The University I went to was pretty much a commuter school, so I missed out on the dorm life for the 5 years I went. But even then most of the people lviing in the dorms were from my city anyways, so it never was a true college dorm setting.
Anyways,
1) Again, take easier classes the first semester or two. Transitioning from high school won't happen overnight.
2) Keep up on the reading - it's easier. The professors won't baby you to do your homework/reading every day. Reading is easy to procrastinate on. Trying to read and understand 5 chapters of material 2 days before the exam never works. I've tried.
3) Sit in the front row. I always sat towards the front and got good grades and felt more engaged. The classes I sat in the back row I never learned a damn thing and daydreamed more.
4) Naps are you friend.
5) Take a day off every week. Consider college your full time job. Set aside a day you don't do anything course related if you can. It's harder since Freshman usually are stuck going to class 5 days a week but try anyway.
6) College gets better. Your first couple years are the hardest since you are taking general classes in areas you don't care for (e.g., speech). But when you get into your major area, then the classes are fun.
7) Take classes with your harder working friends. Avoid taking them with your lazy friends.
agree with everything expect 6 and 7 in some aspects.
#6: in science and some other majors, the work gets harder, not easier in many cases.
#7: especially in really small colleges (mine was 2000-ish), there are only 1-2 sessions of the course per semester, so there wasn't much of an option to take certain classes with certain friends. in alot of cases, both of the types (slackers and hard working) were in the same class. not sure how large your school is though, but i would look at the professors teaching the class more than what friends are in the classes.
8. read ahead of schedule if possible. it was my best friend my last semester when i was about a week ahead of readings and i needed most of that time to finish up a paper from another class.
9. try to refine your study techniques early in college. it will help you later on down the road. i wish i had the study method i used the last year of college earlier, could have helped me in freshman/sophmore classes.
10. don't bring your computer to class. never had this problem, but trust me, you're better with pen and paper.
11. a backpack is your friend. i don't know why, but most people in college never had one carrying their books. i always had a backpack (and the same one) to carry my books, frees your hands and alot easier to gather your stuff after class.
