WORTH NOTING:
The transition to college is as individual as the people who make it. While it is often assumed that a student will go from high school to college, not everyone does. Nor does every college student go immediately after high school.
Nor are all colleges the same: some are specialized, some offer a general “liberal arts” education. There are really small colleges and really huge universities. Some colleges are very expensive, others not. Some students attend a two year college, and transfer to a four year college to complete a Bachelor degree; community colleges make this option accessible, inexpensive and, in some states, offer a smooth transition to a four year state university.
Each person thinking of college should consider all the options.