Starting college can be like entering an entirely new world. You have more freedom than you’ve ever had before and you are in total control over your own life. This increased responsibility however can make you susceptible to some serous pitfalls. Read the following article to learn what habits to avoid in order to have a successful college career.
Do not choose a college or university because it is popular, because your friends or relatives went there or because you are a fan of their football team. There are other important factors you need to take into consideration such as your funding, the kind of career you want or the area where schools are located.
Getting the appropriate amount of sleep at the right times is essential. At first, you may think that you can skimp on sleep and still get by. If you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t be able to be as focused in class as you should be.
Save money while you’re in college. This can be tough, especially when you think of how much time you don’t have to earn money, and how many things there are to spend money on. Try to save just a few bucks a week that can go for major outings or money crunches.
Schedule study time every day. There are many ways to fill your time in school, but you must focus on your education as well. Promise yourself at least one complete study hour each day. Even if you don’t feel you need to that day, stick with it. Starting a habit is the best way to maintain focus.
If you are an adult going back to college, try signing up for night classes. The classes during the day time are full of young adults right out of high school. The night classes are usually filled with adults and students who are serious about their education. It will result in a much better college experience.
On the day of your exam, go to the bathroom ahead of time. This may sound self-explanatory, but there are so many things to remember on test day that it’s easy to forget. When testing, you want to eliminate as many distractions as you can and your bladder can be a big distraction.
Know your limits – don’t overwhelm yourself with too many courses. It may seem like a great idea to take as many courses that you can, but if you take too many, you may fail a few in the process. This totally defeats the time saving you were trying to accomplish!
When you are getting ready to go away to college you should sit back and picture what you want it to be like and work towards that. You will be more focused if you have a ultimate goal in mind and know what you are working towards. Ask some friends that are already in college what it is like to get a good idea of it.
Consider going to a community college before going to a university. This is cheap and easier. There is always time to go to university when you have taken core courses. If the cost of a 4-year degree is beyond what you can afford, this is a good option.
Brush up on study techniques before you go away to school. You do not want to waste your time learning how to study when you are trying to get studying in. This will just make it harder for you to retain the information that you need to learn for your classes.
If money is tight, and your choice is to either take out a loan or leave school, the smart choice is always to get a loan. Even though this may put you in the lurch temporarily and add to your current burdens, if you have chosen your major wisely, it will increase your earning power. You should be able to pay your loan back with your increased earnings. Leaving school is a sure way to guarantee low earning power for life.
Make sure you study what you are having the most difficult time with first. If you save it for last, you will be more fatigued and less likely to retain the information. It will make studying much more difficult for you. Save the subjects that come easiest to you for last.
Learn to prioritize your classes in regard to study time. Not all of your classes will be intensive for you. Those classes that you excel in, are often easy for you and do not require as much study time. Be smart and use that study time for other classes that do require more of your attention; however, always refocus your efforts should challenges arise in the easy class.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, you have the freedom to do whatever you want in college, but with this increase in freedom comes greater responsibility. Make sure to implement the tips you’ve just read into your everyday life so that you can have a successful experience while having fun at the same time.
