It doesn’t matter if it’s the beginning of your first semester in college or the beginning of your last semester. Either way, the start of a new term means that you’re back on the preparatory stage where you needed to plan things out that will enable you to have a better hold on your college life. We’ve listed a few of the basic college skills you should have a good grasp of.
- Time Management system. One of your biggest challenges in college is managing your time so might effectively. So it is important to find a time management system or strategy that works best for you and that you will use every day. This could be as simple as drawing up your class schedule on a piece of paper. Or if you’re a bit of a techno fan, get yourself and app for your Smart Phone.
- Course Load. Be sure that you can handle your course load. If you allow yourself enough time for some leisure activities you may find yourself feeling better within yourself and more able to cope with the stresses of College Life. But always remember to have a course load that would maintain your grade and will not result to poor grades. If you are working yourself too hard, you may find that your overall grades will drop because you are not able to give each course the attention it needs due to lack of time and energy.
- Buy your books right away. Get in early and be organised, by purchasing your books prior to the first week, of course this can only be done if you’re book list has been given to you. Compare prices and consider renting your textbooks to save you money. Getting your textbooks early will give you an opportunity to do some extra reading ahead. And if not, then you can go to your library for the first week and do your homework until your textbooks arrive.
- Co-curricular participation. Join in with the activities that are going on around the College. This is not only great for getting to know other people studying the same courses as you, but will also give you some social relaxation time. Remember though, that you need to have a good balance of co-curricular activities and studies. Some co-curricular class activities might include, performing in school events, joining a club or organizations, or participating in intracollege sports or academic games. Have a balanced college life and you’ll enjoy being in college.
- Fix your finances first. Be sure to keep your finances in check while you’re in College. You don’t want the added stress of financial problems affecting your academic performance or financial aid.
- Set up the basic things first. This includes your housing, roommate, your food options, transportation and any other important things before you start your classes. Having these things in place will help you feel comfortable and make it easier for you to focus on your studies and classes.
- Be healthy and have fun. If your body and mind are healthy you will find your College life will flow easily without too much effort. Have a balance of fun and studies and your stress levels will be decreased. Eat good food and keep yourself moving to keep your body health and full of the energy it needs to get your through a College day.
- Seek Help if needed. Know the offices where you can go and ask for help in case of emergencies or problems. College’s are setup to help you, so seek help from the offices that are available to you. Get familiar with them and you will see that it will really help you a lot.
Most of all HAVE FUN!