Departing from high school can evoke many different feelings for future college students: excitement, nostalgia, liberation, melancholy, and even a sense of being unsettled. I experienced all of these emotions as I transitioned into college, as it can be scary stepping into a new phase of life without constant guidance from parental figures.
Learning how to take care of yourself and being responsible without reminders is challenging, but achievable. Along the way, I have adopted some practices as a new college student that have kept me on track for success.
An essential trait for surviving college is organization. In college, you'll need to balance large amounts of homework from your professors—especially papers—along with participating in various clubs and activities. The only way to manage everything is by staying organized.
One helpful method is using a Google Calendar to keep track of assignment deadlines, club meetings, and your class schedule. Having everything laid out visually helps you plan how much time you have to complete assignments.
You should also consider how much time you'll need to study each week for each subject. A general rule of thumb is two hours of studying per credit hour each week. Keep this in mind when organizing your events and commitments. I also recommend starting assignments at least two days before they’re due, especially if they're easy, so you can stay ahead and have more time for future work.
When it comes to writing papers, it's crucial to spread out the workload. This helps prevent last-minute cramming, which can make the process more stressful and potentially affect the quality of your paper.
I’d advise making sure most, if not all, of your work is done before heading out. Limit socializing in the evenings to once or twice a week to ensure you have enough time to study and stay on top of assignments.
You could also make use of your mornings by going to the library to get work done before going out later. Avoid letting late nights dominate your schedule. I’ve seen students who went out every night early in the semester now struggling to catch up with their coursework.
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