The transition from being a senior to going off to college is usually one that has quite an effect on freshmen. For most people, they look forward to it as a time to be free and have fun but underneath this happiness it can be a bit scary as they get to realize that with this newfound freedom comes a sense of responsibility but that shouldn’t scare you in any way as I will be giving you some tips on how to cope in college as a freshman. You can study and graduate with flying colors and still enjoy yourself while doing it!
Let’s get started!
30 Tips for College Freshmen
There are things you will need to know before you go to college and also things you should know when you finally get to college in order to make you college years’ worth it. Here are some tips for you.
1. Consider scholarships
Scholarships should be something you should consider when seeking a college education. You don’t have to wait till when school is about to start before you start looking up scholarships, you can start as soon as you decide to apply for college. This will give you enough time to check out different scholarship options. Also, it’s a great way of making you self-free from student loan debts.
2.Use the resources available on campus.
You need to find out all the resources available to you while you are on campus as you are entitled to use them. Campus resources like libraries, gyms, free lectures, clinics, laundry rooms, free movies, etc. have all been paid for by your tuition so go ahead and enjoy them.
3.You don’t need your car.
Most college students live on campus and so there is really no need coming to school with your car if you have one. Lecture halls and dormitories are within walking distance so you might end up not using it. Also, colleges have college shuttles that can take you round the school, bikes are good alternatives too. Unless you have a job that is quite a distance from school, I will suggest you leave your car at home. Using public transport and getting student discount card would help to lower your travel cost if you live in the family home.
4. Get a part time job.
You would be in better financial shape if you have means of earning an income, I would encourage you to get a part time job while in college. It not only puts extra cash in your pocket, but it also gives you a sense of purpose as you get to spend your free time doing something meaningful to yourself and the society at large. It also give you some exposure and a good hands on experience that you will add to you CV and also added advantage of skill you would learn from that particular employment field.
5. Don’t get a credit card
The offers from credit card companies can be quite enticing especially to young people. But be mindful of their trap and high interest rate repayment which will take money out of your pocket and also credit card gives you the urge to spend money that you have not got. Once you get one you might find yourself thrown into debt, so you want to be careful about getting one and if you absolutely need to get one, then make sure you know all there is to know about it.
6. Service your Student loans.
You don’t have to wait to graduate before you pay off your loans. You can start while you are still in college, if you have gotten yourself a part time job you might want to take out a few dollars and pay bits of those loans. A few dollars a month is a great way to start.
7. Compare the prices of books
You don’t want to spend a fortune buying your college book, do you? Well, you need to always compare price on different available sales sites before you purchase your books. Nowadays, there are even renting options available to you feel free to use them. You can make use of free Amazon kindle or even search and read the book straight online from Amazon before paying for it if you like.
8. Know the dining hall meal options
Colleges have different locations for students to get different meals. So, you want to know these locations and the meals that the offer so you can go to the one that has what you want. In addition to this, you can also stock up on some groceries in your dorm so you can have something different sometimes.
9. Don’t miss classes
You want to always remember that you are in college for one major reason and that is to study. Don’t forget that! So as much as you can, try not to miss classes and also you want to take down notes when class is ongoing as this will come in handy when you have to study on your own. And if your plan is to graduate with a good GPA then you certainly have to make class even the ones that may seem boring to you as you never can tell what you might learn by just being in class. You will get to meet people and make friends and this will boost your social life.
10 Join a study group
One good way to make studying easy and less tedious in college is to look for a study group to be part of. You not only get to discuss things about the courses offered in class but also about things that relate to everyday life. Everyone shares his or her ideas and others get to learn from them. And it’s a great way to make friends too!
11. Make use of flash cards
I will suggest that you make your own flash cards while studying as it will help you remember major points and topics. It’s a great way to keep your memory refreshed and alert.
12. Study ahead
Reading ahead of the class on a new topic gives you ample time prepare mentally for the actual class. This way the topic won’t seem strange to you when it finally gets discussed during lectures plus you can show how much you know about the topic by answering questions when the need arises.
13. Take breaks when studying
Who doesn’t love to take a break after doing a hard task? I am definitely team take five when it comes to studying. You need to relax and take breaks at intervals when studying so that you don’t become overwhelmed. This is something that happens to almost everyone so If you need to take a nap then please do. You could also take a walk and just clear you head. All work and no play like they say, makes Jack a dull boy.
14. Know you professors
I can still remember how helpful my professors were in helping choice the career path i eventually took. They are like direction pointers on your way to success. If you can, you could ask to be part of their research team as this will avail you the opportunity of learning new skills and drawing from their wealth of knowledge. Also for future sake, you want to remember that you might require references from them when you are seeking for a job so now is the time to bond and build a good relationship with your professors.
