The start of a new semester can bring a mix of excitement, anticipation, and plenty of things to remember. For students living with narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), preparing for college can also mean thinking ahead about accommodations, managing symptoms, communicating with professors, and building routines that support both academic success and well-being.

Throughout our College Success Series, we’ve shared strategies to help students navigate these challenges and feel more prepared for college life. As we wrap up the series, here’s a checklist to help you put those strategies into action and start the semester strong.

✓ Make Sure Your Accommodations Are in Place

If you have approved accommodations, review them before classes begin and make sure you understand how they will be implemented. Depending on your needs, accommodations may include flexibility with attendance, extended testing time, priority registration, scheduled breaks, note-taking assistance, or other supports.

Keep a copy of your accommodation documentation somewhere easy to access, and know who to contact within your school’s disability or accessibility services office if questions come up.

✓ Connect With Your Professors Early

You don’t have to share every detail about your diagnosis, but communicating early can make it easier to advocate for yourself if challenges arise later.

Introduce yourself, provide any required accommodation letters, and briefly discuss how your approved accommodations may apply in their class. Establishing that communication at the beginning of the semester can help prevent confusion and make future conversations easier.

✓ Look at the Big Picture

Once you have your class schedule, take a look at how your days actually come together. A schedule that looks manageable on paper may feel very different when you factor in travel across campus, meals, studying, activities, appointments, and time to rest.

Think about when your energy tends to be strongest and when symptoms are more difficult to manage. When possible, plan demanding tasks around the times that work best for you.

✓ Build a Routine That Supports Your Health

College schedules can change from day to day, but having some consistency can help. Consider creating routines around sleep, meals, medication as prescribed, studying, physical activity, and planned rest or naps if they are part of your symptom-management strategy.

The goal isn’t to create a perfect schedule. It’s to build enough structure that you aren’t constantly trying to catch up.

✓ Know Your Support System

You don’t have to navigate college entirely on your own. Identify the people and resources you can turn to before you need them.

Your support system might include family, friends, roommates, professors, disability services, academic advisors, campus health services, counselors, or others who understand your needs.

It can also help to have at least one trusted person on campus who knows about your narcolepsy or IH and understands how they can support you if needed.

✓ Have a Plan for Difficult Days

Even with careful planning, there may be days when symptoms interfere with your plans. Think ahead about what you can do when that happens.

Who should you contact if you can’t make it to class? How will you get notes or assignments you’ve missed? What resources are available if you’re struggling academically? Having a plan in place can make those situations feel much more manageable when they occur.

✓ Give Yourself Room to Adjust

The routine you create during the first week of classes doesn’t have to be the routine you follow all semester.

Pay attention to what is and isn’t working. Maybe a certain study time isn’t realistic, an extracurricular commitment is taking more energy than expected, or you realize you need additional support.

Making adjustments isn’t a setback. It’s part of learning how to manage college in a way that works for you.

You’ve Got Your Toolkit. Now Make It Your Own.

There is no single formula for succeeding in college with narcolepsy or IH. Your symptoms, schedule, accommodations, and needs are uniquely yours, and they may change throughout your college experience.

What matters is knowing your rights, understanding the resources available to you, communicating when you need support, and learning what helps you do your best.

As you head into the new semester, remember that you don’t have to figure everything out on day one. Start with a plan, use the tools and support available to you, and make adjustments along the way.

And if you need a refresher, the College Success Series will be here to return to throughout the semester.