Surviving College
Enduring college life is the most vital concern for every freshman. According to the American College Testing (ACT), one in every four college students leaves before completing their sophomore year – and nearly half of all freshmen will either drop out before obtaining a degree or complete their college education elsewhere. That’s just something we have to go through in preparation for our future as professionals.
There are a couple of ups and downs when going into college; one advantage is that you’d get to live on your own and be independent; while the downside to that is that most freshmen get homesick, thereby, affecting their coping mechanisms. Anyhow, these are normal and relative in entering a new chapter in one’s educational life. This article is not meant to scare you or give you negative impressions on what is ahead after high school. This article is all about the things you need to do to not only survive your first year of college, but be your best in college!
The first few weeks on campus are extremely critical to new students since this is the time where you will be exposed to a new environment and make decisions on whether you can handle the unforeseen challenge brought about by college experience. Expect to feel some stress and homesickness, but don’t let these issues wear you down. Nonetheless, you have to enjoy your student life as much as possible before your transition to the real world.
Here are some to do things you need to bear in mind:
- Be present in orientations. This is important for you to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of the school. By that, the more you know about the whole campus, the more comfortable you will be in adapting to different situations when issues arise.
- Be organized. Unlike high school, your professors will be posting the assignments for you to comply for the entire semester and expect you to be prepared at all times. Make sure to buy an organizer or a big wall calendar for you to know when assignments are due.
- Look for a conducive place to study. It may be in your room or any other corner in the library away from distractions to get your work done.
- Go to class. Obviously, oversleeping and skipping that 8 am class will be tempting at times. Aside from learning the material, you will also get crucial information from your professor about what to expect on tests, changes in schedules etc.
- Find balance. College is a mixture of social and academic events. Make sure to equally enjoy both sides. As the saying goes, “All work, and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
- Aim high. While good grades could have come naturally to you in high school, you will have to earn them in college — and that means setting some goals for yourself and then making sure you work as hard as you can to achieve them. This will also give you confidence when applying for a job in the near future incase you will be asked to present your transcript; knowing you have good qualifications, employers see that as an additional point in considering applicants.
- Avoid delays. It may have been easy in high school to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still get good grades, but its way different in tertiary. Give yourself deadlines — and stick to them and you will pull through.
Successfully persisting in college isn’t all that bad. Just be determined to make it through your freshman year — and beyond. Take advantage of your network of new friends and professors, have fun while learning as much as you can, and get the most out of your college experience. Here is one resource material that has been a big help in persons going through major changes in life, such as entering college. https://6min2success.com one good way to start listening to a best-selling author and life coach Bob Procter.
