school and college students, Victor L. Cahn presents future undergraduates and their parents with a blueprint for how best to use these vital four years. With singular candor, he discusses the potential pitfalls and rewards of campus life, including the transition from high school; the challenges of academic, personal, and social freedom; and the opportunities offered by courses, professors, and extracurricular programs. All this information is presented in the context of one central theme: that college is preparation not simply for a career, but for life.