So, the Leaving Cert is done, school’s out and your results are just around the corner. But what about that next step – college.

Whether you’re living at home or in student digs, the college life will be a huge lifestyle change. It might be a shock to the system, but if you’re prepared for what’s to come it might also be the best time of your entire life.

Here’s our seven-step survival guide...

1. First year isn’t a free year

Even if your first year grades don’t count for your final degree, that doesn’t mean you should treat it as a freebie. It will be a lot harder to hit the ground running in second year if you aren’t on top of the basics, and if you spend a year dossing around you’re not likely to get much help from tutors and classmates when you really need it.

2. Don’t work too hard

Seriously, studying isn’t the be-all-and-end-all. Go to your lectures (yes, even the 9am ones) and hand in your assignments on time, but don’t overdo it. If you chain yourself to your desk for a year, you’ll risk missing out on all the fun and freedom of student life.

3. Speaking of freedom...

Get into good habits early. You have nobody to look over your shoulder any more – tutors won’t hound you for late assignments, nobody will phone home if you miss a tutorial and if the fridge is bare it’s your own fault. Independence is exciting but it can also be a challenge. Rising to it early will make the transition that much easier.

4. Choose your friends wisely

College can be a pressure cooker, especially if you live in student accommodation. It can be tempting to assume that the group of strangers that you now share a kitchen with will be your friends for life, but it doesn’t always work like that. Personality clashes and mismatched interests are a fact of life, so don’t be afraid to keep an open mind as you go through college, chat to people, be friendly and find the friends you really want.

5. However...

Try to keep in touch with your friends from home. It can be tempting to throw yourself wholeheartedly into your new life but there might come a time when you need a familiar shoulder to cry on – or to be that rock yourself. You and your oldest pals will be glad of it. Plus, Christmas pints are the best pints.

6. Join some clubs and societies

You’ll be bombarded with flyers and Facebook invites in the first couple of weeks, inviting you to join every club and society in the university. Take it with a pinch of salt – unless you’ve always wanted to try hang-gliding, in which case rock on – but it’s worth giving a few things a try. Societies are a great way to meet people outside of your accommodation or your course, and a proper hobby or sporting activity is a great way to manage academic stress.

7. Keep it up!

Are you involved in sport at the minute, through a local club or your school? Don’t stop now. You might not be able to see beyond the next year or two, but college will be over before you know it. All being well, your sporting life will last a lot longer. If it makes you happy, keep doing it.