After you begin a game you will learn the story of the protagonist through a few slides.
They explain that your father recently passed away due to a suspicious accident at age 40 leaving you orphaned. The police investigated the nature behind your father's death but no conclusive results were found.
You've been taken in my an old friend of your father's who is now being pressured by some crooks over debt your father allegedly owes. 
Today is your first day back at college after taking some time off to deal with your father's death and you have resolved to make enough money for your next semester's tuition, find out what happened to your father, and find a date for the Sorority Ball. 
You'll then wake up and get ready for your first day back where control is granted to the player to start exploring the world.