Being in college is hard. Period. One minute you're on top of the world, the next minute you've hit rock bottom eating Ben & Jerry's on your dorm floor. But the ups are worth the downs, and here are five things I wish I would've known coming into college.

1. College is HARD

Okay, you've heard it a thousand times, but yes it is really hard. You could be valedictorian in high school, but you'll still be spending long nights in the library cramming.

2. All your problems won't be fixed.

"I can't wait to be out of high school." I think I said this about a million times during my senior year. I was done with my hometown, my gossip obsessed friends, overbearing parents, etc. Now in college, those problems are gone, but I still feel social pressures and responsibilities.

3. You're going to miss home

In the first week of college, it's euphoric. You are free from your parents' rules and opinions; life couldn't be better. Eventually, this state of euphoria ends, and you're knee deep in homework and living off of dining hall food with three dollars to your name. You just want real food from your mom, your own bed, and the comfort of knowing you're not in thousands of dollars in debt.

4. Friends won't come easy

For me, I was lucky enough to become great friends with the people across the hall and my roommate. But I know for some this wasn't the case. A current friend of mine is still struggling to find her niche, and that's okay. Don't feel pressure to become best friends with the first people you meet. Real connections take time.

5. Friends back home will become distant

Going into college, it's natural to drift apart from people, but I didn't realize how easy it would be. Me and my hometown friends talk occasionally, but even then, the conversations seem short and are basically just little updates about our lives. When you take high school out of the equation, you really see what friends were real friends and what friends were just convenient to have.

6. Not everyone is a good person or will like me

I lived in a small town my whole life and always was taught to see the best in people. I never thought anyone would try to hurt me or take advantage of me or my kindness. A month into college I know to also be on my guard when walking alone, day or night. I also learned that there are people I'm really not compatible with. I spent my entire childhood with the same people and learned to adapt to others around me. We all had similar views, friends, and relations with one another. Here, there are people completely different from me, and I've accepted we won't ever get along.