For many students, college is not just a place to learn Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory and the fundamentals of nuclear physics. College also can be a place to meet new people, become involved in activities and simply to have fun.

But for many students, trying to juggle these different aspects of college life can be mind-boggling.

"One thing in college is there are always distractions," said Bryan Borello, an OU junior with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average. "The hardest part is forcing yourself to put your schoolwork first."

Half the battle for many students is getting involved in activities without letting their schoolwork take the fall, said Borello, who maintains his grades while being involved in OU's Advertising Club and serving as head advertising executive for WONE, West Green Radio.

"You can be involved in other activities, but you have to have discipline," he said.

Though success comes in different ways for different people, OU students, faculty and administrators offer all students some tips to make the most of their education.

Betty Hollow, assistant director of OU's Academic Advancement Center, said students first need to learn proper time management to have a well-rounded college experience.

"One of the easiest ways to keep track of time is to make a 'to-do' list. Give priority to things that are most important to you as a student," she said.

If students budget enough time to accomplish all of the day's tasks, they can make the most of their education, said Hal Arkes, OU psychology professor.

"Getting an early start is the best first move," he said.

Senior Jeremy Evanden, who balances his school work with an on-campus job while serving as president of Phi Mu Alpha, OU's professional music fraternity, said students should have courage to pursue all of their goals while in college.

"[It is about] going after goals you want and not being afraid to strive for those," he said.

He said students can be active in extra-curricular activities if they learn effective time management. But he urges students to keep academics as their primary focus.

Two Bowling Green State University professors recently published a book titled Striving for Excellence in College, a college guide that gives students advice to improve their study habits and work skills.

Authors Stuart Keeley, a psychology professor, and Neil Browne, a distinguished economics professor, say college students gain most from taking initiative and participating in the classroom.

Students must learn to ask questions and take charge of their education in order to succeed, Keeley said.

"Many students haven't learned how to be self-starters," he said. "We just want the educational system to be one in which the students feel they have control."

Joel Rudy, OU dean of students and vice president for student affairs, said achieving excellence in college depends on students' drive to succeed and their motivation to reach for goals.

"I think what facilitates a pursuit of excellence is the full understanding and appreciation of their own values, out of which come directly related short- and long-term goals and a commitment to fulfill those goals within a reasonable time frame," Rudy said.

Whether students spend their time cooped up in the library or hop from meeting to meeting, "being a student is a full-time job," Hollow said.