When you get to college, it is a strange feeling. You have to go to class, which you are used to, but you have a lot more freedom than you may be used to. There are a lot of things to know about class, but there is much more to know about your life at college. Here are some tips to help you.
Organize all of the essential materials for college before you begin. Part of being college ready is the ability to handle your own problems, instead of expecting your parents to bail you out all the time. This is especially important if you’ll be far from home.
A good tip if you’re thinking about going to college is to get all of your general education out of the way. This means that you take your basic classes at a community college so that when you’re finally at college, you’re able to take good classes that are worth the money.
Take part in all the activities you can during your college years. If you do a lot of activities, you will be able to use them on your resume. Focus on getting good grades, and balance that with other activities.
Buy your school books a couple weeks before the term begins. Spend an hour familiarizing yourself with each of your books. If you have access to your course syllabus, check it out and see where in the book your class will be starting. This way you can get a bit of a head start.
Keep up with your checking account to avoid wasting money on overdraft charges. Debit cards are easy to use, and unfortunately, that means it is also easy to spend more money than you actually have. Get into a schedule where you check your account online every few days so that this does not happen to you.
Download foreign language learning podcasts and MP3 lessons onto your MP3 player or tablet. Listen to the lessons while driving or riding the bus to school. This will help prepare you for your foreign language classes. You can practice pronunciation, and work on vocabulary instead of wasting your travel time.
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 research on your intended major. Before declaring your major, do the research to learn if your choice is feasible. Look at current and projected job prospects for those with that major. Furthermore, look at the future expected earnings, and the types of fields’ people with your intended major usually go into. What you find may surprise you.
Make sure you take time for breaks. Of course, studying is very important; however, so are adequate breaks. For every 60 minutes you study, take ten minutes for a break. Make a schedule for yourself and try to stick with it.
Give your new college a year before making the decision that it’s not right for you. Some of the things that cause students to quit are just short term difficulties that need to be worked through. By giving school at least a year, you can find out if your difficulties are just homesickness or something else that will pass over time. At the end of the year, you can decide whether or not the school is really the right choice for you.
Learn to prioritize your classes in regard to study time. Not all of your classes will be intensive for you. Those classes that you excel in, are often easy for you and do not require as much study time. Be smart and use that study time for other classes that do require more of your attention; however, always refocus your efforts should challenges arise in the easy class.
It is important that you know about your classes’ workload before you even begin attending classes. You will be able to better prepare yourself for what is to come for each semester by reading the courses’ syllabus. Here, you will know what your homework assignments, tests and overall class will be like.
Do not skip classes with attendance policies that are not mandatory. Skipping one day can quickly snowball into missing weeks or months. Missing that many lectures makes passing final exams, and the class, really difficult to achieve. Just one skip can start a big blow to your final grade point average.
If you feel lonely, say so. There are many professionals and other students who are more than happy to spend time with you. Going to college can be a tough thing, and if you ever need to talk to someone about your feelings, don’t be afraid to use campus services, or just your roommates, to say how you feel.
Make sure to put time and effort into your college essay. Lots of colleges and universities, especially smaller ones, carefully read and review your essay to try to paint a picture of who you are as a person and whether or not you would fit in at their respective college.
If you want to go to the movies, take in a matinee showing instead of going in the evenings. You could save several dollars on the cost of admission. Also, your university may have free showings of different movies. While you may not be very familiar with the titles, you could discover a gem that you really enjoy.
Now that you have had time to read through the tips laid out here, you have a better understanding of how to lead a fulfilling life at college. College is a fond memory for many, but you have to make sure that you have fond memories for you. This is your time!
