Take it one step at a time. First see what your classes are like. They will start you off in the basics and it will probably be fairly easy to see what it will take to be top of your class. I would spend the fist half of the quarter/semester reading the books and getting a jump on the assignments and then the 2nd half of the quarter/semester doing some light rereading and you should be able to have some sort of social life then.

Well, the first thing you need to realize is unlike high school college and what you do in college is totally up to you. You are paying for the classes you're taking, if you're late or miss a class, don't do an assignment that's on you. The teachers will not care if you miss class or flake, they are still getting paid. Don't let yourself get behind on your homework, it's a lot harder to catch up in college than it is in high school. Know the grading system/know how each of your teachers grades. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you don't understand something get help on it. Be proactive about your education. Even if an assignment isn't due right away, start it the day you get it, because that is when the information on what you have been taught and how to do the assignment is fresh in your mind. Set aside time each school day to either work on homework or go over notes/textbooks. And set aside time each week to hang out with friends. If you have breaks between classes you can either use that time for extra studying or catching up/hanging out with friends. Basically alot of this boils down to time managment, and what works best for you. In class I know sociallizing is important, but you need to know when the right times are. Don't let yourself be distracted during class to the point where you have missed something important, or you can't concentrate on what the teacher is teaching. Don't stress too much, you have a long way to go before college starts. Just be aware of what you want and what you need to do to accomplish those goals. If you have a system in place before school starts, that will help. And once college does start, after a few weeks you'll get into a routin and that will make it easier for you to figure in time with friends and the social aspects of college. Good Luck with everything!

TIME MANAGEMENT - I am on the same boat as i just started my first year at fashion merchandising school, i have LOADS of homework and i need to maintain a minimum of 70% in every single course other wise i fail. a good habit to get into is when you get home from school or to your dorm or what ever, DO YOUR HOMEWORK, i mean if its not due for a few weeks, do some of it, or a majority of it right when you get home just so its out of the way, and you'll have lots of free time later on to go and hang out and then finish it day by day till its due or half and half it, which ever you prefer, but always do some right when you get it when you get home, it really helps me as much as it sucks!

Best of luck girlie! <3

Put your priorities in order. Of course you want a social life, but if you REALLY want to be a vet, than you would sacrifice for what you love and want to do. You can still have a social life while studying, for examples, study groups, peer tutoring if they have that at your school, take at least one or two hours out of your day to study, and do nothing else, no phone, n texting no facebook, just STUDY. YOU have the choice of here your future brings you, you also just have to choose the right path. Hope I helped. Also, don't be afraid to ask the teacher or other students for help.