To all you high school seniors out there that are heading off to college, if all you are thinking about is drinking and partying then you are going to fail your first year. College is hard work and it's nothing to be intimidated by, but if you are, here are some tips to get through your freshman year of college from someone who survived.
1. Don't Procrastinate
When you get school work from your teachers, try and manage your time. I always used to wait until the last minute and had papers upon papers and had to stay up all night just to finish them on time.
2. Always make time for family
You always need to make time to check in with your family and tell them how school is going. Students usually get very homesick at first so if you call and talk to your parents then students usually feel better.
3. Get an unlimited meal plan
Trust me you need this. Most kids are starving in their dorm rooms. With the unlimited meal plan, you can basically eat whenever you want to -- there will always be plenty of food. I know I always got hungry after late classes got out.
4. Take classes that interest you
If you don't know what you want to go to school for, don't worry. I started out as a sports medicine major and then took some classes and realized that I wanted to be a Business major with a Spanish minor. Sometimes you don't know what you want to do unless you try different things.
5. Join clubs
If you are afraid that you won't make any friends, then join a club or a sports team. I joined track and field and made a bunch of new friends.They made my second semester so much easier. Clubs give you good experiences while making new friends.
6. Work study
If you have time, get a job from the school. It helps you keep busy and it also helps you make new friends. It also gets you more involved in school and helps you keep on track.
7. Get plenty of sleep
During college, students think that they can stay up all night, but it is really draining. I have learned that the sooner I go to bed the earlier I get up, and the more energized I am to start my school day.
So to you college kids that are starting your first year here, I hope these tips were really helpful for you: they will make your first year in college so much easier. College is hard, yet rewarding, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
