How to finish college
How I did it: It takes a lot of hard work, focus, and friends to make it through college! I'm not kidding; friends are just as important as all your study skills! I remember at one point during my first year being ready to leave my college because of some nasty going-ons with my roommates. It was the friends I made who saw me through it, and so many other tests and trials through college.
College is a crazy time! There's all kinds of assignments, activities, and other work to be done. I really recommend giving yourself a schedule; even if it's just printing out a good copy of your class schedule and adding in things like work hours or team practices, at least you'll have something you can constantly refer to before you start committing yourself to more than you can actually handle!
Lessons & tips:
- Keep a steady schedule-- always know what you have to do and when you have to do it!
- Know how to budget your time between work and play ... lean towards work, but don't forget to play!
- To paraphrase the Godfather, "Keep your friends close and your [adviser] closer." You might think your professors are the enemy, but you'll be happier once you learn to rely on them for the help you need with everything from understanding assignments to developing a workable courseload.
- EAT!! Don't forget to sustain yourself with what you need. Eat, sleep, and always remember to take care of yourself.
- Study in advance-- don't wait until the night before the test to start reviewing material. Start reviewing as soon as you get it, so by the day of the test, all you have to do is quick refreshers on early course material!
- Budget your money-- nothing drags a college experience down like poverty! :) Make sure you're spending your money wisely, so you're not dealing with financial stress in the midst of your studies!
Resources:
- Your parents: they're smarter about these things than you think (even if they didn't go to college, they know how to deal in the real world, and you can always use that advice!)
- Your adviser(s): never underestimate how much he/she/they can help you!
- Your campus Career Center: don't take this resource for granted! They have just about everything you need to make things a lot easier for you!
