Unlike high school, college is the embodiment of freedom. Your parents aren’t there to make sure you wake up in the morning, do your homework and stay out of trouble. You’re free to study as much or as little as you want, and with only about 15 hours of class each week, you might think you have plenty of time to spare. However, did you know that to become a great college student the rule of thumb is first and foremost is to study for four hours outside of the classroom for each lecture hour you attend? When you do have spare time, participating in extra-curricular activities can provide leadership opportunities and even open doors in the future as you network with peers and faculty. A detrimental alternative is simply to use this time to get into trouble. Did you know some students get so involved with the bar-scene that they flunk out their first year? Yes, this happens even to bright straight-A students who fail to remember what got them into college in the first place.

Here are some things you should consider as you make your transition from high school to college: