1. Study strategies from high school won’t cut it. Sure they may have gotten you straight A’s and possibly a few awards and distinctions along the way, but don’t expect that same success in college without major changes. There is more emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving so memorizing facts won’t do you any good and pulling all-nighters the night before won’t get you a good grade.

Related: Read this article to learn 23 study strategies that can turn any zero into a hero.

2. Easy A’s are a thing of the past. You may have been one of those students who got away with putting minimal effort and still received an A, but you can throw that mindset out the window. University courses are much more challenging and require significant time and effort. Also, you will likely be graded on a curve so it is possible to score in the 80’s and end up with a C (or worse a D).

3. You will have many commitments and deadlines. Some days will feel as if you’re drowning and the world is against you but remember to take things into perspective, plan ahead, and start early. I recommend using a planner and calendar (e.g., Google Calendar) to keep track of all of your deadlines and events to avoid being blindsided by other commitments.

4. There is much more at stake. Exams are worth more and test scores/grades will either be your golden ticket to graduate school or your gatekeeper. Of course, graduate programs will tell you they don’t implement a cut-off, but if you look at the profile of admitted students it paints a much different picture. Perfect grades aren’t required but you at least need strong academics to be competitive.

5. Work and study smart. This contradicts what many students are told because they are constantly reminded to instead work and study hard. This isn’t wrong per se but the problem is it assumes working/studying hard is the answer to all problems. 

Imagine this: you studied for 6 hours each day for a month prior to an exam but when grades are handed back you receive a C minus. Does this mean you should now study for 12 hours each day for 3 months? No, this means your initial strategy was not effective so you have to find a better one. That’s why there’s the saying “study smarter not harder.”

Related: Click here to learn smart study strategies.

6. Be willing to try new things. Life is all about learning what you do and don’t like but in order to make that determination you have to be open to new experiences. Yes, it will be scary at first but trust me it will all be worth it.

7. Life is also about learning from failure so don’t be afraid to make mistakes. This is how we come to understand the world around us and grow as individuals. Don’t be so hard on yourself just pick yourself up, understand why you failed, and make sure to avoid making the same mistake again.

8. You will see your growth along the way. You’ll amaze yourself by how much you will grow as an individual throughout your college years and will look back with fond memories. I recommend journaling and taking pictures to capture all of the fun times as well as the bad (you can’t go wrong with a classic polaroid camera).

9. You’re an adult now so act like it. I wish I learned this before I started college instead of learning it the hard way. I came with the same expectation I had in high school which made my initial college experience a little bumpy. Here is what I learned about being an adult:

• Be responsible and accountable to yourself (your professors won’t be there to hold your hand)
• Stop giving excuses (valid or not just apologize and don’t make that mistake again)
• Eat like an adult (learn to cook properly for yourself)
• Sleep like an adult (practice good sleeping habits)
• Take care of your physical and mental health (prevention is the best medicine)
• Honor your commitments (if you say you’re going to do something at a specific time then do it).

Coming to this realization earlier would have saved me pain and humiliation so trust me when I say you don’t want to make this mistake as well. Remember, once you walk across that stage to receive your high school diploma, you are now an adult and education as you know it will be over.

10. Practice financial prudence. Every college student should learn how to cut costs and save for a rainy day regardless of your socioeconomic status – everyone stands to benefit from smart money-management. This means buy on a budget, use coupons when you can, and track your expenses. College isn’t cheap and the struggle is real so why dig yourself in a bigger hole?

11. Exercise regularly. This can be particularly difficult once you fall into a routine but it is important to get your daily dose of vitamin D. You will feel more energized and refreshed so you won’t need that cup of coffee to start your day. Remember a little goes a long way especially with your health.

12. There will always be time to save the world. I get it, you want to accomplish so much in such little time, but remember to also take a personal day once in a while. Strike a balance between work and personal time because it will help you stay sane over your four years.

