When I went off to college, I was given the following advice: do my laundry, write home, stop by the student aid office; and, if I ran out of money, I should find work in the cafeteria or the library. That was it. Twenty-five years later I told my college-bound son and daughter to drive carefully, study hard, don't drink too much, write home, and do their laundry. Through a huge lapse of memory, I forgot to tell them what to do if they ran out of money. Big mistake!

It is now the year 2000. What should every college bound young man and woman know or be concerned about regarding health and illness prevention? Four important issues are:

1. Alcohol use and automobile driving
2. Sexually transmitted diseases
3. Weight gain
4. Health insurance.

College life without a party is like Tybee without the sea breeze. Alcohol use among collegiates is common and requires your respect. Don't get caught in the pickle of going to a football game, a party, and trying to drive home or to the dorm with too many beers behind you. If guys think they can handle it, think again. Male, college age party animals have twice the average risk of dying in an auto accident. Use the I.Q. that got you to college in the first place. Plan ahead and choose designated drivers; you know the drill. God forbid, you could even take the campus bus or walk home.

Beware of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It is common to wonder if your college friends are smarter or more experienced in all kinds of things including sex. When it comes to knowledge about STDs, college students should assume that any sexual contacts have "C minus" knowledge. In the freshman college class, 25% have had an STD exposure (i.e. Chlamydia, Herpes, or one of 18 other disorders including HIV). Only five percent, however, are aware of their prior exposures or current infections. The college age group is by far the riskiest of all age groups for STDs. Still, college freshmen believe the risk of "catching something" during unprotected sex is very low. Most college freshmen have never been tested for STD, have never asked a sexual contact about STD, and have no idea about how the common STDs are treated and cured. This is all true because most freshmen have never discussed STDs with a physician. The best protection against STD is abstinence. It is still ok to say "No." Nearly half of the class has done so. Never engage in unprotected sex. Anyone who suggests otherwise should be given a failing grade in Relationships 101.

For confidential counseling you can always call the CDC National STD Hotline (1-800-227-8922). The freshman class will gain ten tons of weight this year. The first year of college is associated with an average weight gain of 12-20 pounds per student. Regular meals, socializing with snacks during free time, alcohol, reduced exercise, and stress all play some role. Make plans to exercise as much as you did in high school, limit the amount of time spent in the cafeteria, or be prepared for the shock of a lifetime when you weigh yourself at Christmas break. You will have indeed become a Big Man on Campus!

Finally, don't go to college without health insurance. When you were living at home, you were possibly covered by parental insurance plans. Be sure the coverage extends to the college campus. University health plans are often paid in part by your tuition and may be less expensive than the family plan at home. Look closely into your health insurance plan before you find yourself in need of medical care while away at school.

These are a few new tips for the freshman college class of 2000. The old ones still apply: write home, do your own laundry; and, if funds run out, get a job.