The faces of college students nationwide are changing. More students are balancing the pressures of academics, extracurricular activities, work and a social life.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in three Americans end up dropping out of college — a stark contrast from past generations.Before entering college, students are encouraged to work on time management to balance the pressures of academics, work and adapting to new surroundings, but feelings of being over-whelmed prevail.

“As a freshman, I understand that when we first enter college or even once we adjust to being in a new place, we want to take on the world,” said freshman Meghan Michelon, who credits the new sense of independence to being a contributing factor to why students tend to take on too much.

“It doesn’t surprise me to hear that so many students are dropping out of school. When some spread their focuses too thin, it can be easy to lose focus on academics,” said Michelon.

According to new developments, statistics show that while it’s important to be involved on campus — being too involved can be a detrimental distraction for students.

Along with extra-curricular activities, work and academics, students must balance the demands of unexpected events, sleep deprivation, dramatic social lives and self discovery.

“I guess it kind of depends on what you get involved into,” said fifth-year senior Kate Firlik.

“I know people who are involved in structured groups on campus who have it more figured out (than) people who say ‘oh I’m in college and I can hang out with people all the time and not do this and not do my homework.”

In a society where procrastination and Facebook have become majors on college campuses, experts emphasize the importance of creating a balance in life between a social life, academics, stress and even sleep.

“Just don’t let any one thing be the major defining characteristic of your life. Don’t get so focused on volunteering or going to parties so you ignore your classes,” said Firlik.

“You have to have a good balance (and) it’s easier for students to balance everything when there’s structure to what they are doing.”

For continuing education students, the pressure is on while they work to incorporate earning a degree into the demands of everyday life.

“Basically you live different lives. You live your college life and you have to be an adult too,” said continuing education student Nichole Gamble.

“You have adult responsibilities that regular college students don’t have.”

With their whole lives ahead of them, many students feel added pressure having to decide what they will study for a lifelong career. On average, students change their majors three times during the course of their college career. Statistically, people will change their careers an average of seven times during the course of their lives.

“All I can say when you are older you tend to look at things differently and you tend to look at your future a little more instead of ‘oh I have four years to decide,’” said Gamble.

While the pressure is on for students to fundamentally lay out a life plan during the college years, many sleepless nights result.

Students are encouraged to get a full eight hours of sleep a night, but the reality exists that students are oftentimes only getting five hours, with a few all-nighters in the mix. Students in a college atmosphere are already susceptible to stress and sleep deprivation only worsens the problem.

Loss of sleep makes students more reckless, makes it more difficult to focus and makes individuals more emotionally fragile and more vulnerable to infection. During last fall’s convocation, inducting the class of 2010 into the college community, now-senior Will Guyeskey joked, “There are three things in college — sleep, friends and studying. Pick two.”

The sacrifices students are making to be more involved are becoming realities that has both its benefits and downsides. While studies show that students who are involved during college are happier, more successful graduates, a full schedule can be overwhelming.

“It’s really stressful, we all know that. But just remember that your life is not going to end if you fail something or have to give up a club membership or have to ask for help,” said Firlik.

“You need to know your limits, make time for yourself and check in with yourself and prioritize.“It has to be balanced. You have to make time for yourself amidst all that.”