Going away to college can be both exciting and frightening. It’s one of the best times of your life, but it raises many questions too. You do not have to be scared. If you are educated on what you will be doing in school, you will know what to expect when you get there. Read on for help adjusting to college life.
Do not fall into the credit card company’s tricks where they give you a credit card. These cards have high interest rates, and they aim to prey on college students who have no money. There are many instances in which college student’s default on these cards because they understandably have no money to pay them back.
Consider living on campus even if you go to school close to home. Not only will you miss a lot of things going on, but you may miss out on your first opportunity to live on your own and make your own financial and social decisions. If you can possibly afford it, live in a dorm.
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.
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.
As a college student, you will have access to many different jobs on campus. If you do not already have a good job, you should look for a job on campus. You should choose a job that will allow you to acquire some new skills and meet some interesting people.
If possible try to live for your first year in campus housing. By taking advantage of room and board you can give yourself more of a chance to focus on getting accustomed to the campus and community. Then in following years you will have a better idea of where you might prefer to live on your own.
If you are having difficulty in college, begin a study group. A study group will offer many choices, including one on one time and group time. If you do not want to begin your own study group, there are many study groups available on most colleges. To find one, ask your classmates and professors.
If possible, you should avoid scheduling classes one after the other. You are going to need breaks during the day. The best time for these breaks is after a class. This time will allow you to wind down, prepare for your next class or study if needed. Take these opportunities when you can.
If you were someone who hated high school, you just might actually love college. College classes are geared towards your major and the material is much more interesting than the standard material taught in high school. Many adult students who once did horrible in high school find themselves graduating college with high honors.
Know what constitutes plagiarism. You are going to likely have to write many reports and essays at college. Learn how to properly cite your sources to avoid inadvertently plagiarizing them. The individual professors will have several different techniques for checking the originality of a document.
Don’t cave to the pressures of a deadline by submitting the first copy of any written assignment. Allow yourself sufficient revision time. Create a whole new draft instead of proofing what you wrote. Carefully proofread what you have written and then perfect it. Doing this ensures that you will have included all the important information necessary.
If you’re torn between a couple majors fairly early, try taking important starting classes for each one. You will get a feel for each major and be better able to determine which is right for you. By the time you’ve chosen your major, you may have enough credits for graduating with a couple minor concentrations to have a better degree.
When it comes to final exams, plan out the studying schedule weeks in advance so that you are not overwhelmed on that particular week. Studying in advance will help you to soak up the material better, so that you are not trying to cram months of information on a few consecutive nights.
It is important to remember that college is not all about studying. College is a significant step into adulthood and should be treated as such. While you should not party the night away, do not keep your nose in your books to the point that you do not get to enjoy this time of your life.
Make a commitment to your education. If you go into school thinking of it like a big party, then that’s exactly what you’ll get out of it. And you more than likely won’t last the four years. A lot of money is being spent on your education, so you need to commit yourself to your success.
Make sure you study what you are having the most difficult time with first. If you save it for last, you will be more fatigued and less likely to retain the information. It will make studying much more difficult for you. Save the subjects that come easiest to you for last.
Do not sign up for college if you are not sure of what you want to do after you graduate. Going to college is expensive and this investment will benefit you if you have a clear idea of what kind of career you want to have after you finish college.
