Well, your first semester of senior year is almost over and more than likely you have begun to receive college acceptance letters. Believe me when I say it’s as weird for us (class of 2020, your parents, the rest of mankind) as it is for you knowing that you are going to college next year. So, I want to let you in on some secrets regarding the typical life of a college student and what it takes to get ready for and survive college.
1. Develop Effective Study Habits
Right now in high school, you’re probably only studying the night before or even the class period before the test you are about to take. Well, hear me when I say this: THAT WILL NOT WORK IN COLLEGE. There are horror stories that float around about college and staying up till 4:00AM studying, but if you find study habits that are efficient, allow you to focus, and help you prioritize, and you manage your time well, staying up till 4:00 in the morning won’t be an issue. And while I’m on this topic, studying with your friends is fun and all, but don’t study with them unless you know the material yourself. More often than not, when it comes to studying with a group, you will get off topic, go grab food, and totally forget you have homework. That’s when studying till 4:00 A.M. becomes inevitable. My point here is to find a method of studying that works for you, buckle down on the work, and then get to bed!
2. Have A Budget Set Aside for Each Month
It’s so easy to blow money on just about anything and everything. Your friends will want to get coffee at the local coffee shop. You will want to escape from the dining hall food. You will find an excuse to go to the mall, be indecisive and not buy any clothes, but buy food from every kiosk. You will want to do fun things with your friends on Friday and Saturday nights. To help manage all of this, have a specific budget for each month. Having a budget helps you be more mindful of how and where you spend your money.
3. It’s Okay to Say "No"
Okay, let’s make a scenario:
You’re in your room studying for a test you have the next morning, you have an 8:00 A.M. class, you have a speech to give on Tuesday, and a midterm the same day as the speech. Don’t forget your lab on Wednesday and that you have a quiz from the previous week’s lab. You’re totally in the zone...BUT then your friends call you saying that they are going to make a run to get food and then hang out and watch a movie.
What do you do? Well, you’re probably thinking “That’s easy, I’ll say no.” You think it’s easy, but it’s not. The freedom that college offers you is abundant and it’s up to you to determine how you manage it. You will have to battle the temptation of going out with your friends when you really don’t feel like studying in the first place. Persevere my friends. It will definitely be worth it when you feel confident going into that exam and know that you’ll knock that speech out of the park.
4. Apply for Scholarships
Having your academic awarded scholarships alone will not cut it. It may seem like there are so many scholarships out there with so many specific requirements. APPLY ANYWAY! I mean, if the award is meant for students who are pursuing a pre-med major and you are a professional writing major, obviously you shouldn’t waste your time with that one, but if there is a scholarship where the only requirement is a 500 word essay about why Coca-Cola is your favorite drink, go for it. Even if you don’t drink soda, still apply. There are so many scholarships out there that people don’t know about because they aren’t searching for them. Your parents will thank you just as much as your declining tuition rates will.
5. Spread Out Getting Supplies for Your Dorm Room
One idea that my grandmother suggested to my mom and I was to get something for my dorm room every time we go to the grocery store. It will help you space out budgeting and will help you keep a well organized checklist on what you do and don’t have. With that, it’s also important that you communicate with your roommate(s) on who is getting what. For instance, if one of you is getting the mini-fridge, the other can get something equivalent in price. Split it as evenly as possible and really think through what you “need” and what you “want.”
6. Don’t Bring All of Your Clothes to College at Once
Obviously when it’s August and 90 degrees outside, you won’t need your absolute zero insulated, waterproof winter suit or your ultra no-freeze-your-bones, baby alpaca hair lined parka. If it’s possible for you to go home in between seasons, take clothes with you to switch out accordingly. Doing this will help keep maximum space in your closet, which is great to have if you are sharing one with a roommate. Go to Bed Bath and Beyond and get those space saving clothes hangers and over-the-door shoe holders. They are a blessing.
7. It’s Okay to Miss Your Family
Even if you are in denial about it, you miss your family. And believe it or not, your family misses you too. While everything new and school keeps your mind well occupied, there isn’t a day that goes by where your family won’t think of you. The day my parents dropped me off, their rule was this “I want proof of life every three days.” In all honesty, it’s a good rule to have. Even a simple text saying “I love and miss you” makes their days a little easier. That little sibling you have at home? Yes, even they miss you. I know for me, I miss being able to randomly start laughing at the dinner table with my little brother just by looking at each other in an awkward way. It’s small funky moments like that which you will miss the most. Don’t ask me why, because you just do.
8. It’s Okay to Not Be Friends with Everyone You Meet, But It Is Vital That You Are Kind to Everyone You Meet
If you’re like me and came from a small school, then this will be a weird concept for you. You will meet so many people with so many different perspectives. People will challenge you—your faith, your ways of reasoning, your character. While it’s totally normal to stick with the people you meet in that first week and the people you knew before coming into college, it’s definitely okay to have other friends as well. Of course, you will need those friends who will be your foundation, your go-to’s, but you will also need people who you know nothing about. Go and make friends. Even if you’re an introvert, by golly, get out of your comfort zone! You never know—that one person who is sitting by themselves in the dining hall could become your maid of honor, your best man, your future roommate, the one who you stay in contact with for the rest of your life, your best friend. With that being said, even if you aren’t friends with the person who sits behind you in your Biology class of 200, it’s still important that you are kind.
9. Take Study Breaks
By this, I don’t mean go take a study break for 3 1/2 hours (it's extremely easy to let this happen). I don’t mean go and take a road trip around town, because, more than likely after studying for an exam, you will only make it as far as your floor. I have come home and witnessed my roommate face down on the floor and understood that that is her equivalent to a study break. Napping is a good study break; however, a nap should only be for about 20-30 minutes so you aren’t groggy. Also, a research article I found says that studying for 50 minutes and taking a break for 10 minutes is the most efficient way to go. You’re going to be overwhelmed that first and second week—especially with that first week of tests. Breathe. Prioritize. Take it one step at a time. A saying my mom told me, and that my friends and I tell one another is, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
10. Take Care of Your Body
In my opinion, this one is the most important because if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anything else that’s on your plate. It is vital that you get sleep. If it gets to be 1:00 in the morning and you’re still up studying, call it quits. Go to sleep and set an alarm to get up earlier. Getting some sleep is better than getting no sleep at all. If you prioritize and take care of what needs to be taken care of, then going to bed at a set time shouldn’t be a problem. It is vital that you eat right. Ice cream, cookies, sugar, carbs….they're very real and very, very, very delicious. It’s totally okay to embrace the Freshman 15, but it’s also extremely important that you get the fuel that your body needs to run properly. Living off of chocolate chip cookies and ramen noodles is a common diet to have as a college student because it’s quick and easy, but throw some fruit and/or veggies in there. Also, remember this saying: "Hydrate or die-drate." It’s a good idea to carry around a water bottle in your backpack (you will be walking more than you think). Lastly, it is vital that you get some exercise. Walking from class to class is not enough. Research shows that exercising is also a good way to relieve stress. Whether that be running, lifting, swimming, playing a pickup game of basketball or sand volleyball, make it a priority to do some sort of physical activity.
