It’s hard to begin college. It’s a whole new place with people you don’t know. Adjusting to the college environment can be challenging at first. If you have such difficulty, then you’ll benefit from this article. Use the advice and tips to make your transition to college an easier one.
Set aside a generous block of time for daily study. The more time you devote to college, the more you can get from it. College is like a full-time job and you may still socialize. Excelling in college will reward you with a much beter career and additional earning power.
Socialize in moderation. Socialization is an important part of the college experience. Just remember to balance visiting friends and keeping your grades up. It can be easy to lose track of time and procrastinate. Save late night outings for nights when you do not have class the very next day.
Do not fall into the credit card company’s tricks where they give you a credit card. These cards have high interest rates, and they aim to prey on college students who have no money. There are many instances in which college student’s default on these cards because they understandably have no money to pay them back.
Keep up with your checking account to avoid wasting money on overdraft charges. Debit cards are easy to use, and unfortunately, that means it is also easy to spend more money than you actually have. Get into a schedule where you check your account online every few days so that this does not happen to you.
If you are concerned about your finances, keep track of everything you spend for two weeks. Write it all down in a notebook and then look over it to determine what most of your money is being spent on. This can help you to prioritize if you need to. Do this periodically to make sure you remain vigilant about your finances.
Save money while you’re in college. This can be tough, especially when you think of how much time you don’t have to earn money, and how many things there are to spend money on. Try to save just a few bucks a week that can go for major outings or money crunches.
In your first year of college, one of the things that you will want to avoid is a relationship. A relationship can be very difficult when your main goal is to get acquainted with an area and to meet new people. Save this for the later years that you are in college.
Don’t take more than one writing course per term. Even though you may only have to complete 3 essays for the course, there is often a lot of required reading. You want to have enough time to complete the readings for every class, which will be difficult with more than 1 writing course.
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.
If you are a woman, consider a STEM major. STEM majors are those that are focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. Since women are less likely than men to choose these fields of study, there are many scholarships and grants available for women. These fields also usually end up being more financially beneficial after graduation.
There are many different types of colleges so be sure to choose one that is right for you. If you need more attention in the classroom, than a large school with 300 students to a class might not be your best bet. How you learn can greatly impact how you do at particular schools.
You can date creatively while in college. Instead of going out for dinner, set up a nice candlelight dinner at home. Not only will your extra effort look good, it will save you a great deal of money. Make an agreement with your roommates. In exchange for a little alone time with your date, be willing to offer the same flexibility to your roommates.
Be aware of the study resources available to you. Ask your professors, advisers, and school librarians about study resources for all your classes. This can be especially useful for classes you are struggling in. Never be afraid to ask for additional help with an area if you happen to need it.
Get a calendar or planner. When you get your syllabus from each teacher, mark the due dates for all assignments on the calendar so that you can keep track of what needs to be done when. That way you won’t have to study or write a paper at the last minute.
College is a challenge, but not one that insurmountable. It is difficult to start life all over again, but by using the advice in this piece, college can become the fun, stimulating place you always imagined.
