Have you ever thought about how you actually survive in college and have a social life at the same time? I decided to share how I’ve been able to survive college so far. Instead of writing long paragraphs, I will number them to make it easier to read. Here are 10 things I do to survive in college.

1. Podcast: This is probably one of the most important things on my list. I downloaded an app on my phone that records the voice of the professor just in case I missed something. I can always go back to it and catch anything they said. There are many apps out there that allow you to podcast (record). I do this for every class that doesn’t podcast just to save space on my phone. I would recommend to sit in the front if you want excellent sound, but even sitting at the last row of a huge lecture hall can get you great sound. I also recommend not to move around too much during your recording period; the mic is very sensitive to sound. The beauty about recording your professor is that you can go to the restroom at any time, leave your phone in your backpack pocket, and not miss anything. Lastly, podcast everything: lectures, discussions, labs, office hours, tutoring, interviews, presentations, important conversations, etc. I know it may sound weird, but we’re college students, and 90% of the time we are tired so it’s easy to miss something.
2. Color coding with pens: This is probably something most people do, but I go all out. I always carry 4 pens with me and I only use those for notes. Everything is absolutely clear after and your notes will be easy to find. Also, write down the date and the lecture number so when you podcast, it will be easy to refer back to the notes rather than scrambling through 100+ pages of notes.
3. Take two days off: I know this sounds extreme, but I always take Fridays and Saturdays off, UNLESS I have exams that upcoming week. And by taking the days off, I mean, I don’t do anything at all. I make sure to self-care and laugh as much as possible. These two days are very critical, so sleep in, and enjoy yourselves (if possible). I know many of you have jobs, so taking one day off might be better for you.
4. Office Hours: I didn’t start going to office hours until the last quarter of my 3^rd year (which is right now). It is absolutely helpful, especially if your major is challenging. And remember to podcast/record when you’re there so you can refer to it later. Make sure you jot down everything they say during office hours because they are the ones who write your exam!
5. Exercise: If possible, go at least three times a week to the gym to do weight training and cardio. If you plan accordingly, you can even go six days a week for an hour or two. This will keep yourself in shape and not have days where you feel like crap and can’t do anything.
6. Meal Prep: I wrote an article on how I meal prep so check that out on my profile. But basically, make 6-14 meals on Sunday, put them in tupperwears, and freeze them. Buy yourself a freezable lunch bag and take it with you to school. There should be at least one microwave on campus that you can use, ask around! You want to keep a balanced diet too. Make sure you add in tons of vegetables, protein, carbohydrates, and small snacks.
7. Music: Make a playlist every Sunday or so, or keep 5-6 playlists on your phone to listen to between breaks, on the way home from school, on the way to school, or basically the entire day. Music will keep you pumped or relaxed. You want to keep your mind off of school because thinking about it too much can damage you.
8. Calendar: I’m actually not a huge fan of using calendars because I don’t check them as often, but if you forget things quick, make sure you carry around a calendar. I personally just use the one on my iPhone and make it alert me 2 hours before the event, sometimes 1 hour, sometimes 15 minutes before the event. The beauty about calendars is that it might take 45lbs off your shoulders, for those of you who have a very busy schedule.
9. Don’t rush: In life, there is NEVER a reason for you to be in a hurry, never. If somebody is rushing you, ignore them because that will make things worse, they’re only making your life harder. Take your time with graduating. Don’t take 5 classes every quarter just to graduate in 3 years. Take your time and work hard with 3-4 classes. I usually only take 3 classes, rarely 4. This gives me a lot of room to go to the gym, take two days off of the week (unless I have exams coming up), take naps, socialize, go grocery shopping any time of the week, etc. You have to prioritize in college. So if that means staying in on Thursday night and not going out, then do so. Stay in, finish that paper, so that the next day you can relax and not rush a paper that is due at midnight.
10. Condensed Notes: This is probably one of the most crucial to me. Before a quiz or an exam, I compile all the material that is going to be tested for the exam, and I write it all in 1-4 pages (depending on how much material we have covered). Condensing my notes down to a few pages has really helped me lately. You are not only making your life easier by only having to look at a few pages, but also, you are studying efficiently. You’re trying your best to condense many lectures onto 1-4 pages; trust me, it will help you retain information easier. On some occasions I will condense my condensed notes even more. This helps me pinpoint the concepts I am having more trouble with.