One of the first things students learn when they attend university is that college is very different from high school. While you may have graduated in the top of you class in school, accumulated lots of recognition for your accomplishments and may have been the pride and joy in you earlier years, it may come as a shock that none of that will make any difference when you attend university. For many this can be quite discouraging but here are a few tips that can help you to make the transition much easier.
1. Orientation: By attending all of the orientations you’ll be able to learn the lay of the land and the rules of the campus. The faster you can cut through the process the more at ease and the better prepared to cope with the changes you’ll be.
2. Organization: As a college student you won’t have teachers reminding you when your homework is due. Professors will often post the assignments for an entire year at the beginning of the semester and expect it to be turned in on time. The better organized you are the less likely some of those assignments will slip through the cracks.
3. Study Environment: University courses often require hours of study every week in order to master the lessons. At the beginning of the school year, make sure that you have the right kind of study environment where you can avoid distractions and focus on getting your study time in.
4. Get to Class: In college, skipping classes could cause you to miss out on some vital information. You won’t have your parents reminding you to get up, so learn to discipline yourself in order to make sure you’re not only there but on time.
5. Talk with Your Professors: Get to know your professors and learn what they’re looking for in a student. It will go far for you in the coming months when you have to figure out what is expected of you.
6. Be Balanced: It’s important to be a good student but you also need to be balanced. A healthy social life can help you to clear the cobwebs from your head and give your brain a chance to rest from all of the academic pressures you will indefinitely be getting.
7. Be Active: Many students tend to get homesick during the first months after starting college, which can have an impact on their academic career. By getting involved in different activities around campus, you can avoid feeling lonely and adapt to your new environment much more quickly.
8. Use Campus Resources: Take advantage of the learning labs, libraries, and any type of special assistance that may be provided to help you in classes; even if you don’t feel you’re having problems.
9. Don’t Follow the Crowd: While many of your fellow students may all seem to be going in the same direction, don’t just assume you should too. Analyze each situation and determine if that decision is the best one for you. You may not have as many friends as a result but your grades won’t suffer because of a hasty decision.
10. Don’t Procrastinate: Never wait until the last minute to tackle any assignment you’re given. While it may have worked well in high school, college work is much more demanding. You’ll do much better if you set aside time to carefully prepare each assignment and stick to it.
Take Care of Your Health: Watch what you eat and make sure that you get a sufficient amount of sleep every night. Put off as long as possible any chance of collecting the ‘Freshman 15.’ The more conscientious you are about maintaining your health, the better you mental faculties will be and you’ll be more equipped to retain the information you’re learning.
Stick to Your Budget: One of the biggest distractions college students have is worrying about money. At the beginning of the year, set a budget and stick to it. That way you won’t be spending your time worrying about ways to make your money stretch or when your utilities will be shut off.
If you’ve prepared well for the year ahead, and you apply these basic guidelines, there’s no reason why you won’t be able to have a successful school year and start off on the right foot in your academic career.