1) Consider taking a year off before you start to build things on your own -- I regret not doing this, and I don't know anyone who took a gap year and regretted

1) Consider taking a year off before you start to build things on your own -- I regret not doing this, and I don't know anyone who took a gap year and regretted it. If you've already gotten admitted, you can probably defer, especially given COVID. 2) Start showing up to grad classes, research seminars, and lab meetings from day 1 -- the experience of understanding, analyzing, and critiquing cutting-edge research with the help of grad students and professors who know what they're talking about is the most valuable intellectual experience research universities have to offer, and you shouldn't wait till later in undergrad to start. 3) When you find people you want to spend time with, actively make time to do that. Organize events to bring your friends and other interesting people together in a low-pressure social environment. 4) Look for people to work with whom you trust implicitly to (a) have your back and (b) make progress even when you're asleep. 5) Learn how to write by writing a lot and posting it publicly -- college gives you a built-in audience and lots of sources of constructive feedback. 6) Ignore what people think of you to the extent possible, and take more social risks than you're comfortable with.