DAPHNE, Ala. — Assistant Dean of Engineering Student Services at Auburn University Bob Karcher spoke to the students and parents of Bayside Academy’s Upper School recently about preparing for college and what to expect as college freshmen.

“College is a full-time job,” Karcher said, advising students to study three hours for every hour of class they take. “If you take 15 hours a semester, you will need to study an additional 30 hours. That’s 45 hours a week to spend on your courses.”

Karcher stressed the need to work hard as high-school underclassmen, for it is the grades earned as freshmen, sophomores and juniors that their transcripts will reflect when they apply for college as seniors. Likewise, as high school graduates, “The GPA you achieve your first semester of college is the biggest predictor of your educational success for the rest of your college career,” Karcher said.

College shouldn’t be all work, however, Karcher advised.

“This is an exciting time in your lives,” he said. “Enjoy it.”