Whether you’re going to a private university 3,000 miles from home or a local community college, taking that first step towards higher education can be exhilarating, frightening, and an overall roller coaster of emotion. College can be the path to independence and self-discovery for some students. For others, the pressure to perform well is intense and terrifying. For me, the pressure and anxiety didn’t set in until I was moved into my dorm in New York City, my father was about to leave to go back home to California, and I realized, “Oh crud, I actually have to do this now.” At that time, I would have greatly appreciated the knowledge that I’m about to give you, some tips or advice on how to get through it all with smooth sailing. Going to college is tough. Staying in college is even tougher.

• Start with your best foot forward and try to keep ahead of the game. Take notes from the very first class on, even if it’s stuff you think you’ll remember or things you think you already know. Take special note of the professor’s email address and contact information if they give it. Usually email is the best way to get in touch with them about any questions you might have. You want to move forward giving yourself the best possible chance of success. It can be discouraging if you fall behind early or feel like you’ve made mistakes that can’t be undone.
• Know your schedule. And I don’t just mean for classes. Know the best times (for you) for studying and doing homework. Generally, I find it best to do any homework or prepare for any tests either directly before the class or directly after it. After, because then the information is fresh in your mind and the work goes more quickly. Before, so that the information is in the front of your mind right before the next class. However, don’t procrastinate.
• Be organized. Make daily to-do lists and cross items out as you go. This may seem ridiculous but when you start to get overwhelmed it can help put things into prospective and also help you prioritize. Get a calender, PDA, whatever works for you. Put down somewhere when you’re exams are and when projects or assignments are due. Usually, the professor will outline the class schedule at the beginning of the term.
• Set goals for yourself and know where you’re heading. Knowing where you want to be in two or even five years makes the stress level go down and makes it easier to plan ahead. Set an hour or so aside to go through the general education requirements and class requirements for your major. It is helpful to plan out your schedule semester by semester so you know what to expect. Of course, none of it is set in stone. I know very well how easy it is to change your mind and that’s perfectly alright. But knowing what general direction you want to head in is a good idea.
• Take initiative. This can be in regards to making new friends or making sure you understand the coursework. No one is going to walk you through it and help introduce you to new people or make sure you’re keeping up. The biggest difference between high school and college is that you MUST be a self-starter in college. Join a society, club, or study group. Getting a job can help you not only financially but will also help you make new friends and get acclimated. A study group is an especially good idea. It will help you make friends and make sure you are prepared for class. Remember that email address you wrote down on the first day? Good. If you feel like you need clarification on something, don’t hesitate to ask. The professor will not come to you if you start to fall behind. This is your job.
• Keep within your budget. Money budget. Time budget. Make sure you know what your budgets are. A common reason for dropping out is running out of money or having poor grades. Take advantage of any school discounts or student discount cards. Any money saved is helpful. I have personally found the Student Advantage discount card very helpful. It offers discounts for things from traveling to clothes to dorm decor. Many schools have partnerships with programs such as that one.
• Know your priorities. Yes, it is important to have fun, but know that it sometimes comes at a high price. There is always time for fun after you study or after work. It’s not fun to drop out or waste an entire semester. Getting distracted is easy. Take a step back and make sure you’re putting the most important things first. Having that to-do list from earlier comes in handy here.
• Don’t push yourself too hard. There are limitations to what can be done and you need to know your own. Take a ten minute break for every hour of studying you do. If you try to cram too much in at once everything starts to get mixed up together and you will start to accidently read the same line of text over and over without understanding it. I know too well how it can feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day. If you’re starting to feel run down, take a breather. Take a look at that to-do list and figure out if there is anything you don’t have to do right that second. Then take a nap, take a bath, or get something to eat. Do something that well help alleviate some stress and help you relax.
• If you have a roommate, develop boundaries with them. Sit down at the beginning and find out their habits and schedule, then let them know yours. Figuring out early on when the best time for each of you is to do certain things is very important. College life will be miserable if you and your roommate don’t get along.
• READ THE CHAPTERS ASSIGNED TO YOU IN CLASS. I can’t stress this enough. I used to be able to get away with not reading the books in high school. In college, it is a necessity. Many professors rely on the textbooks to do some of the teaching for them. There aren’t enough class sessions to get through all the things they need to, so reading becomes like your second professor. Try to learn to enjoy reading. I have come to find it very relaxing and also educational. If you find yourself just not being able to get through more than a chapter at a time, go through the reading section when it is assigned and block off a number of pages for each day between the time it is assigned and when you need to have read it. Spread it out over the days so that it doesn’t seem like so much. Also realize though, that you will generally have more than one reading assignment at a time.
• Go to class. Even if you think it isn’t necessary or the professor isn’t covering anything important, GO. You will undoubtedly miss something important or that will happen to be the only day out of the semester the professor is offering extra credit. It’s annoying but that’s just the way life is sometimes. You will regret that one day you decided to sleep in.
• Become very computer literate. Most people born after 1980 grew up with computers. I’ve been in laptop classes and doing schoolwork with computers since I can remember. But now especially it is important to know all the magical things technology can do. Not only does it make researching and writing papers or doing homework easier and faster, but it will become essential.
• Lastly, stay in touch with your family or loved ones even if you’re living in town. Try to keep a constant line of communication open. Remember, they’re you’re biggest fans and biggest support. They’ll be there to help you through the hard times and congratulate you when you succeed. They even offer some great advice at times.