Welcome to your new world.

• Author: Hyman, Jeremy S.
• Position: Education - Essay

SO, YOU ARE ABOUT to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: college. Chances are, you have done your homework and already know a lot about your future alma mater: the academic programs for which it is known, what sorts of extracurricular activities are available, the size of the average class, and what the school mascot is. Still, no matter how much research you have done, there still is a lot about the nuts and bolts of being a college student that you do not know.

When many freshmen first set foot on campus, most of their information comes from the campus tour, videos of the college, and perhaps anecdotes from an older sibling or friend who went to that university. Often, it can take several weeks--if not the entire first semester--for new students to figure out dos and don'ts, unwritten rules, and the general lay of the land.

The college environment is very different from anything students have experienced before, and you will have much more independence than you are used to from high school. Applying some key pieces of advice will make your academic and social transitions go much more smoothly--and help ensure your success.

You are in charge of this thing. There is no one to hold your hand. Picking courses, getting to class, doing the reading, and figuring out what is going to be on the test and what is expected on the papers--all of these are things you are going to have to do pretty much on your own.

Your parents may not be much help. Some students are on their iPhones five times a day looking for advice, support, or company from mom or dad, but even the best-intentioned parents can lead you astray. Colleges are different--and, in many cases, much improved-from what they were 25 years ago, and professors' expectations have gone up accordingly. While it is not always comfortable, college is an important time to develop your independence and personal responsibility.

You can choose your own adventure. Remember the series of books that allowed you to decide what the main character did when faced with a dilemma or decision? Well, college is a lot like that--at least more so than high school. The four-plus years ahead of you are not rigidly planned out. You do not have to fill your first-year schedule with only required classes--spread out your courses and, if possible, take some more specialized classes right off the bat. Also, keep in mind that, even when it comes to fulfilling general or "core" requirements, you may be able to choose among multiple options. For example, you might be able to pick among U.S. History since 1865, British History before 1600, or World History to fulfill a history requirement.

Moreover, as you build your schedule, make sure that you're taking the correct level of each course. You do not want to struggle through calculus when college algebra would have been more your level. Finally, take advantage of your school's drop/add process if you realize early on that you do not like a particular course or professor. You may be able to transfer to a course that will...