Nobody really talks about what happens in the daily life of a full-time college student. Mind you, I emphasize the phrase full-time because there is an absolute different between being a part-time student and a full-time student. Sure, you and your schoolmates always talk about how you studied all night or how you barely studied for an exam that you both have in an hour because of how busy you were prior. However, what exactly happens, or should happen, throughout the day of a full-time college student?
1. Waking Up
A student’s morning routine is either extensive or extremely quick. One can either get ready for about an hour in the morning or prep the night before so he or she can sleep in a bit more. Either way, at this point in someone’s day, coffee is a student’s best friend.
2. Going To Classes
Sometimes, you may have four to five classes in a row. Other days, you may have only one to no class at all. Both these options have their pros and cons. Sure, you have a bunch of classes on one day, but that just means you get to more focus on the material on less hectic days. Sure, you have a free day, but one must make use of the free time to put in an effort for school, instead of wasting it.
3. Completing Extra Work
There obviously will be work that comes along with the 15-18 credit course loads you are taking. If you want to excel, and I hope everyone would like to do their best, you should put in more effort than doing the absolute minimum. Going to class and doing mandatory assignments are not enough. You need to read the textbook, complete extra assignments, willingly ask questions and more.
4. Managing Time For Meals
We all are living things who need to eat. Therefore, we need to plan our meals. Whether or not we schedule during what break we plan on eating lunch, or when to meal plan, it consumes a good portion of time from a day.
5. Attending A Part-time Job
Most students attending university have some sort of job which helps sustain our weekly needs. Therefore, most have no option but to fit it in their already hectic schedule. Though it may not directly be associated with the learning process other than working in the certain occupation, the salary earned gives students more access to learning materials.
6. Managing Extra-Curricular Activities And A Social Life
I am in no way implying that having a social life is a terrible asset to have because it is an absolute necessity, especially for a full-time student. We need to make friends with people in this home away from home, and we need to complete activities that interest our involvement. Because of this, you need to put in the effort to maintain relationships, but not to the point where this effort is straining your own academics.
7. Studying After A Long Day
Sure, everyone has the urge to just lie in bed and complete nothing after the end of a long day, but it never hurts to learn a little more at the end of the day. Everyone would much rather be in bed watching Netflix, but we all know that would not advance our individual lives in any way. We should be rewriting our notes or skimming over topics of our next class.
8. Sleeping And Repeating The Cycle
At this point in your day, you probably have about six to seven hours of sleep until the cycle restarts itself. Now, if you are consistently getting less than five hours of sleep a day, please reconsider what you are doing. It is not healthy and late night study sessions do not guarantee an improvement in your grades since you are attempting to study with a vulnerable state of mind extremely late at night. You need to rest and recharge yourself for the next day.
Obviously, if someone has the ability to accomplish all these tasks daily, I have two questions for you: one, how do you manage to do it, andtwo, how do you have time to sleep? With all these obligatory activities we should do as students, I applaud you. If you are someone who has trouble completing these tasks, do not worry. There are so many others, such as myself, on the same boat.
People should approach the idea of being a full-time college student as one would approach a full-time job. It should take up most of your day, and everything else should be the least of your priorities. Honestly, to excel in college, one must succeed in the skill of time management. I find the idea that people pay up to $75,000 for schooling to not focus on their education ridiculous. Yes, extra-curricular activities and your social life is important, but so is school. Do not give up on one for the other.
