Is college a lot harder than high school?

That's a great question Derek! College has it's challenges because most students are on their own for the first time, making their own decisions...about everything! Having that freedom can become overwhelming.

Great question Derek! I agree with Angie that colleges is different then high school due to the increased independence.

Looking back at my experience, the first year was a transition period where I was able to adapt to the new learning style of lectures, larger assignments and more independent studying than I had in high school. The good thing is your classmates will also be facing the same transition that you are facing, so it might be helpful to find some people to form a study group or be a library partner to help you stay on track with your assignments. The good thing about college is in most classes you will get a syllabus with all of the readings, assignments and tests/exams and the due dates at the beginning of the year. This will allow you to allocate your time accordingly for each of your classes and will allow you to see which weeks you have more to accomplish. I found using a calendar or planner at the beginning of the semester to map out when everything is due and create a plan was helpful to stay on track and helped me manage the change.

There are also might be resources on campus to help with your transition, so keep an eye out for them when you arrive. They might have a learning center or workshops on different topics about adjusting to college, that you can reach out to or attend for additional support.

Best of luck, and I hope you enjoy your college experience!