As a part time college teacher... don't try to know your proffesor too well... With some of them I expect more of them cause I know them better and grade them harder.. and certainly don't be the annoying one by sitting in front of my office at 9.00 when I even didn't had my coffee yet...

I'm also starting classes on Monday at Drake, and I'm a little shy around people I don't know very well. I've been trying hard to be more social, and it's been working a lot. I'm much more social than I was in high school, but it's not yet to the point I would like it to be. But I'm working on it :)
I'm going to a concert tonight with a bunch of others, so that should be good!

I've been looking, but i'm perpetually screwed by the "experience paradox," whereby you need experience to get experience, and no-one is willing to give you square one. So the double-team raping prevents you from doing anything until you default on your federal student debt and become permanently unhirable.

Oh yeah, that is a point of legitimate advice. Take all the internships and on-campus jobs you can reasonably get. That's really the only thing i would have done different about my college experience, is maybe picked up one more internship than i did (i did one fall of my junior year). And take advantage of any study abroad programs PSU (or PSU affiliates) offer, and gotten a somewhat more relevant on-campus job. The "reasonably" part of that means that yeah, you as a college student need a fair deal of "you time" as well as a fair deal of "social time." Hell, i got to see Harry Potter 7-2 in glorious iMax just from socializing with my RA.

What I did that really helped me through college was establish a group network.
On the first day of class, and for the first 4-5 classes, before class begins, go to the board and write on the border "(class X) study group. Email (email address) if interested"
I had a group of about 5 in every class and we exchanged notes, worked out problems together, and helped each other learn.

Film clubs are great ways to get to know people (though film club people generally annoy me :-p).  Someone mentioned study groups and that's another good way, I've made some lifelong friends that way.  Another thing to look into is when you do decide a major, look to see if there's a professional fraternity for that school.  A professional fraternity is *very* different from a social one so don't let the word fraternity throw you off (and I say fraternity, but most allow male/female or aren't called fraternity).

If you take an archecture class it can absolutely be applied to games.  You begin to learn how things are built which is super important to making a believable space.  Why is there an arch?  Why are the doors located where they're located?  How big would this building really be?  Like I said, it's pretty easy to apply most anything to games.  Hell, you could turn a film degree pretty easily into a design or writing career.

As for the type of games, I'd say branch out if you're serious.  I hated shooters and only liked RPG's before I got into game development, now I'm pretty much opposite.  If it's your passion and you work hard enough then anything can happen.  Besides, in 4-6 years who knows where the game industry will be (which also makes it kind of scary).

^^ I'd recommend anime club. Best friends i made in college i made in anime club

I'd suggest having as much fun as possible for the first year. First year in computer programming was so easy, I was drunk and stoned almost everyday and passed all my classes with grades 70+. Even did midterms and exams stoned... ah the good days. Just don't forget to do your work... far less assignments and homework (in my experience), but because of that everything was worth a huge chunk of final grade.

Attend your classes, do your homework, get a job (to at least partially pay for school), join clubs, etc. And if you think you will be swamped, you very well may have certain weeks where you can't do too much because you have 3 or 4 tests. But trust me in the fact that you will have TONS of extra time on your hands. That is why it is crucial you join clubs and socialize with people.

Have a good attitude about how you will do on exams. It sounds stupid, but thinking you are going to do bad on an exam will likely make you do worse on the exam.

Try not to cram study. I myself do this on occasion, and it truly isn't enjoyable. Rather than cramming material in for 8 hours the day before a couple exams, study for 1 hour each day for the 8 days leading up to the exam. Not only will it not suck as much, but you will actually have a far better understanding of the material.

Feel free to go to parties and other social events with friends, but do NOT let it interfere with your schooling. Don't party if you have class the next day (Trust me, not a good idea), and if you are intending on partying on a Saturday night, think ahead. You are probably going to feel like absolute shit on Sunday, so it will probably be a good idea to finish all your homework on Saturday. That will leave you a full day Sunday to just chill.

Try to do your homework before gaming. I know it can be incredibly tempting to toss that homework down at times and start playing some games, but it is SO much less stressful if you finish your homework and then play the games knowing you are done for the night. You don't have to worry about not leaving yourself enough time, etc.

