We look forward to studying only that which would interest us, hours and hours of lounging, parading fashionable wear, and of course, sneaking out of classes when they get too boring.

But what we do forget to realise in our excitement is that life at college comes with its own responsibilities, rules (ugh! and we thought we were rid of this word for good!) and a sense of decorum. This is the institution that will, in a way, eventually shape our careers, and is the stepping stone to the Most Wanted Job. So, here are a few tips that will help fresh entrants in college and universities settle better.

Take responsibilities for your action

You have passed the stage where there will be quarterly parent-teacher meetings to assess your academic performance and behaviour. If you are old enough to enter college, you are old enough to handle some responsibility, because if you don't, nobody else will.

Studying at college and university level is no piece of cake, and needs to be taken seriously. Remember that a kick-off to a lucrative career begins in these corridors and working towards a decent GPA from day one is important. This doesn't mean that you should end up as a nerd, but that you should regard your academics with as much respect as they deserve. Set for yourself some achievable targets and work towards them.

If you are studying abroad, the responsibilities multiply manyfold. You have to get to classes on time, learn to share rooms/dorms with people who may be entirely different from you in nature and habits, learn to feed yourself, etc. This not just calls for enormous amount of patience, but also good organisational skills. So develop those skills in you.

Form a rapport with your professors

Your professors at college/universities play a very important role in your academics. In classes which have a large number of students, it's important that you get singled out for your drive and initiative.

In many cases, the faculty can actually give a leg up, career-wise, to promising students, so a personal-relationship with professors does bring dividends. But do not confuse a 'personal relationship' with 'sucking up to teacher' since that will not only alienate you from your peers—who are equally important—and the teacher will probably see through this as well, which can do a lot of damage to your reputation.

Work out a studying pattern

While a few of us may prefer to study independently, it's better to work in groups. Group work not only allows you to form friendships—which may last a lifetime—but also helps to reduce workload. In a lot of cases, your assignments require you to work in groups, so it's always a good idea to find people you can get along with easily.

However, no matter how you study, organise a pattern for yourself. Cramming a night before may get you an A at the school level, but in college you will need to do better than that. Plan your assignments well in advance; this will serve as a training ground for your chosen profession later.

Invest your vacations in internships

Internships give you that practical edge that will work wonders for your resume when you first search for a job. Summer is the best time for some practical exposure, and unless you have to necessarily take summer courses, go for an internship. Perhaps, you could divide the vacation time between internship and leisure so that you don't go back to school without charging your batteries.

It's always a good idea to decide where you want to intern at least three months in advance. This gives you enough time to apply, and in case you are not selected, you still have time to apply to other organisations. Take your internship seriously, and remember that you are a potential employee for your bosses, who may already be sizing you up.

Find a work/life balance

In a sense, college or university is the end of your academic road. You are now expected to be serious, shoulder responsibly and settle down in life. So, it's extremely important that you enjoy this time period to the fullest. Work out a balance so that while you are able to set the time needed to study, you get enough time to spend with friends, party a bit and have fun in general. After all, you only live your college life once.