Do not bring large exotic or farm animals to class

Colleges and universities certainly want to encourage diversity and ensure access for individuals with disabilities. If you want to bring a seeing eye dog or cat to class, that will probably not be a problem. If you need a stuffed animal to be comfortable, that may be OK, too.

Nevertheless, professors and their institutions have to draw the line somewhere. Not only is having a seeing eye giraffe, elephant, or hippopotamus quite disruptive to the educational process; these also take up a great deal of space and, at least occasionally, cause significant damage to the buildings. Because of their obstructive qualities, these may also bring the institution out of compliance with fire and other emergency evacuation regulations. In terms of logistical concerns, those that are not properly house trained may cause serious littering problems and unpleasant odors that will interfere not only with your own learning, but also that of your classmates.

Limit contact with aliens

There is something to be said for having an open mind, so at first glance, this advice might seem disconcerting. Why should you not take the opportunity to benefit from the potential wisdom of visitors from other galaxies?

One reason is pragmatics. This type of interest can become obsessive and detract from your studies. I am not saying to shun these creatures--just limit your socializing to no more than two or three hours a week.

Another reason has to with your credibility. Although it is clearly possible--and by some accounts even probable--that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe (or, for that sake, in parallel universes), most reputable scientists doubt that these fellows have actually visited Earth lately. In addition to possible constraints of possibly not being able to break through the speed of light barrier, the time dimension throws in an additional curve. Civilization on Earth may have been around for a few thousand years and may not last beyond the next thousand years. If we go back in time from the beginning of our Universe (which, by the way, raises some problems, according to certain theoretical physicists which I do not make any claim to understand), being of by just a fraction of a percent could mean that a civilization would be missed by a large margin. The bottom line is that if you claim to be hanging out regularly with aliens, you may suffer a serious loss of credibility. Professors try to grade you only based on your work, but in borderline cases, someone who comes across as a nutcase might end up with the lower grade.

Maintain a wholesome lifestyle

Being of sound mind and body is essential to being a good student.

Watching morally marginal TV programs will pollute your character and will twist your mind away from seeking rational, ethical, and innovative approaches to business. Sleazy magazines are disgusting and will pollute your mind.

Excess alcohol consumption is damaging to both mind and body. Hangovers mean loss of time to study and contemplate course material. Illegal drugs--besides supporting organized crime and terrorists--are truly disgusting and do bad things to your body.

Foul language pollutes not just not the speaker's mind but also those of innocent listeners.

A diet of fast food may be more convenient and may--at the moment--seem more satisfying. However, for a healthy body, fruits and vegetables are critical.

Certain activities are not appropriate before marriage. Aside from this moral consideration, these activities can also entail very severe consequences.

Disturbing the peace, shoplifting, and other crimes tend to be a reflection of a deranged mind. Not only are these morally wrong--they also program your mind for a life of evil and callous disregard for the interests of society.

Don't gossip during class

When one has heard some really juicy stuff, it may be tempting to share that with a classmate. Some individuals may be so tempted that they will resort to do so even during an important class. You should be very sure not to fall for this temptation. While gossiping, you may miss some of your professor's words of wisdom. Gossip may also pollute your character, making you focus on scandal rather than on how you can maximize profit in an ethical manner.

Don't send stupid e-mails

There are occasions when questions might be effectively addressed through e-mail messages, but professors may understandably get annoyed if they receive frivolous e-mails or messages that would require a lengthy answer. Here are some examples of clearly inappropriate e-mails that tend to label you as a substandard and/or inconsiderate student:

• Questions whose answers can be found in the syllabus with a little effort. Inquiries such as "When are your office hours?" or "Where is your office" can be particularly irritating.
• Questions that would require a lengthy answer--often based on an inquiry that was only a few lines long. Such questions should be asked during office hours.
• Inquiries about grading. To the extent that you have legitimate questions, office hours are a more suitable venue. Keep in mind that if you inquire "Why did I get such a low grade?" you probably would not find the answer "That is what your paper merited" particularly useful.
• Stupid questions such as "I received a score of 23% on the midterm and 31% on the class project. Can I still get an A in the course?"
• Rude, highly inconsiderate, or morally repugnant questions such as "Are we going to cover anything important in class today? I would really rather go shoplifting than sit through another boring class."

Once time, a not particularly bright student e-mailed me asking about the time of the final. I replied "See syllabus!" He replied back "Thank you."

Work hard

As I have mentioned previously in the context of studying, effort does not guarantee results. Nevertheless, a hard worker is likely to perform significantly better than a soft worker all other things being equal.

Marketing is unquestionably the most important subject you will ever study, so this is really a course in which you should apply yourself. It is important not only to be dedicated to studying, but also to put tremendous energy into your papers, projects, and other assignments.

Refrain from cheating

Many people cheat in hopes of obtaining higher grades, so this advice seems counter-intuitive. Yet, cheating is morally wrong and will, in the long run, come back to haunt you. If you get caught cheating, consequences could be serious. If the cheating is discovered after you graduate, your degree could be taken away. Cheating is also morally wrong and will greatly eat away at your character.

Many colleges are rather soft on cheaters, merely assigning a failing grade for the course. However, if you are turned over to state and/or Federal authorities for prosecution, you could face charges such as extortion by larceny. If you are foreign student, you could be deported and face punishment in your home country as well.