As I watched intelligent people give up dreams, leave programs, it opened up places and opportunities that I dreamed of being in. For better or worse, I started recognizing my own intelligence to the point where I wasn’t even looking at what others were doing.

—

Image Credit...

Zoe Roberts, Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University

If you act like you’re supposed to be somewhere, people probably won’t question you. Don’t be afraid to go places by yourself. Take advantage of opportunities that interest you, regardless of what others think — whether that be a guest speaker or a party. People admire those who aren’t afraid to go out by themselves (as long as they let friends know where they’re going and stay safe)

—

Image

Maxine Seya, Newport Beach, Calif., Northwestern University

It’s O.K. if it takes a long time to make friends. You’re comparing the depth of friendships you’ve had over 12 years at home and new friends you’re only making a couple semesters into college. It’s normal not to feel as close to anyone at college as at home. It’ll come.

Inside the classroom, what do you wish you had known?

Image Credit...

Wade Shimoda, Honolulu, M.I.T.

I wish I had known how to study. I did well in high school, but apparently I didn’t have to study that much to do well, relative to how much I had to study in college just to do O.K. It took me a while to figure out how to study, and to this day, I don’t know if I ever truly figured it out.