Freedom is a scary and exciting experience. Being able to choose your classes and major, as well as roaming the campus freely without adult supervision and becoming a college student is a big step towards adulthood. But, with freedom comes responsibility. This guide will show you what college is about and what to do, as well as avoid.
Choose classes wisely
In college, you’re expected to choose your class schedule. As a freshman, you’ll be taking basic courses like math, science, history, and government. Depending on your college, you may be required to take a freshman seminar course.
This class focuses on making transitions from high school to college as smooth as possible. When choosing courses, you must consider a lot of things. One important thing to consider is your sleep schedule. Do you think you’ll be able to attend class at 8 AM and function properly? If not, you should get a class that starts later. If you’re a morning person, then an early course is perfect for you. Scheduling college courses according to your sleep schedule is beneficial to your class attendance. If you’re not able to wake up at 8 AM, don’t set yourself up and get early morning classes.
Be prepared
Being prepared is needed for high school, but even more for college. In high school, you may have been able to slack off and get a good grade.
In college, slacking off is a guaranteed way to get a failing grade. Being prepared also means studying hard, so you’re prepared for exams and quizzes. Completing classwork on time prevents you from procrastinating and gives you free time for other activities. Attending class is another way to be prepared because it ensures that you're learning and will be able to take notes for future quizzes.
Each of these things is needed so you can be a successful college student.
Practice time management
This skill is needed to ensure that you're not procrastinating and cramming workloads for school. When a student lacks these skills, they tend to study or do coursework last minute. One way to manage time is to prioritize. That means if there is an exam in a class you're not doing too good in, you should make studying for that class a high priority.
Another way is to use a weekly planner or list your assignments for the week. Also, setting a routine makes time for college and your health.
Stay motivated
The first year of college is tough, but remember that everything you're doing in college is for your degree. If you don't do well in a class, don't let it divert you from your goal. Failure is an opportunity to figure out what went wrong. College can be overwhelming, especially for first-time students, but always remember to push through. You may be at the beginning of the race, but at the finish line, you'll be proud knowing that you succeeded in finishing your goal.
