Forget the party atmosphere and take advantage of college

It's that time of year again. As summer vacation gave way to the fall semester, 5,050 freshmen began their college careers Aug. 23 gripped by a wide array of hopes, expectations and aspirations.

Through FallFest, these new students got their first taste of West Virginia University's infamous "wild side." The perception of WVU as a place for people who love to party is undoubtedly why many of them chose to come here.

As you've probably heard, the "Princeton Review" placed WVU as the No. 4 party school in its annual ranking. The Review also ranked us No. 5 in the "students who study least" category, a few spots lower than the prized No. 1 spot we held last year.

This perception of WVU, while grounded in some truth, leads many people to overlook the plethora of opportunities the University has to offer students of just about any interest. Believe it or not, there is a whole lot more to WVU than wild parties, football games and couch burning.

As someone who spent a year at a small liberal arts school that didn't offer a fraction of the opportunities readily available to students here, I have a piece of advice for incoming freshmen and transfer students: Do not take it for granted.

These next four years will probably be some of the most memorable of your life, and they will shape who you will be for the rest of your adult life. Whether you are interested in student organizations, intramural sports, studying abroad or bonding with a world-renowned professor, West Virginia University has something for you.

While there's nothing wrong with enjoying the time you have here, it truly would be a shame for you to pass up on all of the great opportunities afforded by the University. It's no coincidence that WVU has produced 25 Rhode's Scholars, 33 Goldwater Scholars and 21 Truman Scholars.

It's unfortunate that the notion WVU is a place where people are concerned with little more than partying tends to overshadow the endless possibilities it provides for ambitious, motivated students.

Regardless of whether you are looking for a unique new experience or you are searching for other people who share your background or interests, you won't have to look very far.

For example, if you are interested in fencing, there's a student organization for that. How about astronomy? There's a student organization for that, too. Human rights? The Republican Party? The Democratic Party? Protecting the environment?

There are student organizations for all of those. And if you're interested in something that doesn't already have a student organization, you can start your own.

Student organizations are a great way to build a network of people who share your interests and career goals, and they provide you with priceless leadership experience.

Maybe you are interested in doing research in neuroscience? There's a summer internship for that. How about research in nanotechnology or cancer? Well, there are also summer internship programs for those. Want to volunteer your time to help others or simply to build your resume? Check with the Center for Civic Engagement.

There is always a steady stream of diverse opportunities to volunteer ranging from recycling to disaster relief fundraisers. Whether it's doing research on the human nervous system, studying abroad in Europe or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, there's no shortage of opportunities is for life-defining experiences here.

It all comes down to how willing you will be to pursue these opportunities as they come up, and they will come up often.

You are now at the beginning of a journey that will probably transform you and one that will provide the foundation for your future personal and professional lives. During your time here, you will be given very powerful tools for success.

All it takes to utilize these tools is a strong desire to achieve. If you have the will power and the work ethic to excel, you have the opportunity to put yourself on the track to being WVU's next nationally recognized scholar.

Or you could succumb to indifference and contribute to the negative image of WVU as a large party school that has little more to offer than booze and a lively nightlife.

The choice is yours.