Top 10 Do's & Don'ts in College

Managing director for the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program, Krannert School of Management, Purdue University

Top mistakes from my undergraduate career

1. I lived at the gym.
2. I partied … hard. Everyone says college is the time in your life, but the real party is when you can party where you want to, when you want to and with whom you want to, which comes later.
3. I never networked with a diverse group of students.
4. I didn’t take time to develop professionally.
5. I left campus frequently. I took road trips way too much – people actually thought I went to IU.
6. Don’t go back a lot for visiting family every weekend, either – you need room to grow on your own. I skipped class. I spent way too much time watching Jerry Springer, which had just started.
7. I never learned how to study.
8. I never set personal, academic or professional goals.
9. I never asked for help.
10. I thought the Purdue brand alone would carry me to success.
    

Characteristics to achieve success

1. Don’t use excuses – get it done. You have a syllabus, you know what’s coming.
2. You know it’s not just about you.
3. Early mornings and late nights. Don’t just be on campus only when you have a class – be there for other activities and studying.
4. The greatest commodity is energy. You have to be able to go even when you don’t feel it. Be in shape, eat right, be healthy – that will dictate how far you can go.
5. Principles. Set rules for yourself.
6. Wavering yet unbreakable faith. You can question your abilities, but use your internal motivation to get the job done.
7. A reason. Know why you want to succeed, otherwise you’re just going through the motions.
8. Persevere when others don’t.
9. Relentlessly study your craft.
10. Take risks.