Is it normal to feel like you want to change your looks and personality when you go to college? How do you become independent?

It's definitely normal to feel like you want to change your looks and personality when you go to college.  This is something that a lot of people go through at this period in their life. 

And there are plenty of reasons to want to undergo a "drastic makeover" - here's a quick list of some of the main ones:

1. Going to college is an exciting time.  It's an opportunity to have a new start.  It doesn't matter what you were like at school, you can now be who you want to be.  With that comes the opportunity to reinvent yourself through the way you look and behave.
2. You're likely to meet a lot of new friends at college, and in turn, you'll probably be introduced to new aspects of life.  This can lead to changes in how you want your appearance to be, and how you want to be perceived by others.  If you suddenly want to dress like a rocker, here's your chance.
3. College comes at a time when you're going through many changes as a person.  You're getting older, and may not connect as well with some of the things you enjoyed in the past.  Again, this can lead to changes in how you want to look and how you behave.

How do you become independent at college?

College is a great time as it leads to more independence.  This is because you're expected to be responsible for yourself in many aspects that you weren't at school.

There are no detentions at college.  If you don't do the work, you fail.  It's that simple.  There are less people telling you what to do and when to do them, and that brings a sense of independence that you've probably never experienced until that point.