After The College Search
The college search can feel like its own journey. Once you find the right college you may be tempted to let out a huge sigh of relief, take your foot off the gas and coast into and through college. But the transition from successful high school student to successful college student only begins with selecting the right college.
By preparing yourself for life in a new environment, and having clear, realistic expectations, you can make lay the foundation for a wonderful college career. Here are five tips to help you start college on the right foot.
Get a map.
Even if you visited a school during your college search you may not know where every classroom on campus is. Don’t wait until the first day of class to find out. Most schools offer guided orientations or campus tours. Also, don’t be afraid to ask other students and professors for help finding a classroom. Just don’t wait to ask. Starting a semester late is starting a semester on the wrong foot.
Get a habit.
High school is very structured and tightly scheduled. College can be much looser, with big breaks between periods. Some classes only meet one or two days a week. Once you have your class schedule make your own schedule. Set aside time to eat, sleep, study and play. You will need to get plenty of each. You may also need a study routine. Find note-taking methods and study habits that work for you. Some teachers will let you record lectures. Find a study area where you can concentrate. In the dorm while your roommates bumps music and plays Madden ’08 doesn’t count.
Get going.
Procrastination can be a student’s worst enemy in college. Even a bright student can struggle when multiple project deadlines and midterms pile up. Some students will choose a party over studying any time. But week-long parties have academic consequences. Set limits by setting time to study and time to play. If you find yourself saying “I’ll just finish it later” assume that you won’t. You may not have homework every night in college, but you may quickly run out of time on projects if you don’t stay up to dates on readings, notes and advance work.
Balance
A wise man once said “College isn’t about who is the smartest, it’s about who can manage time the best.” Many freshmen become overwhelmed in college. They overextend themselves academically and socially. The priority in college should be learning, and this means monitoring your course load. Take too few classes and you won’t graduate for years. Take too many and you may find yourself crumbling under unmanageable work. Be prepared to spend two hours of time studying for every one hour in the classroom.
Just like an athlete must prepare physically for a big game, students should prepare mentally for college. Remember, your college search is just the first step to college success. Don’t make things any more difficult than they need to be. By being aware of the pitfalls of college know you will be better equipped to avoid them in the future.
