I have been very involved in extracurricular activities during high school, and I want to be just as involved when I go to college next year. But I also know I'm probably going to have to study a lot more. How much extra stuff will I realistically have time to do?

You may end up being just as involved in activities in college as you are right now in high school, but you probably shouldn't plan to do it all in your first year on campus. You're wise to be thinking about this and to acknowledge that you will very likely have to study more. It's true that most students study more in college than they did in high school. However, the schedules for classes are different, too. In college you will have blocks of time when you aren't in class, and you can study during those "in-between" times. You will have to work out your schedule and find times when you regularly—faithfully—make time to study.

Once you get a sense of how much time classes and studying will require, you can begin to consider the opportunities available to you at your college. Carefully choose an activity or two. Don't jump into several clubs or organizations. Add things slowly as your schedule allows. Select activities that will contribute most to your health, happiness and personal growth—or the growth of others, like service opportunities. Some opportunities will prepare you for your career field and look great on a resumé. Some will be good for your health, some for building relationships, and others for your spiritual growth. You might be interested in participating in several activities, but instead of getting over-involved, think carefully about the reason you're choosing each activity and why it's worth your time. Look forward to college activities as a way of rounding out your experience and helping you develop as a whole person. If you plan carefully and choose wisely, there will be enough time for you to get involved in enjoyable extracurricular activities and also to get good grades.

I never dated much in high school and I'm wondering about the whole Christian college dating scene. I would really like to start dating, but have no idea what to expect. What can you tell me about dating at college?

Dating is a possibility, but I'd encourage you not to make it a goal of your college experience. If it happens, great! If it doesn't, wait. Get involved in activities you enjoy and get to know a lot of new people. Spend time finding out who you are and becoming a whole and healthy person. Then you'll have maturity and depth to bring to a dating relationship. Let God meet the deep needs in your life. This is the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for romance now or in the future.

Then, let any dating you do flow naturally out of your activities. Trust God for your future—whether or not it includes a date on Saturday night or a spouse further down the road. He wants what is best for you, and you can trust that his plan for you will be good. "'I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

I just found out I'll be living in a suite with four other girls next year at college. I'm really freaked out about college, and I'm scared I'll hate it. But I'm especially nervous about my living arrangement and how to make it work. How do we decide who gets which bed? Should we set up some rules before we get there or after we've arrived? I don't want my living situation to be so unhappy that it interferes with my schoolwork. Can you help me?

It sounds like you're dreading the social aspects of college life instead of seeing them as a great adventure. I hope we can reduce your worry and help you relax a little.

Let's begin with the basics: Prayer. Starting right now, give all your concerns to God and trust him to make everything come together. His Word tells you not to be "anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV). God can help you keep your concerns in perspective—all you need to do is ask.

As for your questions about your future roommates, I want to reassure you that you'll probably be able to work things out just fine. Most people really want to get along with others, especially people they live with. Be flexible and know your roommates will probably be, too. Take your concern about the beds, for example. Whoever gets to the room first will have to select a bed, or at least a side of the room, so she can begin to settle in. So if you get there later and aren't happy with the choice left to you, don't assume it's the end of the world. You can always talk about it and work out an agreement.

If you and your roommates arrive close to the same time, you can make some decisions together about how to divide up the space, including the beds. After you've roomed together for a while and have a pretty good understanding of each other's needs, you might want to move the furniture around. You might even have to give in on one thing to get something else that's more important to you. For instance, maybe you agree to take the bed by the door in exchange for using the bigger closet. Choose your battles carefully. Don't make everything an issue. Be a peacemaker and help bring people together to talk things out.

Instead of worrying, think about how much fun it will be to live with four new friends. Often your first contacts in the residence hall result in lifelong friendships. You're on the threshold of some wonderful changes and new experiences. With God's help, I think you'll be happier in college than you ever imagined!

I've heard a lot of people gain weight their freshman year of college, which scares me. How can I avoid putting on the pounds?

Some people jokingly refer to the weight gain you describe as the "Freshman 15." But the joke isn't so funny for those who struggle with the problem. Thinking ahead of time and thinking of good strategies to avoid gaining too much weight will help you avoid this problem.

Start by thinking about the way you eat right now. Are you careful to eat appropriate amounts of nutritious food at regular meal times? Do you watch your snacking? If so, you should be able to continue the healthy habits you have now.

On the other hand, if your eating habits aren't so great, you should be aware of the many opportunities to indulge at college—including some that can really pack on the pounds. Many college food services serve buffet style, which means students have unlimited amounts of food readily available as part of the food plan. That can be pretty tempting. It's also very easy to start snacking late at night. Here's what I recommend: At the dining hall, start your meals with salad or fruit, then carefully choose a healthy entrée, keeping an eye on your portion sizes. When it comes to late-night snacking, enjoy an occasional slice of pizza or bowl of ice cream, but keep some bottled water, fruit and other healthy foods on hand. They'll serve as healthy alternatives when you have the munchies.

