Two distracted students reply:

"My distraction is friends. There is always something fun going on and it is hard to say no to my friends when I need to do work and they are inviting me out to have a good time."

"Involvement is my biggest distraction. There's always plenty to do both on and off campus, so it's a tough balance between in-class and out-of-class activities. It's all about prioritizing and managing your time."

Two students' opinions:

"In high school, I thought I was busy. Compared to how much I do now with work, school and friends, I am way busier. The lifestyle is completely different, but definitely different in a good way."

"In college, you need to be more active in your learning. No one is there telling you what to do, and so you have to have the initiative to get your work done."

"I pick my classes based on the required classes for my major and for my liberal arts degree. There are so many classes to pick from, however, that it is fairly easy to find something to take that fulfills these requirements that is also personally interesting."

"Some classes and some majors are more challenging than others. For this reason it is important to do the required reading outside of class and keep up with the work. Once you see your class syllabus on the first day, you will probably have an idea of how much time you will need to spend studying for that particular class. It definitely pays off; what you put in you get back in the end in the form of a good grade."

"It's very easy to get involved. At the beginning of every semester at my school, there's an open house where student groups are invited to share information with prospective members. There are so many different clubs and organizations, not to mention concerts and sporting events, that it is not hard to find something you enjoy. I highly recommend getting involved."

"I like to keep busy. It is hard for me to not be doing something, but I always need to keep in mind that 'me time' is important too. I find using a day planner is a very easy way to keep track of my commitments, inside and outside of class."

"Many schools will require that you have a meal plan. It is definitely a very convenient way to get all your meals. The dining halls are usually centrally located and designed to handle large crowds, so lines are not too bad. Plus, you don't have to do the dishes."

Two students' experiences:

"It was not hard to settle in. Everyone is nervous about classes, friends, homework, sports, clubs and everything else, and for this reason it is really easy to make new friends right off the bat."

"At first it took me a while to get settled in my new college environment, but I got used to it. I was open-minded and developed a routine for myself."

"I stay focused by thinking about what I want to accomplish by doing whatever work it is I am doing. I set goals for myself and reward myself when I complete these goals."

"I did not find it difficult. There is always the gym to go to. If this is not your thing there are plenty of intramural sports to get involved with. Walking around campus is also a big part of staying in shape. I always try to take the stairs inside buildings."

"A typical day starts at seven thirty in the morning when I wake up to shower and get ready for class. I go to class, then I go to lunch, then I work for the rest of the day. When I get out of work I meet up with friends for dinner, and then go find a place to study. After I am done studying I go home and watch some TV, then go to bed."

"Classes are very interesting. Professors can be so knowledgeable about a topic, which can be intimidating. It's important to remember that they are there because they want to be there teaching and talking with you."

"The food is pretty good at my school, but nothing beats home cooking. It is definitely easy to eat (sometimes too easy), but it can get a little boring after a while."

Two students offer their opinions:

"I would live on campus, at least for your first year if at all possible. Living on campus is, in my opinion, the easiest way to meet people. You will live together, work together, eat together and play together. It is also a great way to develop people skills; learning to live civilly with others is an important life skill."

"It all depends on your comfort and what you can afford. Living on campus will allow you to meet many other students your age, and it will make the adjustment a lot easier. Living off campus will give you a lot of freedom; you get to make your own rules and determine what you do with your time. Living at home will be less expensive but may limit the amount of time you can spend getting to know your college campus."

Perspectives from three students:

My biggest adjustment moving from high school to college was meeting new people, managing free time, and getting adjusted to the college class schedule.�

Time management was one of my biggest adjustments moving from high school to college.�

I think my biggest adjustment moving from high school to college was living in a dorm. You have to make sure you are respectful of others as well.�

"My biggest challenge has been adjusting to the work load. There are fewer hours of class in the day, but more work to do outside of class. It can also be difficult to motivate myself to go to class."

"No. I had to take some classes, such as writing, for my liberal arts requirements, while some classes I took purely because I found them to be interesting. It can be a nice change of pace to take a couple classes outside of your major. Your academic advisor can help you determine which classes you need to complete your general education requirements and which ones count for your major."

"Final exams can be very stressful. They are often worth a large portion of your grade. It is definitely important to figure out a good way to study for a given exam and to follow a study plan. Don't cram the night before."

"Many colleges offer free or reduced price tutoring through a college tutoring office. Also, professors and teaching assistants who hold office hours may be able to help you with any questions or problems you might have."

Two students, two different experiences:

"I kicked my nerdy parents out so that I could meet new people without them hanging around. A bunch of us from my floor went shopping together for school and dorm room supplies, then we hung out in a friend's room and watched a movie. We did not have class that day."

"On my first day of college, I set up my dorm room with my mom. When she left, I cried. But, I met so many people in my dorm that day that it made it a little easier."

Three students share their experiences:

"I was a little overwhelmed by how many people there were and how many different things were going on. But it didn't take long to adjust and meet people.

"At first, I was overwhelmed by the sense of freedom and responsibility I had when my parents drove away. But it was also a great time to meet so many people from many different backgrounds. I found myself thinking, 'This is going to be a great four years!'"

"I was terrified and lost. During the first two weeks, I was very homesick and wanted to go home very badly. But then I made some new friends who helped make the transition a little easier."

"I typically take four or five classes in a semester. This depends on how many credits I need to fulfill toward my degree, and how much time I have to take the classes and do the associated coursework."

"It can be hard to live with a roommate. It is important to develop some ground rules that will make sharing a small space with another person easier to do. It is important to stick to these ground rules."

Ideas from three students:

"I made friends in college by being open and talking to everyone I met. Sometimes this meant going out of my comfort zone and doing new things. It was definitely worth it, though."

"I just put myself out there and started talking to people in my dorm and classes. The nice thing is that everyone's in the same boat, so you don't have to feel awkward or weird about talking to people."

"You start with just seeing people in classes or just jumping into a group of people and making conversation. Join clubs or athletics to meet others with your interests and go to school functions."

"This depends on your program. Some schools allow you to pick classes ahead of time, some do not. It never hurts to contact a particular school's advising office to learn about their procedures."

"No, I'm not part of one, but you can choose to join a sorority or fraternity, or any of the other student organizations that are offered on your campus. What's important is that you get involved in an organization or activity that fits you and with what you want to accomplish."

Three students offer these suggestions:

Professors can help, especially your freshman seminar teachers or advisors. Most of the time they are very willing to help students who are having trouble adjusting.�

If I have problems adjusting to college I ask my older family members and friends who went to college.�

At my college, we have college life guidance counselors and they help with adjusting to the college academic life as well as the social life. Find out if your school has college life counselors.