College is one of the most common American dreams on the path to success. Getting there is only half the battle. Once there you will find that it is a whole new way of life where you must learn self discipline and the art of choosing wisely. This article can help you do just that and to avoid some of the pitfalls that all too many students fall into.
College is filled with a lot of stress as the best thing that you can do in regards to school is to prepare in advance. Avoid procrastination at all times, as this will only add to the stresses that you already face. By doing your work ahead of time, you can feel prepared and organized as college goes on.
Invest in a good quality water bottle to keep with you. By carrying a water bottle, you can ensure you stay properly hydrated while on campus. When you aren’t going to be able to eat between classes, this is even more important. Drinking water will also keep your brain focused. You can even refill your bottle at a water fountain.
If you want to get an education on a limited budget, consider going to a community college for two years before transferring to a different universities. You will find that community colleges are cheaper than other schools and your credits will transfer as long as you complete your general education before transferring.
Organization of your time, your schedule and your responsibilities is essential to making your time in college count. You should know exactly where you have to be, when you are supposed to be there and how you will get there. If you are not organized, you will soon be confused and late with assignments.
A great tip that will help you succeed in college is to carefully plan out your course load each semester. You don’t want to get overzealous and pick way too many hard classes at once. You’ll barely be able to keep up, and you won’t be capable of submitting your best work.
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.
During college, there are going to be classes that you realize are too difficult from the onset as you should drop these immediately. These classes can put a lot of stress on you, as you would be better off with an alternative. Also, a different teacher may be able to explain the material better.
Don’t take more than one writing course per term. Even though you may only have to complete 3 essays for the course, there is often a lot of required reading. You want to have enough time to complete the readings for every class, which will be difficult with more than 1 writing course.
When choosing a class schedule, be realistic about how much work you can reasonably handle. This can be extremely stressful and can cause your grades to suffer. Try to only pick one or two difficult classes and take them alongside three easy ones.
Schedule your sleep. College schedules can be hectic, leaving little room for an adequate amount of sleep. You will have a difficult time focusing if you are sleep deprived.
Use statistics to narrow down your college choices, but not to make the final decision. The right college for you is a good match to you personally, not a prize that you win. Never select a school because a lot of your friends are going there, nor because it holds a number-one position on some published list. Only a visit to the campus can really tell you if it is right.
Avoid using your financial aid funds to go on a shopping spree at your campus bookstore. This is common, especially among first-year students. When you learn that you have financial aid credit at the bookstore, it is tempting to buy things you don’t really need. Avoid this impulse and your pocketbook will thank you later.
If you are not staying in dorms, consider carpooling with other students. You should be able to find others that are staying in the same area as you. You will likely not be able to carpool every day of the week with the same people, but even a few days will help build relationships.
AS you already know, there are as many ways to succeed in college as their are to fail. The important thing is to know yourself and create a college plan that works for your lifestyle, your learning style and work ethic. Us the tips from the article above to create your own winning college strategy.
