Your car. If you've got one, drive it everywhere. Having to rely on public transportation is like having to depend on Viagra. When you're in the mood to do something, it's no fun waiting for the train to pull up to the station. At home you can just hop in the driver's seat, pop on the radio and go.

Weekends. In college, given the absence of the aforementioned formal scholastic schedule, the weekends can sometimes blend into the rest of the week. There's no respect for the sanctity of the Lord's days, and instead of watching the third round of the Buick Open, you may actually find yourself being productive. So, while you still have the choice, do nothing on the weekends. "Lounge, lounge, lounge," should be your mantra.

The local beach, golf course or stadium. Every town has an idyllic spot where the youngsters go to commune with nature and break the law. In the next two months, you should litter yours with more bottle caps than Bert would know what to do with.

Your local diner/coffee shop. You've been there drunk, sober and every state in between. There's nothing quite like the feel of a Grand Slam breakfast on top of a stomach full of beer. Cherish your last few visits to your favorite haunt.

Last, but not least, your friends. If you're considering a school like Harvard, chances are you'll never be around normal people again. Talk to your friends, date your friends, if you have the opportunity, pick out an attractive one and propose marriage. The next few months constitute your last chance for healthy interpersonal interaction. Make the most of them.

I realize that much of this disquisition must sound like hollow nostalgia. And I'm sure that many of you are chomping at the bit, anxious to experience college living. You'll get that chance soon enough. But, in the meantime, if you find yourself feeling restless, remember: The grass isn't always greener. For instance, here at Harvard, it's teal. Noah D. Oppenheim '00 is a social studies concentrator in Adams House. His column appears on alternate Fridays.