Are you considering going to college? If so, then you should not just make a blindfold decision. This decision requires a lot of reflection on your end, as well as some general knowledge about college. Continue reading to learn some excellent knowledge on some of the things you should know about college before making your decision.
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 want to get an education on a limited budget, consider going to a community college for two years before transferring to a different universities. You will find that community colleges are cheaper than other schools and your credits will transfer as long as you complete your general education before transferring.
Why are you attending college? It is important to answer this question for yourself. Are you in college just because it seems like the thing to do? Are you there to just have a college experience? Are you there to learn a specific subject. Carefully evaluate why it is you are attending college and prioritize.
Be sure to make use of local transportation. You might discover the commute is not any longer than by driving. You can cut out the time normally spent on searching for parking spots. You’ll also save on gas and parking passes. You can consider using public transportation as an energy efficient mode of transportation that is your contribution to a “green” world.
Keep in touch with your family. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s hard sometimes to keep in touch with your siblings and parents when you have so much going on in your college life. Make time for at least one call or Skype session every week, and you’ll make them happy.
Save money while you’re in college. This can be tough, especially when you think of how much time you don’t have to earn money, and how many things there are to spend money on. Try to save just a few bucks a week that can go for major outings or money crunches.
Make time to study daily. There are many ways to fill your time in school, but you must focus on your education as well. Promise yourself that you will study each and every day. Even if you don’t feel you need to that day, stick with it. It will make studying a routine.
Don’t focus on your friends back home or a boyfriend or girlfriend in your home town. Chances are you will not stay together through four years of college and you will grow apart. Just enjoy college, meet new people, and feel lucky that you have the opportunity to get away from home to better yourself and branch out.
If you are struggling with one or more of your college courses, seek tutoring help. Many college students think it costs a fortune to hire a tutor; the truth is that most college campuses provide their students with low-cost or free tutoring services. Speak with a financial counselor for more information.
You will need to study a lot to keep your grades up, but take one day a week off to relax and regenerate. Approach your learning by immersing yourself in your courses. Talk about the subject to others, look for references to it in the world around you and apply it to your life in general.
It is important to take breaks. While it is important to study, it is just as important to remember to take breaks during these study sessions. Ten minute breaks are optimal to get your body and mind to regroup. Make an effort to stick to the schedule you give yourself.
Take short breaks when you study for exams. You need to take breaks to let your mind rest, but you don’t want them to be brief. Taking long breaks can thwart the best of studying efforts. They make it harder to get back to work, and they make it hard to work up the needed momentum. Keeping breaks short is the way to go.
If you need to find off-campus housing, make sure to look for a place that is close to public transportation. It might seem easy to walk or ride your bike, but when you have a large project or are running late it is nice to have the option to get to campus quickly.
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.
Make some creative plans for those special dates in college. Sometimes it is more impressive to stay in versus going out to a nice restaurant. You will spend less and impress your date at the same time. Ask any roommates to make plans on that day. Then, when they want privacy, you can do the same.
Don’t use artificial stimulants so you can stay up and study longer. Caffeine and other stimulants can wreak havoc with your sleep schedule and your health. Since sleep time is just as important as study time, you need to be able to rest when you can. Finding the right balance between studying and sleeping is a better strategy for acing tests.
As you have probably seen from the above article, making the choice to attend college is not an easy one. There are many different factors that you must take into account. What is right for one person may not be right for another. You have to make the choice that is right for you. The advice given above can help you make this decision, but ultimately, it’s your decision to make.