13. The early bird catches the worm. One of my biggest regrets in college was sleeping in frequently. I often found myself waking up around the afternoon having missed the opportunity to work in the morning. However, I recently fixed my sleep schedule to begin my day early and it has done wonders. I am more productive and complete most of my work during the day. Trust me, you don’t want to fight this lonely battle.

14. Focus more on courses that interest you and less on GPA-boosters. College should be a time of self-exploration and finding your interests but this won’t happen unless you let yourself be you. Stop worrying about maintaining a pristine GPA and I have actually found that I perform better in classes I truly enjoy. I recommend using the general education requirement as an opportunity to find a major that suits you.

15. Decide whether graduate school is for you. The earlier you come to this conclusion the better because it is a major commitment. Ask yourself: Am I willing to invest 5-7 additional years of my life to conduct research? Does my career choice require an advanced degree? Is it worth it? I recommend doing your research beforehand because not all programs are the same even within the same specialty.

16. Take advantage of office hours. Believe it or not, most students do not capitalize on office hours. This is not only a great way to introduce yourself to your professors but you can use this time to address difficulties you are having in the class. Regardless, it will always be beneficial to you.

17. Network early. I cannot stress enough how important professional relationships are for future employment and graduate school admission. Good working relationships with professors, supervisors, and advisors offer a very valuable asset: letters of recommendation. The earlier you begin making these connections the better since these relationships take time to cultivate (ideally a year or two).

18. Have a competitive bone. Whether it’s vying for a new position at your job or a spot at your dream school, life is full of competition. Of course, this doesn’t mean tripping your competitors at every corner or resorting to underhanded tactics, but instead have fun and try new challenges. Remember to win with silence and lose with grace. 

19. Motivate yourself with the success of others. I am always fired up when a classmate wins a prestigious award or a prized lab position because if they can do it through hard work so can I. This is the mindset everyone should have because output depends on input.

20. Go to every review session. Take full advantage of this opportunity because not all professors offer it. Review sessions are a great way to gauge your mastery of the subject and indicate areas you need to improve on. It is also a chance to ask your professors or TA questions and address any difficulties you may have. Remember to approach this as a “review” session so do your studying beforehand.

21. Work on your clock, not others. No two students will have exactly the same educational or career goals so of course there will be variations. One might graduate early and start a career while the other will spend 5-7 additional years in graduate school so don’t lose sight of your path. Just keep working towards your goals and you’ll reach it in no time.

22. Live on campus if you can. Dorms are a great way to meet amazing people and make new experiences. I also recommend coming as early as possible since beds are claimed on a first come, first serve basis so you may end up with the worst spot if you come late.

23. You will make new friends eventually. Everyone starts in the same position so don’t worry too much about fitting in. Just keep being you and other like-minded individuals will come. I recommend introducing yourself to your classmates and joining club organizations that interest you.

24. It is harder to make friends in college. This might sound like a contradiction to the previous point but let me explain. Yes, you will make new friends but it won’t be as easy as it was in elementary school. Most college students will already have formed cliques so breaking through as a newcomer will be hard but not impossible. I recommend first forming a study group with a classmate and then building a relationship from that. 

25. Nerdy is the new cool. Sure being a bookworm wasn’t sexy in high school but the reverse is true in college: nerds are the new jocks. This will be your time to shine so keep being you and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Pursue all of your academic interests and continue to grow as a scholar.

26. Living with other people can be difficult. Problems usually arise due to a lack of communication so I recommend setting expectations and house rules by the first week. Decide on things such as how trash will be thrown away, times guests can visit, and when it’s lights out. If you’re not a people-person (like me), I suggest reaching out over email in the weeks prior to the move-in date.

27. Dare to dream big. One of the great advantages of being young is our willingness to try new things and challenge the status quo. Keep believing that your actions will lead to change and never stop trying to make the world a better place. No dream is too big – if you truly want it then go get it. Remember that all of our past achievements started as a simple dream so don’t lose that ambition.

