Study Smart And Effectively
College is supposed to be one of the best periods of our lives. But time goes by too quickly and before you realize it, you will be filling out the job application and wondering how the last several years of your life could pass so fast. Therefore, here are some college hacks which you can use to study more effectively and to make the most of your time in college.
1> Be organized
Don’t forget to check your studying plans including all the exam or paper deadlines. Moreover, you can start using a notebook or any application for saving all the info. It’ll become your habit and may be helpful to you at your future job. So, keep that in mind!
2> Use Your Opportunities in College: Visit Office Hours
Many students go to office hours only before examinations. However, they may not even know that academic departments require professors to hold such office hours every week, even in the situations when no one shows up. Usually, students do not worry about coming. Therefore, you will make a good impression on your professor if you start visiting office hours. Even if there are no questions about the material covered in the class, you can just have a conversation with your professor and demonstrate you care for studies.
3> Time management
Time management is a crucial thing you should learn in college. You need to plan, schedule and reschedule, balance your academic preferences with personal life and do everything in time, otherwise, your life will become havoc. Separate study time from time for fun as well as have some hours for sports activities and sufficient time for sleeping.
4> Join a Student Organization
If you join some club or organization, you will see how much you did not know before about the ways of having fun in college! You will meet new people, who you probably would not have met otherwise, and make friends with them. Whether it is a baseball team or college radio station, join some organization so that you can find and get to know people with similar interests. It is one of the ways how the socialization in college works.
5> Become Friends with Upperclassmen
They have already been through similar experiences you are just starting to go through. Therefore, they will probably give you some good pieces of advice. You will know more about your professors and their approaches to students, as well as you will know which restaurants near campus are open late. Socialization in college means getting along well with upperclassmen as well as with your classmates.
6> Take Your Grades Seriously but not Too Seriously
Sure, your GPA will matter in terms of applying for a job. But the scores you get for individual assignments or examinations do not have any significant impact. Therefore, if it is Friday night, leave the library and have some fun.
7> Develop Social Skills in College from the First Week
Even if you are an introvert, try to be more outgoing than you usually are. During the first few days, make every effort to talk to as many students as it is possible. If you are going to attend any meetings, invite your classmates or roommates with you. The same concerns lunches and dinners: invite everybody. As soon as you develop a group, you have a chance to find real friends. Organize a weekly baseball game or get your new friends together to watch favorite TV show. Student involvement in college life is very important.
Besides, one of the most frequent problems during the year is roommate issues. It is an inevitable experience for each college student. For some, it is a blessing, and for others, it is quite a disaster. Roomies often do such horrible things as using your clothes or other items without asking permission, inviting study groups or having fun each night; coming back home at four a.m. and waking you up, intentionally or not; etc. All these issues are not normal, and you should not keep silent since there are four years ahead of you to deal with this person and his or her issues. The recommended solution is a nice, but open discussion. Compromise is always the best in roommate issues. Set the rules, show respect for your roomie and demand one for yourself.
8> Succeeding Professionally
It’s hardly possible to learn everything you need in the class. Improve your knowledge by reading the additional material and gaining related experience.
Choose your own area of interest without copying others. If you want to be a successful student, do something different and choose a niche which you like. Do something that will keep you interested and excited.
Find a part-time job that meets your professional interest. A successful student knows how to get valuable experience during their college years. For example, if you are good in writing, you may try to offer college paper editing services or college essay proofreading to help you peers to make high grades by making your own money at that.
9> Health tips are important
This section is a list of “don’ts”. Do not stay up late and do not exhaust yourself, since eventually, it may turn into stress, lowered grades, health problems, and depression. Do not skip classes and make sure you pursue the major goal for which you are actually in the college. Do not start having random sex just because you have freedom from parental control. Remember to go in for sport, drink much water and avoid narrowing your diet to junk food. Negative outcomes will arrive soon, but it will be difficult to deal with them afterwards. Do not abuse alcohol and do not start smoking just because your mates do. It is your health; remember to take care of it!
10> Keep Yourself Busy
The more points you have in your to-do list, the less time you have to worry about trifles. This is one more way to control your emotions. Actually, this is just a short-term solution to a long-term problem, but it can really help in difficult situations.
We hope you’ll take these ten tips into consideration while studying at college. Enjoy your years in college because it’s a precious time during which you’ll find amazing people, gain necessary knowledge, and valuable experience!