College can be a crazy place; parties, new friends, worthy causes and a lot of studying in between. Don’t be overwhelmed by it all! The following article will offer you some very valuable advice that can see you through these years and right up to graduation, so pay close attention!
Make sure that you bring an ample amount of toiletries when you enter college. This is an area that you may not think a great deal about, but you will find toiletries run out quickly. Consider buying in bulk as a means to save money.
One of the smartest things that you can do as you enter college is to map out the exact route of your schedule before the first of class. This will give you a great idea of where you need to be at what time, and also will reduce the frequency that you get lost.
Avoid waiting for the last minute: apply for grants and scholarships early enough. Sometimes the deadlines are very early in a student’s high school senior year. This money can be very important. Come up with a good system for monitoring deadlines and be sure to turn in applications as early before deadlines as possible.
When choosing your major, think about the kind of job you want, but think about the person you are. If you are someone who doesn’t want to get up before noon, for example, you might not want to choose a major where the job possibilities require you to work early in the morning.
Visit the dorm before deciding to live there. You may discover that you don’t want to live in that environment. Not only that, but you may find that you prefer one dorm over the other. Make sure you will get the choice you signed up for, and make sure you have a contingency plan in place if you chose a single room but end up in a quad.
You should use the gym on campus; it is free. You can meet other active college students and workout. Many schools also have gyms for their students.
Student’s discounts are one of the best perks of college, especially if you need to save money. Check with your student resource center or ask an adviser for a list of perks. Many local restaurants, movie theaters and bookstores offer generous discounts when you present a student ID. This allows you to save money and show school pride.
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.
Think about your life after college. While it is tempting to get to college and think of it as your own little world, one day you will have to leave. Make sure that every class and every club reflects what you want to put on a job application. That way, you have an easier time getting a job when you are done.
If you need help choosing between multiple majors, sign up for the starting classes related to these majors. You’ll learn about each field thoroughly this way. In addition, whenever you graduate, you could have earned enough credit hours to earn a minor along with your major, resulting in a degree that’s even more impressive.
Make sure you’re rising early in the mornings. You do not have to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning, but if your day begins between 6 or 7 o’clock, you will give yourself time to eat a good breakfast, exercise a little, and catch up on some studying.
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.
Hang around with people that approach college similarly. When you are around hard working, successful people, you will be inspired to work equally as hard. You can always have fun in the group of friends you go with. Maintaining equilibrium is important while in college.
Get to know a few people in your classes. Although you may not be the type of person who enjoys engaging with strangers, doing so can really help you out in your college years. Knowing others in your class will allow you to get notes on the things you missed out on when you couldn’t make it to class. Having a few fellow students to study with can also make it easier to handle coursework.
Many students take advantage of credit card offers while away at school, especially if they aren’t employed. Unfortunately, this just sets you up for massive debt and damaged credit. Even low introductory rates are just that–introductory. Fees and balances add up quickly, creating a dangerous situation. If you absolutely must have a credit card, stick with only one card.
Hopefully you have learned some very valuable lessons within this article that you can apply to your collegiate aspirations. College is not easy and you’ve got a lot of important decisions to make; make sure you consider the big picture and not just the here and now. College will help you through the rest of your life!
