Officials at the US Department of Education are urging incoming college freshmen to stay on track this summer.

A recent post on the department’s Homeroom blog notes that up to one-third of high school grads admitted to higher ed institutions fail to show up in the fall.

The piece offers these tips to students:

• Open every piece of snail mail you get from your college and read it all.
• Check your email.
• Keep track of your to-dos with a checklist.
• Check with your school about any questions you have.

“Once a college admits you, they will help you register, attend, and graduate,” the blog post notes. “There is almost nothing they haven’t been asked before, so don’t feel like you’re the only one asking a certain question.”

Read the full piece and see more tips for incoming freshmen.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.