How do you balance schoolwork and a social life in college?

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I've really been having trouble with this. I'm taking four classes a semester, which to most people (a lot of my peers are taking up to six courses per term) seems like a pretty light load. However, the work demands so much of my time and energy (especially writing assignments, which I've had a whole lot more of since I transferred from community college to university) that I feel suffocated. I don't have a problem with feeling productive, but I am often insecure about the quality of work I am producing for my classes. Essay exams, oral exams and term papers all scare me more than a bit, so I concentrate on them intensely to the exclusion of everything else. Almost every moment I'm working on those things makes me feel like I'm procrastinating. I am left feeling like I'm drowning or have a noose around my neck.
This bothers me because I'm a very outgoing person and I enjoy talking to people outside of the college environment (I commute to school if that makes any difference).
I really envy my peers who seem somehow able to go to a party or a nightclub on the weekends and still make the Dean's List with near perfect grades in six classes. Lately, I've fallen into the habit of saving the whole going out kind of thing for vacations when I know I don't have to meet deadlines for four major homework assignments. I need to take a lot of time to finish homework perfectly or do a good job of studying for a test. Seeing people somehow ace their courses yet still manage to have free time makes me feel like some kind of impoverished orphan looking in on the window of Tiffany's and Co.

The bright side is that (at least theoretically) I have about two or three more semesters' worth of work left to go before I graduate. I'm just afraid of not having any time to spend with friends or simply relax and enjoy life.

I was like you, I had a lighter load then most people yet I was overwhelmed to my neck in school work. The way I did it, well I didnt rest much it was all work, some social life, not very much rest. I did sleep sufficiently but otherwise, nope. The semesters were often times crushers. I really miss my college days now, well the social life part, not as much the work. I dont really have any advice for you sorry. I just didnt rest much. I understand, it can be hard especially when your peers are so much ahead of you.

What social life?

I do a full load which at my uni is 4 classes a semester, I don't really have a social life I'd rather be with my stuffed giraffes and textbooks tbh.
Besides the student equation goes:
Sleep + social life = bad grades
Sleep + good grades = no social life
Social life + good grades = no sleep

I like sleep and good grades rofl

That was part of what I really did not like about college especially towards the end.......it just gets to be too much trying to concentrate on college and other parts of your life. I feel like now that I decided to quit I have so much more time to figure out what I actually want to do and also live life without constantly worrying about if I'll get my work in or if it will be good enough. I just feel it was not for me.........but if you really want to go for that degree you kind of have to decide what is more important to you if its too difficult for you to get your work done to your satisfaction while maintaining a social life well its kind of up to you what you want to do with that.

Or is it possible you're being a bit hard on yourself? maybe you are still doing good work but your just being hard on yourself for wanting to have fun rather than study all the time. I mean you have to be able to maintain some enjoyment of life while going to college.

I am taking 2 classes this semester and am dreading it already. I'm afraid I will fail the 2.

grades are more important than social life. worry about your buddies once you have the degree in your belt.

I think instead of feeling bad for ourselves we should try to solve a mystery and help ourselves.
How can we be like them in regards to having fun time and doing well?

Does anyone know how the shiny people can take a megaload of classes, party, go social all the time and still make good grades?

Do they skimp by doing the minimum they can to make the A (know the facts, but don't sweat theory)?

Do they just plan better, or is it that they are less stressed and therefore can be more efficient with learning or absorbing while in class and when they do work?

Do they live on campus and save time without having to spend 2hrs a day in commute?

Do they cheat or buy papers?

How can I learn to do it?

I took 3 classes last semester (grad school) and worked part time and had some family issues, and felt like I was always paddling to keep my head above water... and didn't leave time to go out with peers or "cultivate relations" --- so always under 7 hours of sleep, barely keeping home and school together (though I made a 4.0 that I really fought for) - Yet I am behind on networking, getting to know profs, and hanging out with new mates.