I received an e-mail several weeks ago from a proud mother.

Amanda Murphy wanted to tell me about her son, Taylor Murphy, who graduated earlier this month from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Taylor, she explained, is only 20 years old. Yet, he has already been accepted into the engineering doctoral program at Vanderbilt University.

Ms. Murphy wrote that Taylor was president of the engineering honor society at UTC and that he plans to travel to China this month as part of a delegation of scholars.

“As you can see, I’m pretty proud of him and all of his accomplishments,” Ms. Murphy wrote.

Ms. Murphy has reason to be proud of her son this Mother’s Day. He’s a good guy. Taylor chose Vandy for grad school to stay close to his younger sisters, ages 3, 5 and 7.

I contacted Taylor and asked if he would do me (and other parents) a favor. I wanted him to make a list of practical tips to help people succeed in college.

I figured a guy who finished high school at age 15 and earned an associate’s degree at age 16 might have some worthwhile thoughts on the subject that we could share with our children.

Taylor arrived at the Times Free Press one day last week with his list in his pocket.

Here it is:

* Taylor’s Tip No. 1: “Go to class.”

Taylor says it sounds elementary, but many college students forget that to succeed in college they first have to show up.

“You pay too much money not to go to class,” he said. “People pay so much for a college education, but some seem eager not to succeed.”

* Taylor’s Tip No. 2: “Talk to your teachers.”

“I have good rapport with all of my teachers,” he said, noting that some have become his friends.

It’s not a matter of becoming a teacher’s pet, he said. It’s just smart to tap a professor’s experience for academic advice and career guidance. Mentoring is a benefit of the college experience that some students miss entirely, he said.

* Taylor’s Tip No. 3: “Network with other students.”

The quiet kid in the back row can be an ally if you’ll just reach out, Taylor said.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called a friend and asked, ‘Are you getting these problems?’ ” he said.

* Taylor’s Tip No. 4: “Carve up your work.”

Multi-tasking has almost become a cliché, but there’s much to be said for working on big projects in small chunks, Taylor said.

“There are days when it’s hard to get motivated,” Taylor said. “But sometimes I’ll tell myself, ‘I’ll just work on this for 30 minutes.’ And I end up getting a lot done.”

* Taylor’s Tip No. 5: “Take care of yourself.”

The key to college is moderation, Taylor said. Eat well, get plenty of rest and take time to enjoy life, he said. People who fall into unhealthy habits — or don’t take time to relax — can sabotage their college experience.

“I always have more energy and stay focused better after I workout,” he said. “I also try to sleep well and stay away from caffeine.”