Ways To Successfully Get Through College Admission College is not easy. Not only does it test your learning capacity, but it also tests your endurance, time management abilities, finances, and a heck of a lot more. The college challenge can be so grueling, that many venture to finish a college degree only to give up half way. But that may not have to happen if you follow these 25 ways to successfully get through college. Be updated with the latest As a freshman, college may be a bit overwhelming. There is so much to do at all sorts of times. Make it a point to be aware of these activities so that you don’t miss out on something that could potentially be of great interest to you. Visit the college website to look at their calendar or if your college has a newsletter/newspaper, make it a point to read it. Go to classes prepared This is a bit elementary but it still rings through in college; always go to class prepared. If there are reading assignments that the professor wants you to read before class, make sure to read them. This will help you understand what the professor is talking about during his/her lecture. Become familiar with your professors Being a teacher’s pet in college is absolutely necessary. Get to know your teacher by asking questions during class and by visiting him or her during office hours. The more the professor is familiar with you, the easier it will be for him or her to help you when questions arise. Be responsible when socializing There are too many distractions in the life of a college student. Things like part time (or even in some cases full-time) jobs, family, friends, and the social life will all want your attention. Before you know it, you’re drained out of your mind and unable to focus on the very reason why you enrolled in college to begin with. Learn to prioritize and attend parties in moderation. There is nothing wrong with having fun, but always remember that your education is the main reason you are in college. Continue learning During the summer when all you really want to do is lounge around and do nothing, try to get up and make use of the time by learning other skills. You can also take the time to visit museums, or visit other destinations that are related to your field of study. Getting a part time job that’s related to your major would also be helpful. Decide on a major and stick with it You don’t want to spend a longer amount of time in school compared to the rest of your peers do you? Decide on a major as soon as possible so you don’t have to waste your time chasing frivolous endeavors. College is expensive. The faster you decide on a major, the faster you can leave college and the less money you spend on classes you don’t need. Don’t hesitate to seek help This is tough for some people. Asking for help can sometimes seem like a sign of weakness. Do not fall into this false belief! In college, you will need to ask for help and ask often. Again, spend time with your teachers during office hours or join a study group. Don’t keep your hands too full College will give you many opportunities to do many things whether is a fraternity, organization, volunteer work, etc. Though being active in college is good (really good actually), taking on more than you can handle is bad. Try to manage your time by being realistic with yourself. If you are a full-time student, you probably won’t be able to do as much extracurricular activities as you think you can. Employ effective time management Time is valuable. Once spent, you can’t get it back. So treat it as such by prioritizing things you want to spend time on. Moreover, don’t be afraid to say “No” to things or even people who are asking too much of your time. Get your tuition’s worth by utilizing your school’s resources For many colleges, the activity fee associated with your tuition enables you to use certain college facilities such as the library, the gym or recreation center, fields, conference rooms, etc. Familiarize yourself with what your college offers you and use it. All work and no play is just as unhealthy as all play and no work. Jot down intelligible and comprehensive notes Sometimes we end up doodling on random pieces of paper during class discussions and when class is over we just stick it in a book or in the bag. By the time you need to study for an important exam about that discussion, you lost the paper and you’re obviously doomed. Jot down your notes on designated notebooks or notepads so you can study from them in one go. Stay fit and healthy Eating healthy, exercising and getting ample sleep is a must when going through the rigors of college life as it will help you cope with stress. Run around the university or park, Use the Rec Center, take up yoga or Zumba, or go on hiking expeditions with your friends. Keep in touch with family Don’t let the rigors of college keep you away from your family. Healthy family interactions will help you cope with the stresses of college. Give your family a call once or twice a week, and make it a point to visit them during breaks. Manage your finances wisely Not everyone has the luxury of a full college education funded by parents or family members. Some end up working part time jobs and applying for student loans just to get through college. Even those whose tuition fees are paid for by their families sometimes still opt to work so they have extra money to spend. Budgeting expenses and avoiding unnecessary expenditures is highly essential if you’re determined to survive in university life. Master your study techniques Everyone learns differently. Some people’s learning style can be that of a visual learner, tactile learner, auditory learner or a reading-writing preference learner. Familiarize yourself with your learning style and tailor your studying technique to your style. Nurture professional connections and friendships In this world, your success will greatly depend on the connections you have. Start early to establish and nurture connections. Swap e-mails, social media invites, phone numbers, etc. in order to stay in touch. Plan to do activities with you connections in order to develop a stronger bond. Your future job will probably come from someone you know. Organize your schedule Organization is important, especially when it comes to your schedule. Make it a point to keep your schedule organized in order that you may be able to see important dates and special events clearly. Participate in extra curricular activities We alluded to this point earlier in the list, but extracurricular activities are important to your college experience. Not only will they give you an opportunity to learn new skills, but they will also enable you to make new connections with other people (and as you already know, connections are important). Hone your writing skills. Writing is a skill that you absolutely need to have perfected and not just for school papers. Future employers may ask to see a writing sample from you which will demonstrate the mastery of your writing skills (and could make or break the opportunity for a job). If you struggle with writing, spend some time reading grammar books. Granted it’s not the most exciting reading material in the world, but it will be well worth it in the future. Read, read and read There is no way around it. In College, you will read…a lot. In fact, most of the theories and explanations behind the particular skill you are learning will be found within the pages of the assigned book. Your professor will expect you to have read the material in order that you may have complementary knowledge during his/her lecture. So don’t neglect reading. Set your goals and make them work for you There are short term goals as well as long term goals. Take things one step at a time and accomplish the shorter ones diligently so when you look at the larger picture, its easier for you to see the completion of your long term goals. Strengthen your heart and mind with each obstacle that you face and you’ll see that accomplishing your goals gets easier as time passes by. Take advantage of pre-owned books Books are really expensive. Be frugal about college books and try not to purchase brand new books. Instead, look for used books. If you purchase your books two to three weeks before classes start, you may be able to find them online for a significantly cheaper price. Take responsibility Be proactive about your education and be responsible. Take it upon yourself to make the college experience a unique and awesome experience because no one is going to make that experience for you. Have the initiative to talk to your counselors about your goals and ask them for suggestions as to how to meet them. Take your internship seriously The temptation is to look at this opportunity as something other than a real job, but this is a very erroneous assumption. Remember, the person you are interning for could: (A) offer you a more permanent job and (B) have connections to someone who can offer you a more permanent job. The bottom line is, treat this opportunity as if you already had the job. There’s always something new to learn. One of the main goals in college is to teach you to learn (sounds weird I know) in order that you may know how to find information that you are not familiar with, and then become familiar with it. This is a skill that is in high demand yet few people possess. Never stop learning or finding unfamiliar information.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 12:04:39 +0000
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