Starting Freshman year of college is tough for every student. College is very different than High School. High School teachers claim that they are preparing you for college, but they really aren't. In college, you are on your own completely. Professors do not give you all the information you need for the test like they do in High School. They do not give you review sheets or study guides. High School teachers give you time to do assignments, give you reminders to do the assignment, and some even give you time in class to do the assignment. College professors assign an assignment and then that is the last you hear of it until the day it's due. In college, you are on your own completely.
So, you may ask; How do I succeed freshman year? Here are some tips!
1. Time Management
Make sure that you make time for everything you need to do. This will take some time to figure out. But once you get it down pact, you will realize that your college life goes a lot smoother. This means planning for things you need to get done. If you have a project due tomorrow, plan time in your schedule to complete that project.
2. Write Things Down
Writing down due dates and things that your professors say help you get through your Freshman Year. By writing down due dates for various things, you are able to prioritize your life and get your assignments done on time. By writing down the information your professors say, you are more likely to retain that information for any upcoming exams, plus it will be in your notes to study from.
3. Don't Procrastinate
Waiting until the last minute to complete assignments just sets you up for failure in the long run. Eventually things occur and you are forced to cram to get the assignment done on time and then the assignment is not done to the best of your ability.
4. Study Periodically
By studying periodically and throughout the semester, you learn the information rather than memorizing it. This helps with concepts and various questions on exams. You are more likely to remember information if you study it more than just the night before the exam. Studying just the information given in class is not enough, make sure you read the book as well. Reading the book before class and then re-reading it again after class can help you comprehend things that were not understood the first time.
5. Don't Cram
Waiting until last minute to study/memorize information for the exam or quiz, you are less likely to do well. Cramming often leads to confusion and other stupid mistakes.
6. Ask Questions
If you are at any point in time confused on a topic or concept covered in class, don't be afraid to ask questions. It is quite likely that you are not the only one in the class with the same question, and you will be less confused. You may think that your question is stupid, but in reality if you are confused, it is stupid to not ask for help.
7. Meet with Professors and Tutors
Meeting with professors and tutors gives you the opportunity to cover the material that you did not understand on a one-to-one basis, and the professor or tutor is more likely to be able to help you when it is just you that he/she has to explain the information to. For example, if you do not understand information covered in class, a professor may be able to reword the explanation in a way that makes it easier for you to understand it. Many people believe that professors do not want you to succeed, but really they want to see you do well and are willing to help you do that.
8. Form Study Groups with Classmates
Some of your classmates may have understood information given in class that you may not have understood or vice versa. By studying with classmates you are able to collaborate and explain things to each other so that all of you do well.
9. Try Not to Miss Classes
If you miss class and get the notes from a friend, you may still miss other information or examples given by the professor in person that would clarify the information. Being in class gives you every possible opportunity to obtain the information to the best you can.
10. Figure Out Your Style of Learning
Everyone has a different way of learning, have it be using colors and highlighters to mark key information or to draw pictures. Determine your style of learning and use that information to the fullest.
11. Get Assignments Done Early
If you get assignments done the day they are assigned, you are more likely to become ahead in your school work which allows you to have more time to have free time and do things you want to do with your day. If you are assigned a project on a Thursday and it is due Monday, try to complete it Thursday night so that you are able to have the weekend free to do fun things.
12. Get Sleep
Sleeping allows your brain to function at full capacity. If you want to do well in class and on exams, make sure you get enough sleep. Paying attention and retaining information requires a lot of brain function which will not be available if you do not get the proper sleep you need.
13. Eat Well and Exercise
Eating right also gives you the proper brain function you need to focus and retain information. If you have a healthy diet and proper exercise, your brain is more likely to function properly and give you the proper brain function and educational results you desire.
14. Have Fun
College is a time to find yourself and figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you spend all of your free time doing work and stressing, you will become overwhelmed and hate college. It is important to make time to make friends, meet new people, and enjoy your time as a young adult because these years you will never get back.
15. Make Friends
If you skip the social part of college you will most likely become very depressed and unhappy. Having friends in college will help you with social skills for the future, but it also gives you a way to relieve your stress of classes and school work.
16. Go on Adventures
If you are attending college in a different area than that of which you live, explore the area around the campus and find what there is do near campus. Or go on road trips with your new college friends on school breaks. Go out and explore the world while you have the chance, before you get a full time job and have to dedicate your whole life to work. Enjoy the time to still be a kid while you can.
17. Communicate with Family
Although it may seem that you are now on your own in the world, your family is still important in your life. They are the people who have your back when the rest of the world turns their back on you. Make sure you keep in contact with your family regularly to establish that relationship with them and so that they know that you haven't forgotten about them. And if you go home for break, arrange to spend time with your family during that time.
18. Try Something New
If you were the quiet type in High School, try branching out and getting involved in new things such as athletics, clubs or Greek life. By getting involved you might discover something new that you never thought you would like or be good at. Getting out of your comfort zone is a good step for your future.
College will not be easy, especially at first. But if you put in the proper amount of work and effort, you will succeed. Eventually as time goes on, college will seem just as simple as High School and you will get the hang of it.
