Don’t be tricked into thinking that college is just an extension of your high school years. It is a big change in a young adult’s life. It requires discipline and a willingness to work hard. Pay attention to everything when you plan, and work with your family to be sure you are prepared when the time comes.
Take as many credits as you can handle at one time. Most universities charge you per credit, but only up to twelve credits. After that the rests of the credits in that semester are free. Taking eighteen credits per semester will leave you paying one-third less than your peers for the same education.
If you recently entered college, one of the first things that you should do is purchase your books from the bookstore. This will help you to reduce the stresses that you will face as the year begins, as you should always come prepared with the right materials and texts for school.
Make sure to make time for both socializing and academics. Some students spend all their times in their dorm rooms studying, which can be depressing and lonely, while others are so social that their coursework suffers. You should get out of your room and do something fun at least once a week and devote at least an hour a night to studying for each of your classes to help you stay balanced.
Make sure that you purchase a pair of flip flops for showers in your dorm. These are essential as you do not know the forms of bacteria that are on the shower floor. Also, they can serve as a form of comfort for you during your shower. Flip flops are inexpensive and can be stylish, as they make a great addition to your shower arsenal.
After you sign up for a checking account, make sure that you do not leave without getting the free checks that most establishments offer. Do not pay for extras. You may be surprised at how few checks you will use over the course of your four years in college. It is simple enough to get more if you need them, but you don’t want to waste money if at all possible.
Be sure to make use of local transportation. Often times, the time it takes to ride the bus is about the same as it would be to drive there. There are limited parking spaces available on most campuses. If you want to drive your own car, expect to pay for a parking pass. It is also a way for you to “go green.”
You no longer live at home, and you will have to care for yourself. Make sure to eat nutritious foods, get adequate sleep and clean up after yourself. Schedule your life to the hour to ensure you get everything done that you need to. Eating food that isn’t healthy for you and extreme stress can cause you to get sick, which isn’t good for college students.
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.
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.
Know your limits – don’t overwhelm yourself with too many courses. It may seem like a great idea to take as many courses that you can, but if you take too many, you may fail a few in the process. This totally defeats the time saving you were trying to accomplish!
A good tip that will help you with your studying is to make use of flash cards. It may sound juvenile but flash cards really do make a big difference when you’re studying for a brutal test or exam. The more you have in your studying arsenal, the better you’ll do.
If you have a full time job and wish to get a higher education, an online university is a good option. Online schools are great for non-traditional matriculants who must study remotely or have odd schedules. Online universities let you do your courses whenever you wish to and can be accessed from anywhere.
Returning or non-traditional students can qualify for scholarships and grants. If you are an older student, talk to your advisor. Colleges and universities have many scholarship opportunities that can often be applied for using a single application. You may have to wait for your 2nd year to apply, but it is worth checking out.
You should now know a little more about the college experience. It’s best to be informed about college before you start.
