Not much is more scary than leaving for college. It is an exciting time, but it can also make you feel a bit nervous and scared. You can make it less scary, though. When you educate yourself about college, you can lay your fears to rest before beginning. The piece that follows helps do that.
Do a practice run-through of your schedule prior to your first day of class. Plan out the best strategy for navigating the campus, learning the amount of time it will take to get from class to class. Also look for places you’ll most likely frequent such as a cafeteria, the library, and bathrooms.
Along with your required course load, make sure you add some extracurricular activities. The more activities in which you are involved that relate to your interests, the more impressive your resume will look when you graduate. The key is to take on only what you can handle without sacrificing your academic performance.
Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast on test days. Small meals comprised of fruit or yogurt can make a big difference. A growling stomach is the kind of testing distraction that you can easily avoid with a little preparation. By eating at least a small meal, you will be better able to focus on the test and recall all of the information that you studied.
Pay off your credit card balance monthly if you have one. This will keep you from incurring late fees. A credit card is best saved for emergencies only. While you may find it tempting to buy entertainment items with a credit card, you must remember that college is about learning. Financial troubles can put you in a very tough position.
Choose classes that interest you instead of the easy ones. When you work your brain, you’ll find great benefits. A challenging course of study will teach you much more than a simple one that fails to engage you. It also improves your networking opportunities.
Always purchase used textbooks. Textbooks cost a lot of money, especially if you are getting them new. If you are able to find them used, you will save a lot of money.
Get the number for campus security. This ensures you can get help if you need it. With any luck, that information will be unnecessary, but it is smart to have it just in case.
Many electives are beneficial during your college career. It will be easier to see what really grabs your attention. Your freshman year is the best time to go out on a limb and try some things that you never would or could have in high school.
Think carefully about planning your classes so that you are sufficiently challenged without being overloaded. You will be burnt out. Try taking a couple harder classes and a couple easy ones.
Before the day of a big exam, review all of your class notes before you go to sleep. This can actually help you remember important information while you sleep. Your brain makes connections as it sleeps making the information stay in your head.
Consider doing your freshman and sophomore years at a community college. This will save you some money. You can always transfer to the university of your preference after you have completed your transfer units. If the cost of college is something you worry about, it might be the perfect choice.
Try to establish a regular sleeping schedule while away at school. Between classes, work and social activities, it is very easy for a college student to suffer from lack of sleep. With little sleep, you won’t be able to focus well on classes.
Whether you are entering college straight out of high school or returning after many years, you may feel somewhat intimidated by the challenges ahead. It is very easy to get distracted, avoid classes and forget to study. Remember that going to college is about getting an education while learning to live on your own.
Try doing the best you can in work study positions whether or not they are involved with your major. Future employers are interested in your academic record, but often find work experience even more compelling. With a work-study position done well, you can help pay for college and start building up your resume at the same time.
Make connections with at least two people in each class. While you may feel a little awkward chatting up strangers, it will be beneficial for you in the end. If you miss a class, you can contact your classmates to retrieve the information the professor went over in class. You may also find that you can help each other study outside of class.
If you have children, you might think your chances of living on campus are practically nil. This is not really true. A large number of college campuses do have housing accommodations for families. Colleges and universities are now realizing that many students are more than recent graduates of high school. Ask early about family housing since it fills up quickly.
Try studying abroad with kids! Most students with children think that study abroad programs are out of the question. Speak with the specialized coordinator at your school and ask if there are any available applications. You can go overseas with your kids, but be aware that sometimes it just will not work out.
You should now have less anxiety about going to college. With hard work and proper planning, anyone can succeed at college. Use all that you’ve learned from this article to help you reach your goals. Best wishes as you embark on your college experience.