Also, stay active! Avoid elevators. Take the stairs. Ride your bike. Go for a walk with your friends. Walking can help keep the pounds off, relieve stress, and even help build a friendship. If you like more vigorous exercise, make it a part of your regular routine. You can even take a class in your college's physical education department as part of your plan to stay fit. Along with all that, just trekking across campus and running up and down dorm stairs will no doubt provide a lot of "unplanned" exercise!

There's one more thing I'd like to mention: As you know, the college years are a time of change in many areas of your life—and that may include your clothing size. Many people continue to grow and develop during the college years, and it's not realistic for them to expect to stay the same size they were in high school. So focus on establishing and maintaining healthy habits for yourself, using the number on the scale as only one way to measure your health and fitness.

I'm a sophomore in college, and I still can't get used to studying. Even when I have every intention of starting early, I always procrastinate until I have no choice but to cram it all in one night. What's your advice?

You already know what you need to do—spread your studying out over more days (and maybe a few nights). Of course, actually doing that is a huge challenge for many students. It's tough to find the motivation to change.

Start by changing your patterns in small ways. First, take 15 minutes after each class period to review or even rewrite your notes. Try to recall the main themes from the lecture or lab that day, and record them in your brain as well as in your notes.

When it comes time to work on big assignments, break the tasks into smaller pieces. Set aside 30 minutes each day of the week before a major exam to reread the chapters and review your notes. (This assumes, of course, that you've already read the chapters!)

That brings us to another change you can make: Do your best to stay caught up. Read assigned chapters for the class period for which they are assigned. The class presentations will make more sense to you, and you'll be able to participate in class.

After an exam, take some time to think about what was on the test and what might be on the next one. Getting used to a professor's style will help you focus and succeed in future study sessions.

When you win some battles against procrastination and minimize cramming, reward yourself. Time with friends can be a temptation to put off study time, or it can be a reward for managing your time and assignments well. Maybe one of your friends could keep you accountable and help you celebrate success. Just be sure to find a friend who helps you concentrate—not one who's a ton of fun but a big distraction.

What if I end up not liking my college? I've done my best to figure out if it would be the right place for me, but I'm afraid. What if I have second thoughts? How should I decide whether to stick it out or transfer?

Whatever you decide, take your time to make a careful decision. It may be right for you to transfer, but I would suggest you do that only for a really good reason—like an academic program that is available at the school where you'd like to transfer. The school you started out with caught your attention for some good reasons, or you wouldn't have chosen it. Make a list of everything you like about the school you've chosen. Then if you have doubts, pull out that list and remind yourself of the school's strengths and positive qualities.

No institution is perfect. As soon as you enroll, you'll have the opportunity to discover the imperfections of the place you chose. You also can enjoy what that school has to offer. You might find you can work within the student council or other systems to make your school even better.

Make every effort to get involved with people and programs at your school. It helps so much to feel like you're a part of things. The more connections you make, the more you'll feel like you belong there, and you'll be more likely to stay and become content.

If you don't like your school when you get there, talk with someone about how you're feeling. Going away to college is a big adjustment. If you're unhappy, it may just be that you're having a difficult time liking anything better than you liked high school or home. There are many people on any campus who could be helpful to you, from residential life staff and student life personnel, to campus ministers, academic advisers and counselors. Take advantage of services that are there to help you adjust. They will provide support for you.

I hope you will like the college you chose. If you don't like it right away, at least give it a fair chance to be the place you had hoped for.

I'm a pretty good student, but I've heard college classes are really hard. I'm worried that I won't do well. Are college classes really that much harder than high school classes? How can I make sure I'm ready?

Good question. I asked some successful college students, "Is college harder than high school?" They said, "Definitely." And they pointed to a few major differences.

You'll be learning at a faster pace, trying to grasp more information in a shorter amount of time. Subjects are covered in more depth so you'll need to understand concepts, not just facts and figures. With more material to cover, you just can't cram it all in the night before an exam. You'll need to pace yourself, and commit to doing the work even when you don't want to. Professors have high expectations. They trust you to keep up with your assignments and do the work required of the class, usually without much supervision.

Each of the students I talked to said the biggest difference involves planning for enough time to do their studies. Not only do they want to get good grades, but these students felt their classes were helping them develop other skills as well. Along with teaching you course content, professors want you to learn how to speak, write and think clearly and thoughtfully. And those are abilities that will be required of you no matter what kind of career you have after college. As one of the students said, "What you put into it is what you get out of it."

So how can you prepare for college classes? Don't slack off in your senior year of high school. Take courses that challenge you. There may even be a chance for you to earn college credit through classes you take your senior year. Once you get to college, ask about any tutoring or academic counseling services available to students. And remember, when a college accepts you, they believe you can be successful. You need to believe it too, and come to college eager to fully participate in the learning experience.

Judy Moseman is vice president for student life at Bethel College, Minnesota.

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life's Ignite Your Faith magazine.
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