College isn't easy. It's a state of limbo where you feel like you're no longer a kid but not quite an adult. You have none of your old responsibilities but a ton of new ones and your parents are no longer hovering over your shoulder and forcing you to do your homework. There are a ton of obstacles that you have to overcome by yourself.

Here are five of them:

1. Autonomy

Now, this one sounds like a good thing, but trust me, it isn't. When mom isn't shoveling vegetables down your throat anymore, it's really easy to eat chicken nuggets for dinner every night. Or to skip your morning class just this once (or twice). Don't worry. One day you'll wake up, realize they serve salad in the dining hall and remember all those health classes from high school where they told you that if you don't eat a carrot every few days you'll die. The panic of being in charge of your own wellbeing will overpower the desire to nap 24/7 and live off of Chick-Fil-A.

2. Being broke

I know a lot of college students who have never had to worry about money. Honestly, I know a few college students who don't have to worry about money now. But some of you are in for a wakeup call. When your bank account starts looking like the number on the back of a basketball jersey, you know it's time to get a job. The paycheck won't be huge, but it might make up for the hours no longer spent sleeping or studying.

3. Self-doubt

This isn't new for most people, but college is really where the self-doubt runs rampant. Did you pick the right major? Are you in the right classes? Will you graduate on time? Will you ever wake up on time for your 8 a.m. class? For this one, there isn't much of a cure. Just take a deep breath and remember to set the alarm on your phone for 6:30 a.m., 6:45 a.m., 7 a.m., 7:15 a.m., and 7:30 a.m., and apologize to your roommate later.

4. Your professors

OK, I know that there are some great professors out there. But you definitely won't think they're great when the first mention of your midterm comes two days before you have to take it, or when you realize none of their PowerPoint slides are on Blackboard. Obsessively check the syllabus every day and beg for extra credit the week before finals and you'll probably even deserve that B-minus.

5. Yourself

One thing people don't like telling you is that no matter how smart or hardworking you are, things are bound to go wrong. You might misread the due date of a project. You might break your laptop right before a big presentation. Your car (or your mental health) might break down on finals day. Instead of beating yourself up over things you can't control, sometimes you just have to take the L, email your professor, and keep living your life. Take a mental health day. Go talk to someone. Read a book. Take a nap. In the end, whatever happens will happen and one missed quiz won't be the end of the world. Don't forget the motto that every college student stands by, the one that speaks to our very souls and gets us through even the longest study sessions: Cs get degrees!