The first year of college is often the first time students have lived away from home for an extended period–which can definitely be a learning curve.

Here are some tips on smoothly navigating the adjustment:

Be Aware of Your Resources: Immediately familiarize yourself with on-campus resources and support systems and know where they're located. These resources may include the health center, the counseling center, financial services, or even peer tutoring, and you will probably want or need to use them at one point or another during your four years.
Know the Basics: In college, you may have to be more responsible for yourself than you were in high school, whether that be through scheduling your own appointments, keeping your space tidy, or doing the laundry.
Learn to Budget: College may also mark financial independence, so living within your means and keeping track of your weekly spending is essential.
Wander Around Campus: If everything feels a bit too new and scary, exploring campus will help familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Having a place that's special to you or a spot to call your "own" on campus can go a long way.
Form Connections: Try to meet new people and build new relationships by joining new clubs and sports. Having a support system is important, especially if you're living somewhere completely new and may not know anybody on campus.
Stay in Touch: Schedule weekly calls or FaceTime with parents or friends from home if you're ever homesick. Remember, no matter how lonely you feel, you're never alone, and many others on campus likely feel the same.

Living away from home takes practice and patience, the same as anything else. Don't be frustrated or too hard on yourself if you make mistakes at first or struggle with homesickness–it's a natural part of the freshmen experience.