College is one of the most fun, frustrating, and incredible experiences in life because you learn so much about how to actually exist in the real world. You have roommates, you choose your schedule, and you have the choice to make your time at college good or bad. For the most part, it is all on you.
Over the past five years of post-secondary education, I've learned ten key things about how to get the most out of college.
1. Always do the assigned reading.
As most of you have experienced, you know that your professors assign an insane amount of reading. Plus, like you’ve probably experienced too, it’s incredibly daunting. Your schedule is already packed tight with classes, meetings, other obligations, and you’re still trying to figure out how to work in necessary evils like eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. But there’s a reason your professors are having you read these books: everything you read will somehow end up helping you in real life. Whether it’s for a general education class or one of your major classes, there’s something important to learn in those books. Take advantage of this task and do whatever you can to get the most out of your classes.
2. Don't spend the money you made over the summer within the first few weeks of the fall semester.
You worked your butt off all summer and saved those paychecks so you could have extra money to supplement your meager income during the school year. Why would you want to spend every single penny within the first 6 weeks of the semester? High yield savings accounts are your best friends right here. Either use your existing account at your financial institution or open a new one at a bank or credit union in your college town. That way, you’re accruing interest on your money and not breaking the bank as you go about your business.
3. Be picky about where you work.
Your schedule is precious. Your classwork is important. Your health and well-being are high priorities. Therefore, be careful and particular about what you do for a job. Be firm with your availability in interviews and don’t let employers push you to change it. One of the best ways to avoid this struggle is to search for on-campus jobs. Most positions make you submit your class schedule, especially if you’re applying for a work-study job. Above all else, make sure that your studies and your health are priority above all other aspects.
4. Join clubs, organizations, groups, etc. to get involved with.
You get out what you put in, so don't be unsocial. Go join an organization that fits who you are. If that's Greek life, then go for it. If it's RUF/Cru/IV/a local church, then go for it. If it’s debate, theater, or any other group, then go for it. Whatever it is, get into a group you can identify with and really work hard at giving your best to it, so you can enjoy your time at college.
5. Don't go home to visit until fall break.
This is risky advice. Mom and Dad want you to come visit. But your schedule is still solidifying in the first 6 weeks of class, aka the span of time before fall break happens. Freshmen out there, this is important to take into account so that you can press into the organizations that you’ve joined and connect even better. For the rest of you, if you go home before fall break, there’s a good chance that you won’t enjoy your fall break visit to home because you’ve already had an opportunity to see everyone that you’ve missed.
6. Utilize on-campus dining options.
This includes you, too, commuter students. The campus dining hall and food court offerings that come with a meal plan are on campus for a reason: to save you time and make your day less stressful by answering the question of, “What’s for breakfast/lunch/dinner?” I can guarantee you that there is at least one worthwhile option where you can eat at least once a day or once every other day. Look at it this way: your meals are paid for (in a meal plan), you can keep your highly coveted parking spot, and you won’t have to fight the ever-annoying traffic that builds up to get off-campus.
7. Go to bed before midnight.
Sleep is incredibly important. Without sleep, you really can’t function properly. It is imperative that you do get good sleep. But why go to bed before midnight? You afford yourself more time to sleep before waking up for that dreaded 8:15 a.m. class that you scheduled in an effort to get your classes out of the way quicker. Also, we all know that unless your routine includes coffee consumption, there is a major chance that the only thing going on in that 8:15 a.m. class is an extension of your previous night’s sleep. Both you and your professors will be appreciative of your ability to pay attention.
8. Schedule out everything in your day, all the way down to your sleep schedule.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: your schedule is precious. What you do with your time is vital. It is one resource that you can’t recuperate after losing it. Scheduling your classes, travel time, meal times, study time, and meeting times are no-brainers. After all, that’s the most foolproof way to help you remember to do something. But, you may not have thought about scheduling your sleep times, exercise times, relaxation times (i.e. watching TV, going to the movies or the mall, reading for enjoyment, etc.), or other minute occurrences that seem second-nature to you. Once you schedule out every detail like these, you’ll see the holes where you can fit other activities, like working and hanging out with friends.
9. Get to know the people you’re already surrounded by: your hall mates and the people who sit next to you in your classes.
Meeting people isn’t the easiest thing to do when you’re bogged down with so many other responsibilities that college places on your shoulders. But it’s inevitable that you’re going to be around two groups of people for a significant amount of time: your classmates and your hall mates. In a sense, you’re stuck with them for at least a semester. You have a great opportunity to not only learn and live in your hall, but to meet the people that sit next to you or live next door. It’s like a built-in friend-maker that you literally just had to sign up for. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your best friend by walking to the room beside yours, or your future spouse by talking to the guy or girl to your left, right, front, or back before the lecture starts.
10. Don’t skip class.
This is pretty common-sense. You’ve spent at least 13 years in the education system between elementary, middle, and high school, and nothing is different in college. You have to go to class in order to get credit, take the pop quiz, or turn in a paper, among other things. Skipping class for most reasons is an unwise choice. Of course, if you’re truly sick, have a family emergency, or have an extenuating circumstance that requires you be somewhere other than class, then contact your professor with your situation so you can get that worked out. However, whatever you do, do not skip class to sleep in, go to a concert, movie, event, etc. If in the rare and unfortunate case you stayed out late partying, then you brought that upon yourself, so you have to live with that. That may sound harsh, but class doesn’t stop just because you made a poor decision.
