Are you heading off to college for the first time? Is it overwhelming you? The whole college experience is quite different from anything else. Luckily, there are some ways that you can make your time in college less stressful and more successful. Use the tips shared in this article and you can have a great college career.
While you are in school to study and earn a degree, make sure you take the time to make some friends and explore other options around the university. Often times these other connections and experiences can be helpful down the road when it comes time to finding a job after graduation.
Sleep a full eight hours before a big exam. If you deny yourself sleep, you’ll find that you are groggy and your brain won’t process all of the information you need to remember in an efficient way. Your more than likely then to fail the exam, so don’t think you are doing yourself any favors with an all-nighter!
Mind your pennies, and your dollars will take care of themselves. Realize that there are many excellent free activities all over campus. Take good advantage of them to have fun, learn and experience new things and save a ton of money. The activities offered in a college setting are unlike those offered at any other place and time in your life, so be sure to make the most of the opportunities you have at your fingertips to build great college memories.
If you think you have made a mistake in choosing your major, you do have options. It is not uncommon to change a major. You can either add a major, especially if you are close to completing the work for your original choice. You may also find that some of the work you have done will transfer to your new major.
Don’t start right out thinking you’re going to carry a full course load and work part time or full time as well. Just take classed during your first semester and see how it goes. If you find yourself with lots of free time on your hands (highly unlikely) you can consider getting a job in your second semester. It’s smart to determine how heavy your load of coursework will be before making any other commitments.
Set a budget before you enter your first semester for how much money you will be spending going out with friends, on food and on miscellaneous items. This will give you a better idea of the restrictions that you have so that you do not blow all of your money in the first few months.
If possible try to live for your first year in campus housing. By taking advantage of room and board you can give yourself more of a chance to focus on getting accustomed to the campus and community. Then in following years you will have a better idea of where you might prefer to live on your own.
Look for the study areas of your dorm first thing. Every dorm has quiet areas and study corners. Get to know where they are, and the vibe in each one. Yes, all of them must be silent, but there can be varying amounts of people in each that may be just as disturbing to focused studying.
Flip-flops aren’t just for politicians! Be sure to wear your flip-flops every time you use the dorm shower. They will protect you from getting athletes foot; however, don’t stop there. Be sure to dry your feet thoroughly after showering and use a medicated powder. Pay special attention to the area between your toes. Be sure to store your flip-flops in such a way that they will dry thoroughly between uses. For example, you could hang them over a hanger in your closet if there is enough room for air circulation.
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.
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!