Got into top fashion schools but going to NIFT instead, how should I approach these 4 years?

I got into some of the world’s top fashion schools ( like CSM, LCF and FIT) but due to circumstances I’ll be joining NIFT Bhopal instead. It’s been much harder to accept than I expected because I feel like I am stepping away from the path I had worked towards for years.
More than anything, I am worried about lowering the standards I’ve set for myself as a designer.
I chose Bhopal ( even though with my rank I could’ve have gotten a better campus) so I could keep studying independently alongside college. Now I’ll be commuting around 1.5 hours each way to NIFT. From what I’ve heard, classes are often around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which means I’d be away from home for roughly 12 hours a day. I’m worried I’ll lose that balance. I’ve already invested a lot of time in building an international-level portfolio and learning beyond the basics so I am trying to understand how much I should rely on college versus continuing my own path.
Is it actually possible to keep building yourself outside NIFT? How strict is attendance? How did you balance personal projects with college? And if you aimed for exchange programs or international opportunities, what would you do differently?

I would really appreciate advice from NIFT seniors.