If you don't understand something, don't just give up. Ask somebody. Odds are, the teacher is more than willing to help you some if you have been doing your homework and attending class (if you don't do these things, many teachers will not help you, simply put). I don't know about your particular school, but for many generals at my school, there are completely free tutors available. Use them if necessary. Once you get to higher up classes, free tutoring will likely not be around, so don't be scared to form a study group or something of that sort to work through problems with somebody else.

Finally, the odds are likely you will get an occasional professor you simply do not get along with. Whether they just choose to hate you for no particular reason (I never have understood this one), or some other thing, it happens. Just continue trying your hardest, and if you wind up getting a C even though you feel you should have gotten an A or B, it really sucks, but you know you tried your hardest, and you know you learned something. Do not let this deter you from what you determine you want to do eventually.

I had a professor that followed this exact sample. The final exam was an essay based exam (for a finance class about investing...doesn't make much sense) that was for 100% of my grade. I get my final grade, and find out I got a D on the exam and got it curved up to a C due to doing well in the stock game that we played. I emailed him, only to receive a dickhead response saying 2 out of 5 of my essays were essentially horrendous, despite being exactly what the professor discussed throughout the semester. This kind of thing will happen to you. I just want to say again, don't let it get to you. Yes, it sucks that I got a C (when I try to be an A student), but 1 little C isn't going to ruin the rest of my life.

Hmm, for Soriku?

First off, join a club, any club. If you want to play a sport, at least try it out for a few weeks. In general be a part of SOMETHING with 10-15 people. That is how you network.

Second, make sure whoever your advisor is, you become chummy and friendly with them. Before tests, ask them what you should study and what to expect, stuff like that. That way you can get special treatment. Sounds like cheating, but Ive seen it first hand. You wont give a damn about special treatment when your GPA is high at the end.

Some classes will be harder then others, but for those really hard ones, STUDY. STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY for at least an hour the very same day you have that hard class. It is so easy to let the work snowball and let you fall behind. Go over your notes in your notebook. I would write in my notebook....but never actually go over it after class. BIG MISTAKE!

Three? And this is my opinion only, do not try to get into videogaming for a career. With business you can do human resources or maybe make a quick switch into accounting. But video game creation is a true nightmare from what I have heard. Long hours, no recognition, and stiff market entry.

Girls....freshman year, do not worry about a girlfriend. If you can have casual bang sessions, stick with that. Sophmore to Senior year, make a girl you GF only if you truly like her. You will just know inside when you truly like a girl outside of her looks. It will just happen 100%. For your first year, build their trust and get a few ones that look good. I wasn't even getting tons of action, but people thought I was cause I hung around girls I felt I deserved - cute ones only.

Drinking? Start early in a quiet safe place so you can realize what your limits are if you choose to drink regularly. Do not get caught with an underage that will ruin your career from the get-go. Three shots of cheap vodka and a whole 40oz was fun.... :) Keep your reputation as the NON-sloppy kid if it becomes a hobby. Overall be responsible and watch who you hang around when you do it. You do not go to college just to get in trouble for them, and Ive been to Penn State...

Socialize. I don't care if you throw on a fake persona and call yourself Stone Cold Steve Soriku, behave confidently and put yourself out there. It is hard to reject a non-awkward person who is smiling and lively to be around. Try to work on your dance moves too (random I know)

USE THE GYM. I'm talking weight-lifting. You don't even have to play a sport. But if you go hard in the gym for an hour, 3 times a week, it is prime. By the time the first year is over (which will pass by in a flash) you'll probably be in the best shape of your life and people WILL notice, even if you don't necessarily gain weight.

Um...that is about it I think. College isnt really like the movies. Girls will be clickish the first year but the complete opposite the 2nd year. Take your time, be patient and assertive, and go for what you want.
Enjoy the times.

Huh. Strange. I hadn't realised the school/uni started at this time in the northern hemisphere. As someone who is studying in the Southern Hemisphere, we have been having classes for half the year now.

Good luck with your studies. Some have already mentioned it but the most important is to NEVER miss any of your classes. You will get teachers that range from great to ugh but going to class (and studying) will see you through.