Starting college can be like entering an entirely new world. You have more freedom than you’ve ever had before and you are in total control over your own life. This increased responsibility however can make you susceptible to some serous pitfalls. Read the following article to learn what habits to avoid in order to have a successful college career.
Take care of yourself at college. There is no myth behind the freshman 15. Make sure to eat healthy. The lure of fast food which is so available at college can be hard to resist. Although it may be cheap and quick, this kind of food is not nutritious.
Study diligently. Invest time in your college years, and you will reap excellent benefits. College is like a full-time job and you may still socialize. If you succeed in college, then you’ll have a higher salary and a better job in the future.
Take the school bus. In fact, your commute time may not even be longer than usual. This will also save you the hassle of having to find a non existent parking spot in the full campus lot. You can also save gas money. If you are interested in “going green,” this is a great opportunity to make that impact.
If you are trying to make some extra money when you are away at school and do not want it to interfere with your studies you should check out work study. Most of the time you will be able to get a position within your area of study and you can actually learn something.
Talk to your professors. Things are a little different when you get to college. Your teachers are more approachable, and you can talk to them during their office hours. This gives you more time to ask questions, but you can also learn more about what drives them. They can help you with ideas for your career after you are done with college as well.
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.
Wake up early to get a head start on your morning. You don’t have to wake up at 4 or 5 AM. Wake up around 6:30 or 7 so that you can eat a good breakfast and maybe exercise, which can both help get your mind going.
When you are in college, get virus protection on your laptop, as this is one of the most important tools that you will have during your stay. The last thing that you will want to have happened is to lose important information that you will need on the day of the test from a virus.
If you feel your schedule can handle it, take an additional class during each semester. Many students can easily handle the average class load, which means that adding in one more class will be a minor burden at best. This can allow you to shorten your time in college enough to graduate a little earlier.
On the first couple of days of class, make sure that you personally introduce yourself to the professor during their office hours. This can go a long way in showing the professor that you are interested in the class, and will also help them to put a face to a name quicker.
If you are not staying in dorms, consider carpooling with other students. You should be able to find others that are staying in the same area as you. You will likely not be able to carpool every day of the week with the same people, but even a few days will help build relationships.
Take time to relax. Studying too much can easily burn you out. Your parents probably scoff at the idea, but it is possible to study too much. Taking a break between studies may be hard for the driven person, but it’s good for your health.
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.
When studying for exams, try setting goals. Like anything else that has time-restraints, setting goals can keep you focused. In this case, your main goal would be to pass the exam. To accomplish that, try listing small goals of what you want to accomplish at certain times in order to be ready in time for the test.
Record the lectures that you attend. When you take both notes and audio record the lectures, you are ready for any situation when you get to the point of studying the content. If your notes are sparse in a certain area, you can turn to the lecture recording as the refresher you need.
College life is much different than life at home. Your parents aren’t there to help whenever you need them and you’ll be entrusted with far more responsibility than you’re used to. Make sure you stay organized and manage your time wisely or you’ll find yourself drowning in your new found responsibilities.
Make an effort to attend school sporting events. Getting immersed in the culture of school pride can help you feel more invested in the campus and give you a chance to think positively even when academic stresses may have you feeling down. Sporting events are a great break from the weekly grind of studying.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, you have the freedom to do whatever you want in college, but with this increase in freedom comes greater responsibility. Make sure to implement the tips you’ve just read into your everyday life so that you can have a successful experience while having fun at the same time.
