You want to have everything under control as you embark upon your college days, and you want to cater to an experience that will bring many good things your way. While college can’t be perfect, you can do as much as possible to make your experience better. Keep reading to find out how!
Go visit several potential colleges to help you decide where you want to go to college. By visiting universities, private colleges and community colleges, you can decide what environment you really want to be in. Most colleges offer several tours throughout the school year. Many also offer an opportunity to shadow a student to see what a normal day is like.
Learn how to write an essay using the “5 Paragraph Essay” format. This is a simple essay format that is often taught in elementary or middle school. Although it is simple to learn, it is invaluable in college. This format will help you easily get through most essay assignments.
Try to do everything in moderation when you enter college for the first time. This means that you should not party too hard or work too hard during your experience. Have a lot of fun, but make sure that you understand you are going to college to learn and expand your possibilities for employment.
When you are planning your schedule, do your best to refrain from scheduling classes that are too early in the morning or too late at night. These classes can be very difficult, as you will often miss these classes due to the time. Schedule classes back to back in the middle of the day.
Create positive, lasting relationships with your professors. Your professors are a tremendous resource and can help you greatly. Ask whatever you wish, even if it’s for assistance. Developing good relationships with them can help you achieve better opportunities and grades. They are important to your success.
When scheduling your classes, make sure that you give yourself breaks. Try not to take any more than three hours of classes without a break of at least one hour. This gives you a chance to eat, study, make a phone call, or take care of other business. It also improves your alertness.
Set yourself up for success in college by taking your habits and ideas into consideration. For example, think about whether you are a morning person or an afternoon person. If you aren’t a morning person, don’t even think about signing up for an early class. Schedule courses later in the day so you won’t be tempted to skip.
Do not wait until last minute to study. When you know you have an upcoming test, study a little each night. By waiting to study until the night before your test, you risk burning yourself out. Chances are you will go to take the test and your mind will draw a blank.
Take short breaks regularly. While you really have to study hard to do well in college, it’s also important to give yourself a break. When you are studying, you should break for a few minutes each hour. Stick with the schedule that you make for yourself.
A good tip that will help you with your studying is to make use of flash cards. It may sound juvenile but flash cards really do make a big difference when you’re studying for a brutal test or exam. The more you have in your studying arsenal, the better you’ll do.
Make sure you know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. Throughout college, you will write dozens of essays and reports. Take steps to ensure that you understand proper citation to avoid even unintentional plagiarism. Professors have many different ways at finding out whether your paper is unique or not.
Sleep a full eight hours before a big exam. If you deny yourself sleep, you’ll find that you are groggy and your brain won’t process all the information you need to remember in an efficient way. Your more than likely then to fail the exam, so don’t think you are doing yourself any favors with an all-nighter!
When you first get to college, get a map. You will feel a little silly using the map, but you do need to know where to go, after all. Map out your classes and the cafeteria so that you can easily get around when you first begin. That can make your first days less hectic.
Respect your biological clock! If morning is simply not your time of day, don’t schedule classes at the crack of dawn. You will have a terrible time getting there, and you will not be at your best. Schedule classes for a time of day when you can reliably get there rested, refreshed and ready to do your best work. In this way, you will make the most of your college dollar and get the very best education.
Sit at the front of the class. Research has shown that students who position themselves at the front of the classroom have higher grades overall. Being right up front makes it harder to become distracted, and you will be forced to pay attention. You will be glad you did when exams come around!
Get a calendar or planner. When you get your syllabus from each teacher, mark the due dates for all assignments on the calendar so that you can keep track of what needs to be done when. That way you won’t have to study or write a paper at the last minute.
As soon after class as possible recopy your notes. Any review you do should be done very quickly after class and then again a few days later. Typing your notes is highly recommended because it will help you learn and organize the material. It will also be easier to review them before tests if they are neatly typed and organized. Additionally, it’s easier to participate in study groups and share your information if it’s in a format others can decipher!
Hopefully, you have a better idea as to how to approach your college experience in today’s world. You want to give yourself a fighting chance and a competitive edge, and you want to make the most out of your studies. Keep the ideas you’ve read in mind as you get started.