1. You are in Charge of your time

Most students are surprised by the amount of "free" time they have in college compared to high school. In high school you may have attended classes for several hours a day, five days a week. In college you may have three classes one day and none the next or have long stretches of time between classes. It’s up to you to figure out how to fill these “free” hours, and how much time to devote to studying, socializing and other pursuits.

2. College professors expect you to learn independently

In college, you are responsible for your learning. You’ll be expected to review course material on your own with far less handholding than you might have experienced from your teachers in high school. It’s common for professors to assign readings not covered in lectures and to call on students to explain or debate those readings in class.

College instructors often don’t remind students of upcoming tests or project deadlines, either. Instead, they provide a syllabus at the beginning of the course that outlines the readings, lecture topics, assignment deadlines, and exam dates. It’s up to you to follow the syllabus and know what’s going on.

If you’re struggling in class, most college professors won’t reach out to offer help. While they want you to succeed, you will need to be proactive and reach out to them. It is up to you to reach out to your professors whether during office hours or scheduling another to meet and to seek out academic services, such as tutoring or study groups.

3. Your grade may depend on just a few tests

In high school, many different things can contribute to your class grade – homework, projects, quizzes, class participation, and tests. In college, your grade is often determined by just two exams: a midterm and a final. If you do poorly on your first exam, there often isn’t an opportunity to boost your grade with a make-up test or an extra credit assignment, as is often the case in high school.

4. Cramming at the Last Minute Doesn’t Work

Some high school students are successful with last-minute studying. But exams in college are generally given less frequently, cover more material, and can be more difficult than high school tests. College exams often require answers that demonstrate deep understanding of the content. You may be asked to make connections between topics, apply what you’ve learned in unexpected ways, or solve problem sets you haven’t seen before. As many freshmen learn the hard way, this means you need to consistently keep up with your studies and coursework and not wait until the last minute to study for a test.

5. You Might be Sharing a (Very Small) Personal Space with a Stranger

Living in a dorm or a student apartment can be difficult for some students. Your dorm may be small with limited storage, have communal bathrooms, lack air conditioning, or be noisy at odd hours. Even if you're used to sharing a room with a sibling, living with someone who you’ve recently met can be a challenge. You'll need to negotiate everything from "lights out" time to what's considered “personal space” and "neat." Your roommate may not be your best friend but he or she can be a familiar face as you navigate the first few months of college.

6. From Money to Moods, You'll be Responsible for Taking Care of Yourself

Like many students facing a new and unfamiliar experience, you might hit some rough patches in college. It might be difficult to make friends at first, or you might be disappointed with your grades. It’s also easy to over-extend yourself socially, pick up unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, or make mistakes managing your money. You might even feel homesick sometimes. Some college freshmen even get to a point where they may need to assess their priorities, and in some cases, make some changes.

Fortunately, most colleges provide resources to help students adjust to college life. These include health care professionals, mental health services, and academic and career counselors. But taking steps to get on track will be up to you.

You Will Adjust to Life as a College Freshman!

Many freshmen report that the independence they face as college students takes at least a few months, if not their entire freshman year, to get used to. But once they get past this initial adjustment, most students find their niche and embrace their newfound independence. It’s likely you will, too!

For tips on adjusting to college life, visit CollegeData's Transition to College blog. Get insights and advice from students attending colleges across the U.S. in Stories from College.