Congrats! You’ve been accepted to college! You’ve graduated from high school and you are now on to the next chapter of your life. Summer is quickly coming to an end and you’re probably starting to feel a little bit nervous because you aren’t sure what to expect, but I’m here to assure you that you are going to be fine!
Transitioning from high school to college can be tough, but if you follow these simple tips, then you are sure to be successful.
Create a schedule that will be manageable for you.
When picking classes, some things to keep in mind are the location of your classes, how long it will take you to get from class to class, and the time of the class. If you know that you are not a morning person then maybe don’t schedule an 8 am because the chance of you turning your alarm off and going right back to bed is very likely.
For me personally, creating a schedule that was manageable meant scheduling my classes back to back, and taking morning classes. Having my classes back to back motivated me to actually go to all of my classes each day because I was already up and moving. Morning classes were ideal because they allowed me to have more time later in the day, and getting up early always helps me to feel more productive.
Find at least one activity to get involved in.
Do not be intimidated to try new things and meet new people. Joining a student organization is a great way to make friends with people who have similar interests as yourself. There are clubs for just about anything and you are sure to find something that you are interested in. If you intend to eventually have a leadership position, then getting involved freshman year will be helpful because you will have more experiences and people will know who you are. This also gives you the opportunity to get a lot of free food and goodies which is a huge plus!
Go to class.
When you go off to college, there is no one there to wake you up in the morning to make sure you get to school on time. The freedom you get comes along with a lot of responsibility. It seriously breaks my heart when people constantly skip class. Whether it be you or your parents, someone is paying thousands and thousands of dollars for your tuition so please, I beg you, GO TO CLASS! You might not like your professor, and the class might be extremely boring, but just go. There have been many times where my professors announce important information such as changes to the syllabus or information that might be on quizzes/exams and you do not want to miss out on this!
Build relationships with your professors and advisors.
There are thousands of other students and you’re not going to get noticed if you don’t try. Ask questions, go to your professor’s office hours, stay to talk with them after class. These are the types of things that will make you stand out from the other students and will help you to build relationships with your professors. I suggest trying to build a good relationship with at least one of your professors. They could be a good connection down the road if you need a reference or advice.
Advisors are also good people to get close with because they can help to connect you with the people and resources that you need. They can help you with scheduling, choosing a major, or any other academic issues that you may have. I recommend meeting with your advisor at least twice a semester.
Sit in the front.
Sitting in the front three rows helps you to be recognized by your professor and helps you to stay focused. If you’re sitting near the front you are less likely to be watching Netflix or shopping during class which is going to help you to better understand the material and get a better grade in the class.
Utilize free resources.
In college, classes are taught at a much faster pace and it is sometimes hard to keep up. Most universities offer a variety of free resources to their students that allow you to get more individualized help from people who have previously taken the course. College tuition costs so much money so I beg you to take advantage of the free resources that are offered. My school had a math learning center and a writing center where students could go to get their work looked over or ask any questions that did not get answered in class. I was also a part of a program where I was able to receive free tutoring for three of my classes my freshman year. Even if you don’t think you need the help, I recommend that you take advantage of these programs.
Find your study spot.
When you’re at school, you are constantly surrounded by others so it’s nice when you are able to find a quiet and comfy spot to study in. Try to find places on campus that few people know about so that you can easily study with few distractions.
Make friends in each of your classes.
Getting to know the people in your classes can help you to develop a network that will be useful to you down the road. If you ever have to miss class, you have someone who can fill you in on what you missed and share their notes with you. Find people that you can meet with outside of class to study with. Study groups are extremely useful in college because they can help to make sure your information is accurate, learn new study skills, and prevent you from procrastinating. It’s also always comforting when you know at least one person in a class with hundreds of students if you go to a large school like myself.
Stay organized.
Your syllabus is going to be your best friend in college. It lists all of the important dates for the entire semester such as when assignments are due, or when you will have quizzes/exams. Putting all of these dates in a planner will help you to keep track of when things are due. As far as school supplies, I suggest keeping each classes materials in a separate notebook or binder so that you can your notes and handouts organized.
Don’t procrastinate.
Easier said than done. Do not hold off all of your assignments until the last minute because you will regret it. I suggest beginning assignments as soon as possible just to get it out the way. Begin studying for your exams at least a week in advance because you will do so much better than if you were to stay up the night before cramming. Break up large tasks like essays and projects into smaller, more manageable task if you are overwhelmed. Professors in college are much stricter when it comes to assignment deadlines so it’s a bad idea to risk waiting until the last minute.
By following these tips, you will be able to make the most out of your college experience and you will be setting yourself up for a bright future. I wish you the best of luck as you head into this new school year!
