Starting college is a thrilling experience, but one that is also fraught with challenges. For a lot of people it is the time in their life that will make or break them. Juggling educational demands and routine chores can be tough, but it is all part of the learning process.

With a tight budget, it is likely you will need a loan to pay for college. Take on the debt now, as college will reward you in the future.

Study diligently. If you devote yourself to college, you can get the most out of it. While you can still socialize you should treat college like a full time job. Your success later in life depends in large part on your success in college.

Learn your schedule and the locations of your classes before school starts. Figure out how many minutes or hours you will need to make it each class to the next and plan accordingly. You can also find libraries or cafes on your route to study or eat lunch at if you have time.

Learn what you can about the career you want before you select your college. You will know that the college that you are going to has the classes that will best prepare you for that career. If you are unsure, you can make an appointment to meet with an admissions counselor beforehand.

Figure out where the college’s admissions office is and go to it before you pick out your college. That way, you can determine whether there are scholarship options specific to the school. Colleges commonly give scholarships to students who are accepted. Visiting with admissions officers can help you get all of the college funding that you need.

It is important to get plenty of sleep. Although young people feel indestructible, they actually need more sleep to function well than older people. If you are not getting the right rest, you might not retain the information you need to and slip in your classes.

Try to fulfill no less than one general requirement class during the initial semester. If you have to have the class for your requirements, get it over with so you can take classes you like down the line. You certainly do not want to find yourself the lone senior amongst a class comprised only of freshman.

The dreaded freshman 15 (which can easily expand to become the freshman 20) is a lot easier to avoid if you do what you can to limit your carbohydrate intake. Stay away from meals heavy on processed food and sugary snacks. Instead, eat fresh produce and whole grain foods. A diet with too much protein can lead to health problems.

Always buy used textbooks if you can. College textbooks are pricey. Money is tight when most students are in college, so you need to cut expenses wherever you can. Therefore, search for bookstores, both physical and online ones, that can provide used books. Purchasing used is a great way to save money.

This article should give you a better idea of what to expect from college life and set you on the right path. It takes balance and hard work. Apply what you’ve learned here, and get the most out of your studies and college life.