Welcome to May 2nd - the first day of your life after applying to college. It would be great if yesterday were it, if we could all meet for a pizzafest that would last until August and discuss weighty matters like "If Miley Cyrus is Hannah Montana, is it ethical to promote her tour as a duet?" Incredibly enough, colleges are generally not keen on this approach-they have this idea in their head that the reason you want to go to college is because you love learning, and since the high school you said you loved so much (remember those essays?) is still in session, they are expecting you will do the following:

>> PAST COLUMNS: The best high school you can go to

>> PAST COLUMNS: There is a bigger picture to consider

Keep going to school. Somewhere in that mighty mass of paperwork you filled out (you did send in the rooming deposit too, right?), there was a small paragraph saying you are welcome to come to college, provided you finish high school. Since many high schools understand seniors are anxious to leave, you may not have to go much longer-but you still have to go. I know - fussy, fussy, fussy.

Do well with high school. Some colleges said you have to finish - but a whole lot more have said you need to complete high school with grades that are "consistent with the standards of our college and your past record." This means this semester's report card needs to look, more or less, like last semester's report card. In June, colleges will ask for a final transcript, which will include this term's grades. If the 5 A's and one B from last term turned into 4 C's, one D, and one Don't Ask this term, there's a great chance you'll get another letter from your college, saying one of three things:

"We've noticed a change in your grades. Please contact our office for an appointment to discuss your admission status."

(This is my personal favorite). "We've noticed a change in your grades, so we're not sure if you're interested in learning anymore. Please follow the enclosed directions and submit a 20 page research paper to our office by July 4th for our review."

"We're sorry, but your work has fallen below acceptable standards. We have to revoke your admission."

Stephen Covey wrote "You can't talk your way out of something you've behaved yourself into." If you haven't experienced this yet with your parents, prom date, or vice principal, now is not the time to experience it with a college - keep up the grades, because this really does happen.

Do me a favor. People much smarter than me have probably talked to you about being safe in the next six weeks. Between saying "see ya" to high school and "howdy" to college, there are ample opportunities to relax, celebrate-and go overboard. Decisions about drinking, drug use, and romatic relationships are best made with a lot of thought ahead of time, as opposed to the "hey, why not" perspective that often exists at prom, graduation parties - or life.

If you think writing a 20 page term paper to get back into college is no fun, you don't even want to hear about the downside of bad lifestyle choices. The people who have talked to you care about you deeply, and so do I - make your choices now and stick to them later, and if you need some help talking things out, there are a couple of people in your house who would love to listen to you, before you go off to your next home - at the college that is yours.