Top 10 Tips For New College Students

Being a freshman in college can be tough, here are some tips to help you survive your first year.

1. Be wise with your money!

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College is expensive, from tuition, to books, to food, the expenses pile up. If you are like me, and plan on going to college in your hometown and decide not to get a meal plan, be wise with your spending. (I can't tell you how many times I had a bag of chips for lunch because that is all I could afford). Seriously, be careful with your money, you don't want to have to worry about money during school, because that is just another load of stress you don't need as a freshman.

2. Do your assigned readings!

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I know it sounds like a cliche, but this could make a world of difference in the outcome of your classes. From personal experience, when I would complete an assignment after reading, as opposed to not reading, I typically got a letter grade higher. Considering the fact that major assignments in college classes usually count between 10 and 20 percent towards the final grade, getting that extra letter grade helps tremendously. Professors also like it when you are able to answer questions, in class, based on the assigned readings. Make sure you get this done.

3. Don't be shy in class!

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Ask Questions! Most professors like it when you speak up, and are engaged in class. In some cases, this can even get you better grades, because the professor realizes that you are genuinely interested in the class. Not speaking up in class could be potentially hazardous, some professors will administer quizzes if no one speaks up when they ask a question. You do not want to learn if your professor is like this the hard way.

4. Don't be shy outside of class!

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Make friends! College can be stressful, and whether or not you are an introvert, it can get more stressful if you try to deal with it all alone. If you need help in class, but can't imagine talking to the professor, start by asking for help from a classmate, people are generally willing to help, you just have to ask for it. Plus, you will most likely have to work in groups at some point during the semester so being able to talk to your classmates will help a lot when you are trying to finish the project at the last minute.

5. Notes! Notes! Notes!

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Do not forget to take notes. Notes help tremendously, especially when you have those professors who don't share their power-points with you. With that being said, don't copy what is on the power-point word for word. Instead, focus on writing down the information that your professor tells you. Professors like it when you can reiterate their words in papers or exams, it helps them know that you were paying attention to their lecture.

6. Make use of your resources!

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Colleges have plenty of centers and programs to help you succeed through college. These places are generally of no extra cost, and are often very helpful. If you have a problem in any area, such as studying, time-management, course work, and much more. There is almost definitely a place at your University designed to help you with these.

7. Do your assignments!

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It sounds like common sense, but seriously just do your assignments. Once you slack off and say "I'll just skip one assignment, it won't hurt my grade too much". At this point you have already gotten yourself into some deep trouble, because that ends up becoming "I'll just skip another assignment, but I swear I will do everything after this", and then before you realize it the semester is over and you have skipped all of your assignments, and failed the class. So seriously, just do all of your assignments, no matter how insignificant they seem.

8. Manage your time wisely!

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Time management is extremely important in college, especially when you are a full time student and decide to have a job. As the picture says, "Don't wait until tomorrow", this is true on so many levels. I have personally dealt with this problem when I had a paper due and I decided I could do it on the day it was due. Apparently my computer had a fatal error on that day, and writing that paper didn't go to well. To avoid problems like this, get a monthly planner and write down everything you have to do, such as papers, projects, readings, and exams. Just get these things done the first time you get the chance, because if you do, it will help tremendously.

9. Get some sleep!

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Make sure you get sleep, this is probably one of the most important things to focus on. Don't just settle for naps here and there, get a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Don't stay out all night partying or drinking, nothing good ever comes from this, especially when you have work to do, just get home and get some sleep.

10. Have Fun!

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College can be stressful, but you don't have to make it more stressful then it needs to be. Get out there and have fun, and I don't mean partying like I said in the last tip. Find something that you enjoy doing and find friends who enjoy doing it with you. Make college the best time of your life, just have fun and don't take it too seriously. Good luck in college!