Most people consider college to be one of the best times in their life. It can also be a challenging and stressful time. The fear is caused by the unknowns of college. Prepare yourself for college life by picking up as much information as possible.
Don’t worry about choosing your major right away. Most schools give you until your junior year to select a major, so you should take time to explore different options and figure out what you most enjoy and might want to make a career out of before you select your major.
If you recently entered college, one of the first things that you should do is purchase your books from the bookstore. This will help you to reduce the stresses that you will face as the year begins, as you should always come prepared with the right materials and texts for school.
You should always schedule a visit to admissions when you are trying to find a college. You can get valuable information on school-specific scholarship opportunities in this way. Some colleges offer their own scholarships. An admissions officer can help you get all the funds you need to make it through college.
Going to college is a real commitment. If you are thinking about getting an education, you need to make sure you will have enough time to attend classes and do your homework. You might have to make some changes to your schedule, talk to your family and to your employer before you enroll for school.
You are living by yourself and making your own food. It is now your job to make sure you are eating well, getting sleep and keeping tidy. Create a schedule that balances class time, study time, recreation and rest. When you’re stressed out and eating the wrong foods, you may become ill.
Get to know your professors and make sure they know you are serious about your education. Your number one resource in college is your professor, and they are able to provide you with a lot of assistance. Ask questions and offer help when it is needed. Developing good relationships with them can help you achieve better opportunities and grades. They are important to your success.
Use the many resources of the library. It is a great place to study, read and relax. When you really need to concentrate, the quiet of the library is a great place to escape the activity of the dorm. The library is also where you can find the most comfortable chairs on campus.
One of the smartest ways to study during your college career is to purchase index cards and use them as flashcards. On these cards, make sure that you write all of the important terms and use them to study. Also, these cards are mobile as you can bring them anywhere you want during the day.
If you haven’t decided on a major, take the core classes of several possible majors. You’ll learn about each field thoroughly this way. Not only that, but you may also qualify for a minor in one of the disciplines you don’t go with.
Participate in the events that are held at the dorms to meet new people. You will enjoy pizza night, movie nights and other events. It is a great way to meet the people that you will be dorming with for the next several months. Don’t be shy about introducing yourself to others.
Make friends with your roommate. Your roommate, or roommates, can be the best part of your college life or the worst. Do everything you can to foster a good relationship with them. You don’t have to be the best of friends, but try your best to make sure you are friendly with each other.
If your courses give the option of attending real class or taking classes online, do both. Go to the real class, and then make good use of the Internet class for an excellent study and review tool. This is a great way to make smart use of your college dollars. Of course, if you are ill and miss a class, you should always take advantage of the internet class to make up for your absence.
When starting a new class, seek out people you know from other classes or other students who share common interests. By making friends with classmates you can have a better chance to form study groups that can ultimately lead to better study habits when it comes time for midterms and finals.
Do not borrow notes from other students. You might believe that your classmate knows what they are doing, but their notes may be questionable at best. You might only be getting part of the information presented, or short codes that only the actual note taker knows.
Never leave candles burning or your lights on when you are the last one out of your dorm. This can be an extreme fire hazard and can endanger all the people in your building. Purchase fake candles, as they can do the trick if you need extra light at night.
Study one hour a day while in college. Last minute cramming can actually detract your performance on tests and exams, due to stress and sleep deprivation. When you study one hour daily, you are always in a steady habit that never takes up too much of your schedule at any one time.
Get plenty of sleep. It may be tempting to stay up all night “cramming” for exams, but this is not a good idea. It’s been proven that students who get the proper amount of sleep do better on exams. This is because they are more alert and attentive when taking tests.
If you are having trouble in a class, don’t procrastinate about asking for help. Most professors have office hours; drop by during this time and tell the professor you need extra help. If your professor has TA’s, you can also ask them for help. Finally, you can hire a tutor through your school’s academic help center.
You ought to now have a greater understanding of what college is about. Armed with this knowledge, you can expect productive and successful days at school. Use these tips to get the most out of your college education.
