Too often, high schoolers are giving the wrong impression of life after high school, AKA college. This leads to many mistakes during their senior year and the summer before college. Here are 10 things to avoid doing before starting college...

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10 Pieces Of Advice For High School Seniors Going To College

1. Detaching from your high school friends.

Just because you are going to be in a different town or a different state, or because you know you will meet a bunch of new people at college, you shouldn't try to distance yourself from your hometown friends. They have been a part of your life for AT LEAST four years and they relate to you in a different way than your college friends will.

2. Getting lazy.

Absolutely DO NOT let yourself get lazy when it comes to taking care of yourself. Whether you were an athlete, a dancer, or active in some other way in high school, don't let yourself slack off now because it gets 10 times harder to stay active in college.

3. Staying up until 4 a.m. on a school night.

Don't think you need to "get used to this" just because you are going to college soon. Not everyone who goes to college sacrifices their sleep for homework and it is very possible to avoid having to pull all nighters in general if you stay on top of things.

4. Taking easy classes.

This is just going to get you out of the swing of doing real work that actually takes time and effort, and will make for a rude awakening on the first day of college.

5. Thinking you and your roommate will be best friends.

Just let it happen naturally. If you are best friends, great. If you aren't, find a way to make it work or look for other options. The latter is totally normal.

It's great to have a plan and some planning is definitely necessary, but college is the time to put yourself out there and try something new. If you plan every step of your college career, you will miss out on a lot of great opportunities.

7. Committing yourself to a major you don't love or don't fully understand just for the sake of having one.

Sure, it's great to know what areas of study you are interested in and what you may want as a career path, but if you are unsure you shouldn't just pick something just so you have a major. Don't be afraid to be "undeclared" or "exploring" until you find what is right for you.

8. Being scared you won't fit in and doing/buying things you think will better your chances.

College is a time for you to find your group. You shouldn't worry about "fitting in" because there are so many different types of people on campus that you will definitely find friends who have common personalities and interests as you.

9. Being afraid to put yourself out there.

Again, college is a time of exploration and there are so many opportunities that you should take advantage of. Try new things, everyone is doing it.

10. Choosing a college simply because you have friends going there, you know people who already go there, etc.

Branch out and meet new people. Definitely don't forget where you came from and by all means don't disconnect from your high school friends, but find a college that feels like home to you. Somewhere that you feel like offers the programs, events, activities, and people that you would enjoy being around/being a part of.