Jamie Williamson
College can be an intimidating time in a young person’s life. It’s a time where you are not quite considered an adult but you’re not a kid anymore. Many young adults find it challenging to balance life and a college career right out of high school. Here are some tips to help any college freshman make their first year a better experience.
Know your advisor. A bad schedule makes for a bad semester. Do not be afraid to talk to your advisor and make a schedule that works for you. It is okay to say you do not want to take a certain class that semester. You are the one who has to take the classes, not your advisor. This will also help to cut down on your stress throughout the semester.
Do not be afraid to take a class outside your chosen major. The first major you choose may not be the major you end up graduating with. College is the time to find out what you want to do with your life. Taking a class outside your major may open your eyes to a whole new area of interests and can lead to many new and exciting opportunities. It is also okay not declaring a major your first semester or year–explore different classes, because it’s your future and you need to do what makes you happy.
Get involved in campus events and activities. This will help combat homesickness and help you make new and lasting friendships. Homesickness is on of the top reasons college freshmen do not finish college right out of high school. Colleges have events to get the students involved in the community and meet new people. If you stay in your room the whole semester, you can’t fully enjoy your college experience to the fullest. College is the time to make memories and lifelong friends.
Visit the student success center or counselor if you feel overwhelmed and need extra help. The student success center has several tutors willing to help with any subject you need help with. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Everyone needs help sometime in their life. Whether its help with a paper and a severe case of writer’s block to missing family and need to talk to a counselor. Both of these services are there to help make your college career better and ensure you have a successful future.
Learn to prioritize your time for studying. Prioritizing your study time will help minimize stress when it comes time to take a test. Taking notes during class and then studying them in small amounts everyday after class will help you remember the information without trying to cram last-minute. Also studying in the daytime will help cut down on distractions and will leave your nights open for the different campus events going on.
Following all these tips will help make any new college freshman’s career a productive and successful one. These tips are sure to minimize stress and help maximize potential. College is a time to prepare for the future but it should not come at the expense of one’s sanity.