How do I make the most out of the college experience?

Keep study in mind first and foremost. Go to football games. Join clubs that interest you. Make friends.

Lay off drugs boose and sex and that stupid hazing crap.

Concentrate on your studies, but save what time you can to make friends. Connections are always good to have and you need other people in your life. I agree with not getting into the partying thing big time. It’s to easy to flunk out. Use your good judgment and think ahead.
You say you are returning to college. You know what the pitfalls are. Avoid them. Keep your eye on the goal. And best luck to you.
I sound like my father.

Sit in the front row in class. This makes it easier to pay attention because there will be fewer distractions for you. I went back to college in my mid-20s after an unsuccessful run right out of high school. Sitting in the front row helped me the second time around.

From an earlier question, you indicated that you were much older than the traditional undergraduate. That will color your behavior everywhere; your own interests and social needs will guide you in the right direction.

Wherever you go, you go to. Social butterflies remain that way, guys who do the 3:00 AM student radio broadcast stay that way also.

Live on campus. Don’t wait for others to approach you, go out and make friends. Study; take your opportunity to learn seriously. Don’t drink or do drugs, and if you do don’t do a lot of it. If your school has a a big footbal team go to at leas a few games, even if you aren’t i to sports.

I loved college, so much fun! I wish I could do it again.

How to get the most out of it depends on why you are there. If you are there to get a liberal arts education, the answer is one thing. If you are there to get credentials for a job, the answer is another thing.

If you think college is about job credentials and future income, then I can’t talk to you because that is a completely different mindset from the one I have. That kind of mindset misses the point of college, I think. You might as well take courses online.

If you are there to get an education, then your approach should be to follow what you’re interested in, and also to become well-rounded. Well-rounded means college is about life, not just education and especially not just job credentials. But if you just want credentials, you probably think the idea that education is about much more just doesn’t make sense.

Meet new people and form study groups.

Make friends with teachers you admire!

Join one extracurricular group you enjoy and really devote yourself to it.

Join not only study groups but sports groups as well so your life would not be so boring.