Top Tips for a Successful Transition to College Life

October 14, 2025 — Making the transition to college can be both exciting and overwhelming for both neurodivergent and neurotypical students. Many students are moving away from home for the first time, leaving their friends and family to start a new academic experience in a new place, while others will be juggling a new academic environment while commuting for the first time.

These students will also be experiencing advanced academic rigor in college courses, while also facing a major change in routine - they no longer have to be up at a certain time, and at school all day.

There is much more freedom in their academic schedule, including day classes, night classes, and hybrid classes. There are also changes in sleep schedule and routine.

With all of these changes taking place and newfound freedom, how do students keep up with their work while still having a good work/life balance?

Here are a few tips and tricks for students to get started on a smooth transition into the first semester of college:

• Write down important dates – make sure you have a planner – either paper or digital - with important dates noted for the semester – move-in, orientation, drop/add, withdrawal dates, holidays, etc.

• Color code your classes – each class gets a different color binder or folder, notecards, tabs for marking notes, etc. so you can easily know what to grab for class and stay organized.

• Get your books – once you have your syllabi and are happy with your classes, get your books! Don’t wait until you have an assigned reading as sometimes books sell out and need to be ordered or are on backorder.

• If you have a documented learning difficulty, make your initial intake appointment with the Office of Accessibility as early as possible – these appointments go fast and you want to make sure you have your accommodations from day one!

• If you don’t like a course or don’t have a full schedule to start – reach out for help from a trusted consultant or school advisor – you want to maximize your learning experience.

• Check your emails daily even if the semester hasn’t started yet – there are many email communications being sent with important information that you will need to verify or sign up for before the semester begins.

• Once your school’s learning management system opens, Canvas for example, play around and become comfortable with it, as these systems are your life-lines to your professors as they add information throughout the semester.

If you are interested in meeting with an academic consultant to work on any of the above objectives including applying for accommodations, assistance with registration, learning management system guidance, and check-ins for organization, before the school year starts, please email me at twilliams@innovativecollegiateconsultants.com.

You can also check out our website for further information at www.innovativecollegiateconsultants.com.

About Innovative Collegiate Consultants:

At Innovative Collegiate Consultants, we believe that college planning is more than a checklist—it’s a journey shaped by the student’s identity, strengths, and aspirations. What sets us apart is not just what we offer, but how we deliver it. Our team combines deep expertise with thoughtful mentorship, empowering students to take ownership of their path with confidence and clarity—regardless of learning differences, executive functioning needs, or unique challenges.

Our goal at Innovative Collegiate Consultants, Inc. is to provide educational assistance to neurodivergent students, or those students needing assistance with executive functioning skills as they pertain to their academic journey. Our success specialists work with students using a personalized plan based on their various strengths and weaknesses to build both their confidence and executive functioning skills. Success specialists are assigned to students for the entirety of the semester so that rapport and trust can be established.