15. Set weekly plans for yourself
It is very important that you get a schedule for every other week in college. Setting goals and making plans to achieve those set goals will help you maximize your stay in college. These schedules don’t have to necessarily be all about school work, it can also include extra-curricular activities.
16. Don’t procrastinate
As much as you can, don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today. Your main focus should be your studies and every other thing should take second place and not get in the way of you achieving the reason why you are in school in the first place. Yes, it’s fun to hang out with friends and have a good time but if it is going to affect your study time then you must learn to put your studies first. Fun can come later!
17. Locate your classrooms before classes begin
Once you get into campus and you are settled, take out time to go around and find out the location for all your classes and halls where special occasions take place and even places where you can go and get lunch. This way you get to make going about a lot easier for yourself.
18. Get a course Adviser
Managing your course work can be daunting sometimes and it okay to feel overwhelmed but you can ease your stress by getting a course adviser to help guide you. They know pretty much everything about going on campus like where you can get the materials and resources you need for your projects, centers where tutoring takes place, etc.
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19. Find out all the offered classes
There is a plethora of class options available to you on campus and you need to make the most of it. Try to engage in activities or events that will give you an insight into the different fields of courses available to you and how useful they can be to you. Now is the time to explore and learn new things.
20. Know your syllabus and note important dates
It is very important that you know the syllabus as it will give you all the important information you will need to have about the courses you are taking and the professors taking them. You also get to know the do,’s and don’t’s of every professor with regards to their classes, assignments and research work. So, one of the first things you want to do is to get the syllabus and study it carefully.
21. Know how to manage your time
The ability for a student to manage their time effectively is a plus to him or her. Proper time manage is key in achieve set goals and overall success. You must give ample time to studying as against giving time to other activities. And while doing this, still create time in your study schedule to take a rest.
22. Create time for exercise
Taking out time to exercise will do you a lot of good. It will make you more relaxed and less stressed. It has an overall advantage to your body as exercising keeps your brain active and alert.
23. Get help
If you need to, please ask for help. Everyone gets exhausted and overwhelmed and it fine to seek for help when you get to that point. I know how challenging schoolwork can be so if it gets to the point where you think you need to talk to someone please do. There are centers for counselling on campus and you could go there so that some can talk to you and you get to know the way forward.
24. Join a club
I know that we sometimes want to enjoy time alone all by ourselves but it is very important to go out and spend time hanging out with friends. And a good way to do this is to join a social club. There are so many social groups on campus, and you just have to look for one that best suit you and go ahead and join them. No man is an island even you so go out and have fun.
25. Avoid serious romantic relationships
Now this may seem a bit too extreme especially since I am giving tips to young adults. Yes, I know you want to explore your world and all but balancing a serious relationship with academics can be really challenging trust me. Your time in colleges should be time spent in building yourself for your future life and career. While you may not agree with me totally, am sure you know relationships require a lot of sacrifice and this includes sacrificing your time, time that is valuable to your main aim for being there in the first place. So, you might want to give it some thought and decide for yourself.
26. Bond with your roommate
Having a good relationship with the person or persons you share a room with on campus is very important. As much as it is in your power, make sure you are honest with them and open. Try not to drag disagreements for too long, if they arise just talk it through with them and move on.
27. Be safe
You need to take extra care while on campus, even though must campuses have their own security. You owe yourself the duty of keeping yourself safe. Try to avoid late night movements around the campus especially if you are all by yourself, if you need to go to a party or just some social event make sure you go with someone you know and trust, and while you are there watch your drink to avoid binge drugged and your alcohol intake as you don’t want to end up being carried back to your dorm or worse still get hurt.
28. Stay healthy
You want to eat well, rest well and be sure to take proper care of your health while in college. Coupled to the fact that it’s a new environment, you might come down with the flu occasionally so try to take good care of yourself.
29. Keep in touch with your family
Being away from family and close friends can have a considerable effect on just about anyone. So, while you might feel responsible for yourself, you still need the love and support of your family. So you can call and check on them from time to time. They miss you just as much as you miss them.
30. Be optimistic about everything.
While this may be a big adjustment for you, it is a good one. It comes with its challenges and so does every other thing in life. So, you just have to be positive about it. Take one day at a time and let things come to you. Make friends, have fun and above all achieve all you set out to achieve in college.
Finally, would just like to say that college is an exciting and amazing place to be and if you are just rounding up with high school then i am sure are enthusiastic about going off to college. And yes! You have every right to look forward to it. It will be one of the best experiences of your life. So, while it may seem like you are getting the freedom you so desire, you are also getting the chance to make something good out of your life. A chance to know who you truly are and to build a career for yourself. Everything in this article points to the fact that while it may be a challenging feat, it is possible to achieve and to come out successful!
