Going to college is both exciting and frightening. If you move away for school, living on your own could be quite the adjustment and getting good grades may be last on your mind. Adapting to a college work load makes it much more overwhelming.
But everyone learns, studies and adjusts differently.
However, these nine basic tips on how to survive your first semester of college will help you end your first semester with good grades.
Whether it’s on your phone or a physical planner, having one handy is essential to keeping yourself organized and on top of assignments. Write down all due dates and exam times so that you’re not constantly asking yourself when work is due or how long you have to prepare. About Education states that everything should be written in your planner in order to evaluate how much time you have to complete tasks.
Just because your roommate is bragging about taking six classes for the semester doesn’t mean that’s the best for you. If you’ve gone to class for a week or two and are starting to feel overwhelmed with the amount of courses you’re enrolled in, it’s okay to drop a class (as long as it’s within the deadline).
For starters, you probably paid a lot for those textbooks. Why are they just sitting in the corner of your dorm room untouched? Even if the professor doesn’t fully discuss the material in the textbooks they assigned, there’s a reason they want you to read them.
Professors, advisors, and teacher assistants are all there for a reason: To help you. Most teachers offer office hours, which is a great time for you to have any questions answered, receive additional help, or just have your work checked to make sure you’re on the right track. Academic advisors are there to make sure you
It can be easy to press snooze on your alarm for your morning class because you know the professor doesn’t take attendance, but if you want to boost those grades, attending class is important. The professor could give out exact information that will be on an exam or tell the class what won’t be on it, but if you’re laying in bed scrolling through your Instagram feed at the time, you might end up studying for the wrong things later on.
Everyone needs time away from their work to just relax. Get back into one of your old hobbies you’ve been neglecting or hang out with some friends. Breaks are necessary to keep you sane and not overwork yourself.
If you want to do well in college, you will need to adapt good study habits, and stick with them. Find what works best for you, including where you prefer to study and methods. Utilize your classmates and form study groups to hear other perspectives and have others test your knowledge on the subject.
As hard as it may be to not, procrastination will be your worst enemy, especially when it comes to your schoolwork. Not doing assignments because they’re not due right away will lead to them piling up and you becoming overwhelmed when the due dates are right around the corner. Procrastination leads to work that may not be your best quality because you’re rushing and sleepless nights, which leads to the final tip.
According to the University Health Center at the University of Georgia, “It [sleep] restores our energy, fights off illness and fatigue by strengthening our immune system, helps us think more clearly and creatively, strengthens memory and produces a more positive mood and better performance throughout the day.” Despite how common all-nighters are for students, they are not good for your health. Sleep is necessary to boost your brain power and help keep you focused.
If you’re getting ready to start your first semester, or are already in college and just need some assistance, these tips will guide you to getting good grades and having a GPA you’re proud of.
