I have learned quite a bit while attending college the past two years, and I must say that it's been a pretty interesting experience with all the highs and lows. My first semester, I was going through a lot of transitions. I was moving out of the nest from the comfort of my own home into an all girls dorm, having to learn about the difficulties of being my own parent, and having to have daily trial and errors with responsibilities and balancing any extra time I may have had. Though I'm only finishing up my Sophomore year at my University, I would like to share some of my tips and tricks, advice, and interesting information you may also learn in your future if you plan on attending college. Or, you may be able to relate to any one of these. If so, just enjoy the flashbacks. |
- Please, for the love of God, DO NOT wait until the last minute to study for an exam.
This adds a ton of unnecessary stress and it may put a dent in your class' grade. It helps to study for 15 minutes off and on every day to make information stick and I promise you'll do better on your exams.
- The Freshman 15 is a real thing.
Another way to cope with stress is to get some exercise. Not only will you feel better, but it's also a good stress reliever (science).
- Make plans with your campuses Counseling Services.
I cannot stress enough how important this is if your stress begins to become overwhelming. Depression is real and alive and it does not discriminate. Classes get hard, you begin to miss your family and friends back home, you're transitioning from high school to college, and many many more things that you may be personally going through. Even if you go once a week just to talk to someone if nothing is happening in your personal life, it's good to vent or just tell someone how your week has been going. If things get serious, they will be able to help you find ways to cope with whatever is going on in your life and assure you that you're not alone.
-Stay Organized.
Papers go missing, tests get forgotten about, and grades will go missing if you don't log your tasks and write reminders down. What helps me is making a week by week to-do list for each of my classes, then crossing the assignments out as I complete them. Look at your syllabus at the end of every week to make your list of assignments for the upcoming classes.
-Go to bed at a decent time.
I shoot for no less than five or six hours. No more than eight (roughly). Naps are your best friend, visit them often. I used to never take naps in high school unless I fell asleep even when I wasn't trying to. Then college came around and I look forward to my naps!
-Don't be afraid to ask your professors for help or get tutoring.
My campus offers free tutoring for students and I've heard wonderful reviews over it. Have an intimidating professor or are afraid of coming across as an idiot if you feel like you're going to ask a stupid question? Who cares. Ask anyway. There is a reason you have that question and your professor will love to help you (that's what they're there for). Don't have their contact information or they're not responding back to your email quick enough? Get someones number in class and use them as your study buddy and answer giver (to your questions outside of class).
-Prioritize
You have no idea how bad I become distracted from assignments. Get done what you need to get done and THEN go for the fun stuff. Having trouble? Hide your phone while it's on silent, turn off the TV and resist the urge to check Facebook on the second browser tab. If that isn't working, go somewhere where they're aren't may distractions like a quiet corner in a Library (my campus offers study rooms to reserve inside our Library which helps me a ton to not get distracted).
-Vent. Vent however long you want and on anything you want.
Grab a buddy, parent (or counselor!) and GO CRAZY about whatever is on your mind. Don't bottle it in, even if it is a small and ridiculous opinion, it can add up and begin to be a contributor to stress. I feel horrible for my best friend, because I'm an over-thinker and always have something on my mind to vent about. There are times when you know you are wrong, but that doesn't mean your emotions are wrong.
-Change your major/minor however many times you need to until you know you're where you're supposed to be.
Don't stress about the waist of money or the waist of time. Would you rather be doing something your're passionate about or something you're losing interest in or not enjoy at all?
-Don't take anything you know you wont be able to handle.
I tried to work two jobs when I started college because anyone I ever knew did that to make extra money. My grades began to drop and my stress levels shot through the roof. I quit my second job because I began to realize that I can't handle that much work load like others can.
-Enjoy this time in your life, and this experience!
Not everyone can go to college. This will be the youngest you'll ever be. Learn something during your college experience and enjoy it. Take a semester off if you honestly need it, but come back swinging when you return.
This adds a ton of unnecessary stress and it may put a dent in your class' grade. It helps to study for 15 minutes off and on every day to make information stick and I promise you'll do better on your exams.
- The Freshman 15 is a real thing.
Another way to cope with stress is to get some exercise. Not only will you feel better, but it's also a good stress reliever (science).
- Make plans with your campuses Counseling Services.
I cannot stress enough how important this is if your stress begins to become overwhelming. Depression is real and alive and it does not discriminate. Classes get hard, you begin to miss your family and friends back home, you're transitioning from high school to college, and many many more things that you may be personally going through. Even if you go once a week just to talk to someone if nothing is happening in your personal life, it's good to vent or just tell someone how your week has been going. If things get serious, they will be able to help you find ways to cope with whatever is going on in your life and assure you that you're not alone.
-Stay Organized.
Papers go missing, tests get forgotten about, and grades will go missing if you don't log your tasks and write reminders down. What helps me is making a week by week to-do list for each of my classes, then crossing the assignments out as I complete them. Look at your syllabus at the end of every week to make your list of assignments for the upcoming classes.
-Go to bed at a decent time.
I shoot for no less than five or six hours. No more than eight (roughly). Naps are your best friend, visit them often. I used to never take naps in high school unless I fell asleep even when I wasn't trying to. Then college came around and I look forward to my naps!
-Don't be afraid to ask your professors for help or get tutoring.
My campus offers free tutoring for students and I've heard wonderful reviews over it. Have an intimidating professor or are afraid of coming across as an idiot if you feel like you're going to ask a stupid question? Who cares. Ask anyway. There is a reason you have that question and your professor will love to help you (that's what they're there for). Don't have their contact information or they're not responding back to your email quick enough? Get someones number in class and use them as your study buddy and answer giver (to your questions outside of class).
-Prioritize
You have no idea how bad I become distracted from assignments. Get done what you need to get done and THEN go for the fun stuff. Having trouble? Hide your phone while it's on silent, turn off the TV and resist the urge to check Facebook on the second browser tab. If that isn't working, go somewhere where they're aren't may distractions like a quiet corner in a Library (my campus offers study rooms to reserve inside our Library which helps me a ton to not get distracted).
-Vent. Vent however long you want and on anything you want.
Grab a buddy, parent (or counselor!) and GO CRAZY about whatever is on your mind. Don't bottle it in, even if it is a small and ridiculous opinion, it can add up and begin to be a contributor to stress. I feel horrible for my best friend, because I'm an over-thinker and always have something on my mind to vent about. There are times when you know you are wrong, but that doesn't mean your emotions are wrong.
-Change your major/minor however many times you need to until you know you're where you're supposed to be.
Don't stress about the waist of money or the waist of time. Would you rather be doing something your're passionate about or something you're losing interest in or not enjoy at all?
-Don't take anything you know you wont be able to handle.
I tried to work two jobs when I started college because anyone I ever knew did that to make extra money. My grades began to drop and my stress levels shot through the roof. I quit my second job because I began to realize that I can't handle that much work load like others can.
-Enjoy this time in your life, and this experience!
Not everyone can go to college. This will be the youngest you'll ever be. Learn something during your college experience and enjoy it. Take a semester off if you honestly need it, but come back swinging when you return.