Service workers sometimes suffer a curious disability: they forget how to be customers. Helpfulness becomes a habit so powerful they forget that others should be helping them sometimes. College freshmen face a similar situation. After years of obedient service to their schools and teachers, they enter college eager to please. Based on the cost of higher education, I think students need to be more assertive about customizing the college experience.

A lot of colleges now view undergraduates as customers and attempt to woo them with upgraded amenities and gourmet food, but students are paying for an education, so here are some tips for getting the best learning experience out of college.

1. Be wary of counselors and their plans for you, because despite their knowledge and good intentions, they cannot know your heart. Counselors serve a lot of students and may have trouble viewing you as a unique individual.  Don’t get put on too specific a path right away; college should be a place for exploring your options.

2. Get into the classes you need and want.  Many colleges are over-enrolled, so it may be difficult to get into popular courses. Here you must de-institutionalize the institution. As early as possible, meet the professor in person and say you want to be first on the waiting list for the class. This isn’t about flattery; it’s about demonstrating your enthusiasm and determination. A computer may spit out the list of students, but the professor still has a say over who gets in, and professors prefer engaged, interested people.

3. Don’t be afraid to drop a class or take a lighter load at the beginning. You’ll be going through plenty of changes and you have to be honest about your intellectual and emotional stress thresholds. I recommend that you always take at least one class for fun and passion. A relaxed and happy student is a more receptive student. Each term, take a course outside your general education or major requirements and make some time for yourself.

4. Get to know a librarian. Google isn’t everything, and you’d be amazed at the secrets hidden deep within your school’s library. But the volume of materials can be daunting, so find a good guide. Librarians are some of the greatest teachers in the world.

5. Don’t live with a problem; change roommates if necessary. College level courses provide plenty of hard work; don’t make things more difficult by trying to tough out an untenable living situation.

6. If you want a great, lifelong education and good grades on all your essays and term papers, ask a lot of questions. The best papers show how the topic got you thinking and wondering. Spend time developing questions, and you’ll learn a lot more than the student who finds a quick answer and stops thinking about the subject.

7. If your heart is set on a specific school that is very competitive, consider waiting out the Fall rush and applying for the second term, when admissions officers may have more time to consider assets beyond GPA.  Also, if the school requires immediate declaration of a major, go ahead and choose the weakest department. You can also change your major later, once you get into the school.

8. This advice applies to everyone, but new college students probably have the most to gain: get enough sleep and save your money. Then, you can graduate with a good education, a healthy mind and body, and the financial discipline to help you succeed at whatever you choose to do after school.

Finally, I urge you to not obsess over grades. Yes, there are students who must get straight As to gain admission to elite post-graduate programs, but for most of us, there is little correlation between our grades and the quality of our education. In fact, I have a theory that B students are perhaps the most valuable assets to society because of their rational perspective on effort and reward, but that’s the topic of another essay.  College can and should be fun, if you pace yourself, get to know professors and librarians, and devote yourself to looking for better questions, instead of all the answers.