If you are a college student, good grades should be your top priority. But, college is about much more than success in the classroom. Here are a few suggestions that can help all college students.

Although you should study hard enough to get good grades, that shouldn’t be your only focus on campus. In fact, being a total bookworm is not recommended, as you will not develop the appropriate social skills for a successful career if you are constantly isolated. You need a good balance of studying, health and social life in order to have total college success. You should still take some time to do sports or exercise. Like study habits, it’s best to develop good fitness habits now because it will be darn hard later in life. If you don’t believe me, just take a good look outside or in a shopping mall to see your average American physique.

If you want to keep having a healthy body for many years to come, you have to stay physically active. It doesn’t matter whether you exercise through sports on campus, outside clubs/leagues, with your friends or even on your own. Just be active. Find activities that you will enjoy. If you don’t know what you like, try different things out. You can play tennis, try team sports like basketball, workout at one of the campus gyms, snowboard, do martial arts or even dance. The options are endless on college campuses.

One of the benefits of living on campus is easy access to modern exercise and athletic facilities. Remember that diet is also important. Limit your junk food intake but be sure to get the calories you need to support an active lifestyle .

Make time for a social life. Social interaction will of course help develop good skills for your future career. Partying is okay, but if too much partying is affecting your grades, then you have to cut down. Go ahead and party if your grades are ok, but don’t let them sink.

And, don’t put your future at risk by violating drug, drinking, or other laws. Don’t make a stupid mistake that results in an arrest record which may haunt you forever.

If you have time, consider part-time work during the school year and be sure to work during the summers, in your related fields if possible. Besides making some of your own extra spending money, you will learn to deal with different people. You can only develop these people skills outside the classroom. Often a well-rounded B+ average individual with good people skills will achieve more than the A+ student lacking in social skills. Professional success will depend on a combination of intelligence and people skills, not intelligence alone.

Develop a culturally diverse circle of friends. Not only will it enrich your life, it will prepare you for success in our increasingly diverse workplaces.

Finally, sit in when good guest speakers are on campus. Guest speakers can expose you to useful or entertaining content that you do not get in your regular classes.

Study hard and keep your grades up. But, understand that there is more to college than academics alone. Don’t leave college without enjoying all of its benefits.