You've landed the place at the school you wanted, and once you start your course, you are well on your way to your chosen career. The whole experience can be overwhelming at first and none more than in the way your studies are undertaken.

    Unlike in high school where everything is controlled and you are tutored diligently, in college, you are given a greater degree of independence, and it is up to you to manage the round of lectures and seminars and to schedule your work to meet assignment deadlines.

    The other major change is in the assignments themselves. A college paper format is different to your high school essays.

    In high school you were guided with title or set-specific questions; in college, all that changes. The approach is more free-form, and you have to come up with your own ideas. Whilst a tutor might give outline advice on a particular subject topic or a college paper format, quite often, you are on your own.

    Help is available though. You could join a study group or perhaps find a research partner - it is not unusual to produce a college term paper in partnership for example.

    If you are stuck with a college paper format, consult the Internet. The Web is an incredible resource, and you can search for free college papers that can give you ideas on both content and format.

    If it is the look and construction of your assignment that you require assistance with, make sure you review a selection of free college papers, and there is no exact standard for a college paper format.

    Examining a few online will help you identify which works best for you in terms of layout and style of writing. If you master your own college paper format, knowing your subject is the next key phase of a successful assignment.