As a student, going to college is definitely exciting! But it can also be a bit frightening, especially with the uncertainty that comes with it. Toss in the fact that being in college signifies in some way independence and transition to adulthood. It is a huge responsibility after all.

Moreover, if college education for you means studies abroad, you have bigger responsibilities at hand and tougher challenges to beat. Leaving home to live and study elsewhere means you are mostly going to live alone and depend on yourself.

There are a lot of things to learn, for sure. Not only will you need to master several life skills, you also perhaps need to learn a different language, a different culture, a different set of beliefs and traditions. It also opens up opportunities for personal growth as you will get to know yourself better, and accumulate wisdom along the way.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you have mixed feelings of hesitation, fear, and anticipation every now and then. Just to appease your nervous self a bit, here’s a list of ten online resources you can depend on for specific needs:

Expedia

So you’ll be studying abroad. You’re two primary concerns would be affordable flight tickets and accommodation. Expedia.com covers both!

Expedia.com is a site where you can scour for and compare airfares and room rates in one listing. It allows you to research, plan, and book your travel details through your mobile phone or computer, with ease and convenience.

One feature that can really be helpful is the personal reviews from its clients, so you are given user-generated feedback that can help you decide which airline or hotel to choose according to your need or preference.

Airbnb

Unsure of where you are going to stay while studying abroad? Airbnb might be able to help you with that. It is an online marketplace of a wide range of accommodations such as rooms, apartments, or villas.

Airbnb has over 2 million listings worldwide that gives you options of where to stay. An advantage of using Airbnb is that you will be made to feel like a local since you are going to live with them. Safety is also ensured by the team since hosts and clients will get to be acquainted with each other through detailed profiles and reviews.

Sleepyti.me

Sleep is for the weak, they say. But don’t go overboard on sleepless nights just because you’ve got loads of school work to do.

Keep in mind that sleep is essential to a healthy mind and body, so don’t deprive yourself of rest. Sleepyti.me can be your best bedtime buddy to sleeping well and waking up refreshed.

Indicate what time you need to be up and about, and it calculates the best hours to hit the sack and fall asleep for a complete sleeping cycle, which takes about 90 minutes. Or you can input what time you will be asleep, and it will tell you what time you need to wake up without disturbing your sleep cycle.

This site will come in handy when you plan to cheat on sleep because of your school work load.

LifeHacker.co.uk

We all know that Life can be tough, so some hacks to make any situation easier is very welcome. True to its name, the Lifehacker site is your go-to guide for surviving Life’s complications in the most efficient way.

For the millennials struggling in the real world, Lifehacker gives them tips, tricks, and well, life hacks, to  making the most out of their lives, working smarter,  becoming more productive, and spending money wiser. It even shares some tech tips, troubleshooting advice and tutorials that millennials, young and even older professionals can use to live smarter in this digital age.

KeepMeOut

Once the semester starts, you will be needing your full attention for academics. But we all know it can be quite a struggle to focus on anything if there's Facebook tempting us to check on what our friends are up to at the moment, or Messenger keeps popping up with messages from our loved ones. I admit to having difficulty disconnecting! How about you?

Good news is, technology is offering  us options to temporarily stay away from technology. Keepmeout.com is one website you can turn to if you want to block some sites. Less tech distractions means more mental energy for your studies.

Instructables

Are you the type who prefers doing stuff in your own? An independent individual who likes to tinker or make things yourself? Then Instructables is perfect for you!

Instructables is an online documentation system that has how-tos, tutorials, and do-it-yourself experiments with making just about anything. Clothing, hairstyles, electronics, leatherwork, baking and decorating, woodwork, and even home repairs--name it, Instructables has it.

While it has an in-house team that produces content, variety is added through user-generated postings. It features free online classes that can get you started with making and creating.

TED

Inspiration can be hard to come by when you’re swamped with assignments. Most students would tend to while away their time while waiting for a dose of inspiration. DId you know you can make your procrastination a bit useful? Instead of logging onto your social media accounts, go over to TED.com for some really awesome talks and podcasts.

TED is an online platform that aims to spread ideas, and spark conversations, with a special focus on technology, entertainment, and design. Its collection of short yet stimulating talks are great source of inspiration. Who knows, a three-minute TED Talk might just move you to write an equally inspiring essay, or push you to academic excellence.

AssignmentMasters

We all know students can be loaded with school assignments when finals are near. You might find yourself juggling your time among final exams, essays, and a little of social life. There’s no harm in asking for some help.

AssignmentMasters can give you a hand with your essays, research, and reports, since they specialize in writing help. Their group of professional writers can guide you from the start of your writing process until the end, including brainstorming, drafting, and editing. If you are struggling to meet coursework requirements and do not know where to turn to for help, let their professional team show you the ropes.

Gutenberg

College studies require research work for some courses. While several online research resources require subscription, Project Gutenberg gives online access to around 50,000 digitized texts for free!

It is a volunteer community project started by Michael Hart that promotes the creation and distribution of eBooks. Most of its texts are already public domain, but Project Gutenberg accepts donations to enable them to buy and digitize more books.

Cooklet

Despite the fact that you are living on your own, you surely can’t live on Chinese takeouts or food delivery services. You might want to learn how to cook, which is a necessary life skill. If you want to be motivated, you can check out Cooklet for foodie inspiration.

Cooklet is the social networking site for food lovers and chefs, who share their recipes and culinary masterpieces with their fellow foodies.

Excited yet for the awesome opportunity that awaits you abroad? Here’s to hoping you’ll do better than fine, and enjoy each moment!