There’s no secret that the jump from high school to college is one of, if not, the most significant jump somebody will take in his or her young adult lives. There are tangible differences between the two. The noticeable change is that you aren’t required to attend everyday, Monday through Friday through a fixed time of 7:20-2:11. Counselors in high school could set and change your schedule. In college, it’s different; you set your own schedule where you can be as flexible as needed. The bottom line is: you have more control of your own academic life once you approach college.
However, once you’re in college, the personal responsibility increases. Yes, you may not have to attend class every day. The inference your professors make with having classes once or twice a week is that the responsibility of getting assigned readings, writing notes, and assignments done falls solely on you. You have to become more fiscally responsible not only with your tuition, but also with books. Your instructors will not be supplying books like you did in high school. So, you have to set aside a decent amount of money to pay for your own books. These usually aren't cheap. If you are going full time, books might be pushing close to $1,000. It is also your responsibility, if rented books, to return them at the end of the term. Nobody will be there to consistently remind you to return them.
At the beginning of the term, professors will present you with a syllabus outlining what the class expectations will be, what material will be covered, and what the instructor’s office hours will be to get extra help. Treat this as treasure. Go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Establish some form of a routine that you can be comfortable with, but don’t pigeon-hole yourself to where you can’t deviate from your routine in case of emergencies. Establish some form of balance in your schedule between your classes, work, free time, and other commitments.
Set up a quiet study location, free of distractions. Keep some form of music or talk radio on as background noise so your brain can drown out all the noise, and you can zone yourself into your studies. A personal recommendation I would make is to put on some kind of talk radio, present or past, so ideas from those can be further absorbed, and potentially provide an outlet of inspiration. Keeping and maintaining some level of organization so your notes, assignments, and essays can be easily found is crucial; the worst scenario is a beautifully written essay not being able to found in a muddled mess on your computer.
The establishment of critical elements of routine, organization, and flexibility will reduce your anxiety levels exponentially. You can have your fun, downtime, socializing, homework, and work schedule work itself out excellently. This will segue into finals week, where you have all your notes and previous assignments in one convenient location, ready for you to look over. The substitution of homework time is easily swapped out with studying time. A quote that succinctly describes it is: “Know exactly the situation you’re in, and what you have to do.”