There’s a lot more to college than just the next step following high school. It’s going to be something completely different and it’s where you’ll make huge life decisions. Careful planning goes a long way toward setting yourself up to succeed and thrive.
You should not consider going to college unless you have a good idea of the kind of career you want or at least have a general idea. Meet with a career counselor to find out more about your different options and take the time to do some research about different schools and programs.
Take care of yourself at college. The freshman 15 is a real thing. So keep healthy snacks on hand to avoid this. Avoid eating lots of convenient but unhealthy foods, such as pizza or burgers. These foods are quick and easy, but they are very bad for you.
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.
If you are concerned about your finances, keep track of everything you spend for two weeks. Write it all down in a notebook and then look over it to determine what most of your money is being spent on. This can help you to prioritize if you need to. Do this periodically to make sure you remain vigilant about your finances.
Study during the day. It is best to study when you are awake and at your most alert. Studying at night or when you are already fatigued can lead to you spending more time than is usually necessary to comprehend something. Studying while you are wide awake will help you retain information faster and more easily.
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.
If you are occupied with work and kids during the daytime, taking night classes is your best bet. Night time college instructors understand that you have a busy life and tend to cater their classes to this. There is usually less course work and the instructors are as a rule a little more flexible.
If you have any textbook’s leftover after a semester, decide what to do with them. Your dorm room space is probably precious. Some books are worth keeping for professional use. However, if you do sell, do so privately. You can find a better value for your textbooks if you sell it to an individual instead of selling it online or to your college bookstore. Just make sure to sell soon, as new editions will outdate your texts quickly.
Flash cards are not just a helpful tool for younger children; they can really help you with your college classes as well. In addition to them being a great visual tool for helping you to remember important information, they are also easy for you to carry around wherever you go.
Try to get up somewhat early every day. Waking up at 6am can be beneficial towards starting out fresh during your day.
Get to know the people in the financial aid office. If you make friends with them, they will appear more friendly to you. Then, when you have questions, they can assist you more easily. While they are all professionals, it never hurts to grease the social wheels when it comes to your financial needs.
When studying for final exams, study with a partner. Making a date to study with a classmate will make it more likely for you to study hard. Furthermore, you can both motivate each other. Studying with a buddy will keep you on track and is the most effective method for achieving good grades.
If you can put off choosing your major for a while, think about it. When you first get to college, your general education classes give you a broad experience. You may discover that you actually want a different major than the one you thought you would! So take it slow and decide what you really want.
Practice remembering important details. The most effective way to remember is to first choose to remember, then create a picture in your mind of what you need to remember. Form an association in your mind between things you already know and the new information you need to remember. Repeat the process to make the memory permanent.
Try to start your day as early as possible. You may not have class scheduled early in the day; however, it is a good idea to get in the habit of rising early. This can allow you extra time in your day that can be used for studying. It can also help you be at an active point by the time your first class is rolling around.
If dragging yourself out of bed at 6:00 am is impossible, don’t torture yourself with 7:00 am classes. Most schools offer classes in a wide range of time slots. Take advantage of the classes later in the day and in the evening if you aren’t a morning person. You will be more likely to go and will get more out of the course.
If you don’t get the grades you’re used to, don’t take it personally. Talk to the teacher to find out what you can do to improve. Many students who were straight A students in high school get a C or worse on their first assignments or tests when they get to college, so don’t feel ashamed or angry–just get proactive so you can do better.
