You've heard the stories...some exaggerated, some real...about students at the top of their high school classes who found college extremely difficult. The truth is that most college freshmen do need some time to adjust to the increased demands of college academics.

But, the adjustment to college academics need not be too lengthy or traumatic if you follow ten pretty straightforward rules.

1. Don't miss classes. And, if you're a betting man or woman, bet that your classmates who continually cut class will wind up with the kind of grades you hope to avoid. This should probably be rule number one and two.

2. There are no days off. Don't get behind. Don't procrastinate. Never. Catching up in high school may be fairly easy; that's not so in college.

3. When in class, listen actively to your instructor and take good notes. Highlight points of emphasis and subject matter most likely to appear on exams.

4. Got a question? Confused about a concept? Get the answer you need as soon as possible. Ask your instructor, a classmate, or a tutor in the learning center. The longer you wait, the more you put yourself at risk.

5. Put together a semester long calendar which lists the dates your papers are due and the dates on which your examinations are scheduled to take place. Then, pencil in the dates on which you will review for exams and prepare your papers, while not giving you too much to do during any one week. Careful planning can really help take the pressure off.

6. Use a highlighter when reading. It will make your review work much faster and easier.

7. Your exams can tell you a lot about your instructor and what to expect on future exams. Review and analyze them.

8. Ask other students who have taken courses with your instructors about their tendencies and expectations. The more you know about the kinds of questions you're likely to see on exams and the expectations your professors have for students, the better.

9. Study groups can help motivate you, discipline you, and expose you to the insights of others. If you work well as part of a team, consider them seriously, especially in courses in which you think you might struggle.

10. In college, faculty (especially good faculty) continually challenge students; it's a big part of the learning process. Don't get ulcers worrying about it, and don't despair if you occasionally get blown out of the sky by faculty (or other students). But, be prepared to defend your statements, particularly those you make on exams and papers.

College is like a buffet. You'll have interesting courses followed by courses in which remaining conscious may be a major problem. You'll have terrific instructors, and instructors you could easily do without. Despite these and other variables, adhering to the aforementioned suggestions, managing your time reasonably well, and bringing a good work ethic to the table should take the potential trauma out of adjusting to the academic side of college.

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