the most. If you don't get snagged in the temptation to stay up too late and sleep through your alarm, you'll be ahead of the game. Some of your new acquaintances will party hardy and then be conspicuously absent from morning classes. Staying out late during the school week will make it too easy to hit your alarm and roll over in bed. Remember last year when mom or dad hollered up the stairs to see if you had gotten up in the morning? Well, now you are on your own. So when the alarm buzzes, do the responsible thing and get up and get going.

3. Learn to study

Many students who are top of their classes in high school have never really learned how to study. The large amounts of material that is thrown at them during each college classes and the short amount of time they have to learn it, is a big surprise to allot of freshman. If you've never really had to study, you will now.

Establish good schoolwork habits right away and make it a point to complete reading assignments on time. Scrutinize your notes several times between classes so that you start learning right away. Commit important terms and specific information to memory as you go. Learning how to study will keep you from having to cram too much material, too late, and ending up behind and overwhelmed.

4. Avoid Toxic Relationships

College is a time of leaving behind many high school friendships that may have lasted all four years. It's also a time for making new friends; more mature friends-at least that should be the plan. Look for friends that have a balanced perspective on studying and yet enjoying college life. Avoid those new buddies that encourage you to just have fun and don't seem to have any academic goals. If you let yourself get sucked into a social life that is toxic, you'll wake up one day and wish you could do it all over again-but by then it may be too late.

5. Find A Stress Outlet

Once you've gotten your first semester off to a good start, you can step back and look at the bigger picture. Find a physical activity that you can enjoy and that will help you manage your stress. Swim, play golf, rollerblade, or even join a rowing club. If you are getting regular physical exercise, you'll be more inclined to eat better, sleep better, and feel more like taking advantage of the positive experiences of college life.

Well that's it! Pretty soon you'll be on your own, on the college campus of your choice. Oh, mom and dad will still be checking up on you, but you'll have plenty of wiggle room to do your own thing. If you're smart, you'll start off your college experience on the right foot. It's all up to you, though. Welcome to the world of adulthood! Here's hoping you have an awesome freshman year and that, whatever you make of it, your experiences will mostly be those that you do want to write home about.

Learn more about this author, Dr. Deborah Bauers.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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