Tips for Surviving College

January 16, 2009 - 10:51 AM

Hey all!! So I thought I would give some tips and thoughts about anything and everything for college. These are things that I wish I had known and things that I have found that work really great for me and might help you and things I learned from my FA (FIG assistant).

It seems pretty daunting to be coming to college from high school (well for some at least), others don't realize this until they start, and others just can't wait to get to college. I was ready for college, but I also knew it was going to be a lot of work.

Get yourself into a routine. I know how lame that can sound, but seriously, it works!! When you know your classes and have even gone to the first week start thinking of ways you can help yourself succeed. For instance take that hour between classes and go and work on homework in the EMU or anywhere you like to study or do homework. I know it is plenty of time to go back to your dorm and just chill, but if you just take some homework with you and work on it then, then you don't have to be doing your homework so late at night as many do. I have plenty of friends here that don't go to bed until the wee hours of the morning because they have homework.

That brings me to the second point. Don't procrastinate. It was easy to do in high school. I know, I did it!! Here it is not so easy. Not to brag or anything, but I'm one heck of a reader. When I see I have twenty or so pages to read I'm thinking a half hour tops. I was very wrong on that. You have to take notes on the stuff you read because you can't understand it all, or it's so much to take in you can't remember it all, plus you should take notes so you can study them for midterms and finals instead of trying to reread some chapters.

Also, sleep!! I know there is no more mom or dad saying, "honey why don't you go to bed? It's late and you have an early day tomorrow." Or it goes a little something like that. Here they are not doing that. So it's totally cool if you stay up all night just because you can. I would not recommend this on days you have class. You will only be tired for lectures and most are not the liveliest and so it is very easy to fall asleep. Another thing, study somewhere besides your room. It's comfortable in your room and there are distractions, which equals falling asleep or not doing your homework or both. I have a quiet roommate so I can get some reading done sometimes, but anymore I go to the study room on my floor and read or do homework. It's literally a room with two tables, a bunch of chairs, and white walls. Nothing to distract one. I kick some pretty good butt on homework there.

Also don't take your cell phones or tell everyone that you are taking an hour (or less) to do some homework. Cell phones and the internet are big distractions. In college it's even worse because you really won't like most of the texts you are reading or want to do any of the papers you have to write and YouTube or Facebook offer excuses not to do them. Overall just try and be responsible. These are just a few tips. I'm sure more will come with time. For now though I need to finish packing so I can go home for this lovely long weekend. So until then...