By now, many schools are in session and I will be speaking to those who are college students either in a four-year university or a community college.
First year in both a four year and community college should not fall behind as I did. I encourage first year college students to try as hard as you can to be focused to start your college career with high grades. It is very easy for college students, especially for those that move away from home to get side tracked from academics.
Students should also strive to get involved on campus either in a club or sports. Schools have hundreds of student organizations for students to get involved in.
Another thing to keep in mind is to start thinking about life after college: YOUR CAREER! This is very important as many students wait till their junior or senior year of college to obtain a job or internship related to the field you want to pursue as a career. It is best to start early looking for jobs and internships in the field you want to pursue for the purpose of experience and you also will have the opportunity to network with potential employers.
Below are some tips for college students through my experiences as a college student:
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Use Cornell notes to assist you when reading textbooks
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Get readings and homework done early and way ahead of due date
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Start on long term papers and projects early to have the opportunity to have your professor edit and answer questions that you may have to perfect your work
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Maintain a good professional relationship with your professors. Ask a lot of questions during class and show that you have interest in the class that you’re taking. Go to the professor’s office hours for assistance as this give you a chance to know the professor a little better. A good relationship with your professors will allow them to write letters of recommendation when you are trying to obtain an internship or pursue higher education.
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When you feel that you are finding class material difficult, use campus resources such as tutoring and seek assistance from your classmates and professors.
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Attend every class. This is key to passing your classes. Give it your best effort to attend every class even though you know you can read the slides or notes later.
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Utilize your weekends. Many students have a four day week for class. For the remaining three days of the week, spend at least 4-5 hours studying to help keep you focused.
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If your dorm environment is very noisy, go to the library. The library is a quiet place where you are able to focus and get work done. I realize that going to the library saves me a lot of time and I am able to understand the material better. Encourage your friends to go with you to the library as many floors in the libraries have a no talking rule which will help everyone stay focused.
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Do not slack off until finals come around. Finals are very important to a class, but most will not affect your grade as others. The best thing to do is make sure your grades are high before going into finals so you won’t have to stress out on finals and go in your finals very confident.
Other than that, I wish all college students a wonderful semester and a great year. I wish success to all of you.
