2020 edit: I wrote this article in 2017, long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, I add one more behavior that will lead to success - wear your masks faithfully, be meticulous about social distancing, and don't cheat on virus safety rules. Even if you only get a little bit sick, you could infect other people who are at much higher risk.
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All college students need to figure out how to balance their school work, social lives, jobs, and sleep. Some never figure it out by the time they graduate (or leave school without graduating). Some struggle and eventually figure it out. A few are in great shape from the beginning.
College is about academic learning, certainly. But it is also about learning life skills, like organization, work ethic, and how to balance multiple priorities and stay in control.
If you are a new college student or are close to someone who is, consider the following eight strong recommendations I make for new students. They may seem obvious, but when you are newly on your own, sometimes they are harder to accomplish than you think.
1. Go to class and take notes
This seems like it would be most obvious, but many new college students are too casual about their classes. Some only attend sporadically.
Don't fool yourself into thinking "nothing much is going on in that class, I can skip today."
Class is where you learn the professional skills that will get you a good job down the road. But it is also where you make connections with teachers who will give you strong references (or not strong).
If you often skip class, remember that a prospective employer is likely to ask me "is she dependable?" I can't lie.2. Turn in assignments on time
This follows from point one. In addition to the fact that your grade is likely to suffer from a late assignment, being late also speaks to your dependability, work ethic, and initiative.
Late assignments are a big flashing red light over your head that says "do not hire me."3. Do not procrastinate; be ahead of the curve
You don't learn much from hurry-up rush jobs on assignments. You teacher has made the assignment because it will help you achieve the objectives of the class.
Doing the minimum to get by on the theory of "a D still passes the course" means maybe you should not be in college. Why spend thousands of dollars that either you or your parents will have to pay back if you aren't ready to apply yourself to learning?
The same advice also applies in everything else you do in college. Take charge and be in control of all the various parts of your life. If something seems beyond your power to control, don't allow yourself to be helpless - figure it out.4. Don't be a drunk
To be blunt, most college students drink, including before they turn legal age. Some do pot or other drugs. But if you do, like everything else in this article, don't let it control your life.
If alcohol, pot, or other controlled substances control you, rather than the other way around, you are tempting failure.
The typical college students would ignore me if I encouraged complete teetotaling, but that's not the real point. The point is to be in control and don't let it take over your life. Which leads to the next point...5. Ask for help when you need it
College and university campuses have all kinds of help available to you, from special meetings with your teachers, to tutors, to emotional counseling, and everything in-between. Absolutely do not be too proud or too nervous to ask for help if you need it, whatever the needed help is.6. Schedule your study time
Sure, college is complicated. There is a lot going on. But other people are not going to keeping you on target anymore. YOU need to take control of your life and your schedule.
I strongly recommend scheduling your study time, just like you schedule other things in your life. For every hour you spend in the classroom, teachers are supposed to be assigning your TWO hours of homework.
Make sure you set the time aside, and do not low ball how much time you really need. If you DO get done early, so much the better, but don't skimp on study time.7. Work at making college friends
You are not going to be happy in college if you are isolated and have no friends. If you make the effort to find friends and join in campus activities, it will help your school work and your overall learning (as long as you keep your social life in balance). Hang out and do things with your roommate and dorm neighbors. Join campus organizations to meet people with interests similar to yours.
Sometimes taking these steps to make friends feels awkward and makes you a little nervous, but it is worth it.
Plus, this is where boyfriends and girlfriends come from, which are part and parcel of college life for many students. Such relationships are great, but remember the basic theme of keeping all parts of your life in balance. Don't ignore the advice in this article, just because there is someone new in your life.8. Get enough sleep
Again, this seems obvious, but college students your age need at least seven hours of sleep a night, with a little more on weekends.
Not getting enough sleep will tempt you to violate all of the other recommendations above. Plus you will have higher stress, more chance of mental health issues, and you will generally be more miserable.
Like all of the other points above, take charge of your sleep schedule and remain in control.As I said, these things may all be obvious, but each semester I have students who stop coming to class, fail to turn assignments, or otherwise get their lives off track. Some get their act together and get back on track. Some don't.
It's true that college is a pretty desirable lifestyle, particularly if you don't worry about classwork. You have more independence than ever before and your lodging and food (most of it) are pre-paid.
But also remember that you are making decisions that will have consequences for years to come. Be proactive and make them smart decisions.
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