What should I start doing now to prepare myself for a radical shift in social lifestyle in college?

I am a high school senior and I’ve been finding myself growing increasingly concerned about how I’ll fit in in a college environment.

First off, I am shy and very introverted. I spend a lot of time alone, which is fine with me, but that’s not to say that I’d be content with having no friends in college. I want to have friends.

I’ve just been worried about it lately because I met most of my good friends in preschool, and my friend-making skills haven’t gotten a lot of exercise since then. Add the mix the fact that I despise small talk and am awful at it, and I’m having trouble picturing myself forming relationships with any new people.

I’m also concerned because I am well aware that I have had a very sheltered life up through now. For one thing, I live in a very small town. For another, since the age of fourteen I’ve been on prescription medication that cannot be mixed with alcohol; as a result I have never drunk alcohol. I am on this medication indefinitely, so it’s entirely possible that I will never drink alcohol, and I certainly won’t be able to do so in college. Parties don’t appeal to me either, especially if I’d be the only sober person there.

Knowing all this, is there any hope for me in college? What could I be doing now to make the transition less of a shock?