College can be a crazy place; parties, new friends, worthy causes and a lot of studying in between. Don’t be overwhelmed by it all! The following article will offer you some very valuable advice that can see you through these years and right up to graduation, so pay close attention!
College is filled with a lot of stress as the best thing that you can do in regards to school is to prepare in advance. Avoid procrastination at all times, as this will only add to the stresses that you already face. By doing your work ahead of time, you can feel prepared and organized as college goes on.
Avoid studying for big college exams the night before by taking in a lot of caffeine or other stimulants. While these things can keep you up and able to study for longer, they will make you very tired in the morning. After using chemical stimulants for a while, you will need more and more and that can be damaging to your overall physical and mental health.
Try to fulfill no less than one general requirement class during the initial semester. If you need to take a class to graduate which you are dreading, get it over with early on so you can take more enjoyable classes later on. Who wants to be the lone senior in a basic class overrun by freshmen?
Get the names and number from a few people in each class so that if you have to be absent then they can fill you in on what was covered in class and can share their notes with you and give you any work that was assigned so that you won’t get behind in your work.
If you are trying to make some extra money when you are away at school and do not want it to interfere with your studies you should check out work study. Most of the time you will be able to get a position within your area of study and you can actually learn something.
Try to take advantage of your college’s resources at all times, as you should visit the counseling center if you are feeling overwhelmed. The people in this center can help you to get back on the right path and make sure that you do not dig a hole that is too deep during your stay.
Consider living in a dorm room during your first year at college. While it’s not as fashionable as having your own apartment, it’s a great way to become more involved in campus life. You’ll be close to other students, making you more likely to make new friends and avoid the loneliness of living alone.
Set yourself up for success in college by taking your habits and ideas into consideration. For example, think about whether you are a morning person or an afternoon person. If you aren’t a morning person, don’t even think about signing up for an early class. Schedule courses later in the day so you won’t be tempted to skip.
Attend every class unless you are sick. Unlike when you were in high school, most of the time you are not required to attend all of your classes. However, if you stay home you may miss valuable information or the opportunity to meet other students and get to know your teachers.
Schedule breaks for yourself. Of course, studying is very important; however, so are adequate breaks. Ten minute breaks are optimal to get your body and mind to regroup. Make a schedule and abide by it.
Write out a to do list the night before. This is a great way to help prep your brain for all the studying you have to do tomorrow. You’ll wake up with a set of purpose instead of a sense of anxiety which will make your day that much easier to deal with.
When you are assigned a paper to write, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time. You do not want to have to rush through it. Turning it in on time is just as important as the content in it. Start planning as soon as you are given the assignment.
To make your studying easier, try making flashcards. While they can take some time to make, they are great for remembering concepts, vocabulary, formulas, and the like. One of their greatest features is that they are portable. This allows you to carry them with you and study just about anywhere.
It takes time to build friendships. Being out there can just mean going to class early. This allows you to have a few moments to speak to your classmates before class. It’s a great way to break the ice.
Seek extra help if you fall behind in your classes. It is really easy to fall behind, especially if you were a great student in high school who never had to work that hard. Get the help you need before you start having serious problems, and you will do great.
Make certain to take breaks. Studying too much can actually lead to burnout. Your parents may not believe that it’s possible to study too much, but you can. If you are a perfectionist, it might be hard to just give yourself a break, but it is actually a healthy thing to do.
Make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep. Try not to stay up too late, even if you are studying. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep at, roughly, the same time every night. Try to stick to a schedule. If your sleep patterns are too erratic, it could seriously hurt your performance in class.
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!