28. Confront your fears. Anything worth having in this life will be difficult and scary at first, but push through it because you’ll kick yourself later if you don’t. Learning to step out of our comfort zones is how we all grow as individuals so don’t overthink it and just do it. This means running for that student government position you were eyeing or presenting your research paper at a well-known conference. The point is to always try and keep moving forward.

29. Push a pursuit to its limit. College is all about mastering a craft whether it’s your research skills or coding ability so take advantage of the resources offered by your institution. This could be in the form of enrolling in relevant courses or studying under a professor. Just continue to grow those skills one step at a time and before you know it you’ll be a master.

30. Know your resources. Make it your business to know every available opportunity you can benefit from. Are you a parent looking for childcare? Are you stressed out and want to talk to a professional? Are you falling behind in class and need tutoring? Looking for scholarships or job opportunities? These are the resources you should familiarize yourself with so check with your institution.

31. True learning occurs outside the classroom. During college, you will be filled with more theories than you can count, but true understanding occurs when you can apply them to the real-world. Academic activities, such as research labs and internships, are great opportunities to test your knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

32. Parties are not created equal. You will encounter many parties during college and it is important to point out that they are not all the same. I have found four varieties which I call the “4 C’s.”

• Crappy school parties – These are school-sponsored events that tend to be very PG.
• Chill dorm parties – Dorms typically house smaller-scale parties and are more laid back. You will be in the company of good friends and it’ll be an all-around fun time. It is important to note that dorm parties are watered down because they’re in enclosed environments with other residents so you’ll likely have a RA breathing down your neck.
• Cool house parties – These are the perfect type of parties since it’s just right – it’s not stale or over the top. It’s what you expect a normal party to be like: good food, trendy music, and fun games.
• Crazy Frat parties – These fit the common stereotypes most people think of when they imagine college parties. There will probably be a DJ, loud music, dark lights, dirty dancing, and PDA. Don’t be surprised when cops come banging at the door.

Regardless of party-type I strongly recommend always going in groups and being accountable to each other. Don’t let your female friends drink too much or go off with sleazy guys and don’t let your guy friends do drugs or anything reckless. 

33. Use ratemyprofessors to look up professor reviews. This is probably the best online resource college students can use to plan for courses and avoid terrible professors. There were times when I switched classes because a professor had an overwhelmingly poor review. Be smart and don’t put yourself through unnecessary pain.

34. Don’t buy brand new textbooks. This is extremely unnecessary and is a bad financial decision because textbooks are expensive and become harder to sell each year. You may end up having to sell them back to the bookstore for a fraction of its original cost. Whether you have a new or used version makes no difference since they contain the exact same information. 

35. Plan your classes on a few consecutive days. Why scatter your courses over the week when you can just take them over a few days? You could plan your courses to be on Mondays to Wednesdays or Wednesdays to Fridays. This strategy not only gives you a nice, long weekend every week but it is also useful for scheduling study sessions, work schedules, and extracurriculars.

36. Surround yourself with mentors. You always want to be in the know-how and the best way to do so is to have mentors who have successfully traveled that path. They can provide insightful tips and secrets so you know what works and what doesn’t. These mentors can be alumni or professionals in the field.

37. Get more bang for your buck. You’re paying top dollar for this college experience so don’t waste it snoozing in class. Take advantage of every opportunity to grow professionally and academically. Having fun and working hard aren’t mutually exclusive – you can have both.

38. Meet with your counselor regularly. This will ensure that you are on track to graduate on time and provide immediate assistance during emergencies. It is always a good idea to meet with your academic counselor once per term.

39. Make time to call your family. It is pretty easy to get lost in this new experience but set a day to call home. Your family most likely misses you and would like to hear your voice once in a while. I recommend once every two weeks to update them on your wellbeing.

40. College is the time when your morals and values are tested. Your parents taught you right from wrong so even though they are not there anymore that doesn’t mean you should be reckless. Don’t do drugs, don’t drink excessively, don’t have unprotected sex, don’t do anything illegal, and don’t do anything you know is wrong.