Are you currently in college? If so, then you are one of the many millions of people trying to find your identity in this world. College can be one of the most stressful times of your life because you are facing a lot of uncertainty. Read the below article for some great advice that will help you deal with this in a better way.
Try and keep a part-time job throughout your college career; as tough as it may be to balance work and studies, the extra money, you make can make a big difference. If you have a huge amount of money to pay back once you are finished, life will be much more difficult after graduation so try and work your way through it.
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.
Bring all necessary test materials with you on test day. Neglecting to bring calculators, notes or other key items can cause unneeded stress and hinder your performance. There are various times when the instructor will not have extra writing utensils, so remember to pack what you need beforehand.
You no longer live at home, and you will have to care for yourself. Choose healthy foods, get eight hours of sleep every night, and study as much as possible. Add study, recreation, self-care and classes to your schedule. A stressful lifestyle and poor nutrition can lead to illness.
You should be respectful of your roommate’s wishes. You need to learn how to work with him or her so that it makes your time easier. Sit down when you first get to school and find out what you both expect out of a roommate so you can both be happy.
Before going away to college, decide on whether you want to take your car. You may not find parking easily. The cost of your car and a parking spot can be too high for a student.
If you are occupied with work and kids during the daytime, taking night classes is your best bet. Night time college instructors understand that you have a busy life and tend to cater their classes to this. There is usually less course work and the instructors are as a rule a little more flexible.
If you have any textbook’s leftover after a semester, decide what to do with them. Your dorm room space is probably precious. Some books are worth keeping for professional use. However, if you do sell, do so privately. You can find a better value for your textbooks if you sell it to an individual instead of selling it online or to your college bookstore. Just make sure to sell soon, as new editions will outdate your texts quickly.
Do not just rely on exploring electives as a way of deciding your major and passion. Get involved in campus activities. Join co-op programs and organizations. There is a ton to do on campus. Make a commitment to try a brand new activity every week.
Make sure that you register for classes the minute that you are allowed to. If you wait to register, there is a good chance that you will not get the classes, teachers and times that you desire. This can leave you in a very undesirable situation where you will be faced with a difficult schedule.
Try to start your day as early as possible. You may not have class scheduled early in the day; however, it is a good idea to get in the habit of rising early. This can allow you extra time in your day that can be used for studying. It can also help you be at an active point by the time your first class is rolling around.
Make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep. Try not to stay up too late, even if you are studying. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep at, roughly, the same time every night. Try to stick to a schedule. If your sleep patterns are too erratic, it could seriously hurt your performance in class.
Try not to go home every weekend, especially if you are homesick. The best way for you to get over the move is to become comfortable and to go out with the people that are in your college. This is also the time when you can have the most fun on campus, so maximize this opportunity.
If you are having trouble in a class, don’t procrastinate about asking for help. Most professors have office hours; drop by during this time and tell the professor you need extra help. If your professor has TA’s, you can also ask them for help. Finally, you can hire a tutor through your school’s academic help center.
Avoid taking out too many loans while you are in college. Take good notes on what you need each semester and only take that much out. You will have to pay it back at some point, and most loans accrue interest. You do not want to owe a ton of money by the time you are done.
If you don’t get the grades you’re used to, don’t take it personally. Talk to the teacher to find out what you can do to improve. Many students who were straight A students in high school get a C or worse on their first assignments or tests when they get to college, so don’t feel ashamed or angry–just get proactive so you can do better.
