University is a unique period of time in life. You finally have independence, you are in a new place, and your life as an adult begins to loom on the horizon. You have to make decisions, and you know it. There is no secret recipe for success in college; each one does it in their own way, with their own style. Most successful students, however, have some characteristics in common. Read and find out what they are.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Study
Step 1. Avoid procrastinating
The subjects of the first evaluations are not especially difficult. Unlike previous school years, the university wants to build your education from the bottom up, rather than having the teachers give you all chewed up. This requires a bit more work on your part than you are used to.
- Encourage yourself to study in advance. Do not cash your paycheck until you are done with what you have proposed. Celebrate with your friends after taking the exam. Give yourself an award. Treat yourself to something when you've reached a goal.
- Plan ahead. It is possible to fit in all the social, academic and logistical commitments in college and still have time for yourself. But to achieve it you need make definite plans. As you start each week, be realistic about how much time you will spend on social activities and how much time you will spend kneeling.
Step 2. Be passionate about something
Stop to reflect on what you really enjoy doing or studying, and what you are really interested in. What are your goals and plans? College is one more step towards professional success. What do you want to do after college, and how will it help you get there?
Step 3. Attend a wide variety of classes at the beginning
Even if you've already decided what your major or area will be, it's a good idea to expose yourself to a variety of subjects and fields. About half of students change their major at least once before graduating, and many change up to two and three times before sticking to one.
Another reason to cover more classes early in college is that you may need to do more than one thing in your life. Even attending a class or two can change your understanding and point of view in an area of science or business. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not keep an exact record of the changes students make during their studies, but what it has recorded is that it is very likely that you will end up graduating from something very different from what you started studying
Step 4. Listen to the other students, but form your own opinion
As soon as you get to university, you will start to hear students talking about which teacher is "easy" and which is "difficult", which major is "difficult" and which are not … Listen to their opinions (they probably have some degree of truth), But don't let them deter you from doing what you want. You are an individual, and you have the right to form your own individual opinion of things.
Step 5. Connect with the teachers.
One of the biggest mistakes kids make in school is never creating a relationship with their teachers. Getting acquainted with your teachers will enrich your education, expand your network, and win one or two friends along the way.
- Go to tutorials, even if it's courtesy. It is important that your face is seen in the tutorials. Talk about the ideas and methods you are having trouble with, and let the teacher know how you are doing. You are likely to get better scores if your teachers see that you take their classes seriously.
- Find yourself a mentor. A mentor can be a teacher or an administrator who takes you into account in a special way, with whom you create a special bond. A good mentor will be able to give you advice, help with classes, and may even get you a job after graduation. Don't underestimate the importance of a mentor.
Step 6. Create good study habits
Each one studies in their own way. Some need the sound of the TV in the background or some music; others prefer absolute silence. Some like to study in a group; others prefer solitude. Find what works best for you. You can ask yourself the following questions:
- How long does it take for an idea to be recorded in my brain? Do I need days or weeks for the light bulb to turn on?
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What kind of student am I?
- An auditorium student? Do I learn faster when something is explained to me than when I read it?
- A visual student? Do I learn something better when I can visualize it on a graph, reading it, or watching a demo?
- A kinetic student? Do I record things if I see them in action or can I manipulate or build them?
- At what time of the day do I focus best? Are you able to work if you get up early, or are you one of those who concentrate at night?
Step 7. Set an academic goal for yourself
If you don't set a goal for yourself, you may leave college tired and without a degree. Your academic goal may not be the same as others. Try to be realistic when establishing it; put it in the balance with other goals you have in life. You don't have to graduate with honors to say you were successful in college. If you do your best and achieve realistic goals, you will be well satisfied.
Method 2 of 3: Socialize
Step 1. Make as many friends as you can
If you go to a large university, the sheer number of people you will meet can be intimidating. It is normal. Everyone feels that way at first. Once the scare wears off, you'll see that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of people you can relate to and learn from. Many people have fond memories of their college years because of the good friends they made there.
Step 2. Get involved in clubs, traditions and events
College events are very different from required high school and school events. Since no one is obliged to participate, the people who come enjoy what is done. Actually, it's no secret that the true purpose of clubs and activities is to socialize. It is very easy to find people with the same tastes and interests, some with whom you will not have much in common or a few really exciting and with incredible backgrounds. C'est la vie.
Set aside time for clubs and events outside of your closest social circle. It's okay to invite your friends to participate in an activity at your club. But what if by bringing your friends you miss out on the opportunity to meet new people? Try to meet as many more interesting people as possible during your college time. Don't make friendship exclusive to your circle of trust
Step 3. Go to parties
College parties are nothing short of mythical: if you've seen a lot of college movies, you're going to be disappointed. Well almost". Most of the parties are not as they are portrayed on television (depending on which university you go to …). Be yourself, put a smile on your face, and get in the mood to meet new people. Who said you can only succeed by studying?
- Be a nice party animal. Do not throw garbage around the house or its surroundings, do not make a mess in the kitchen, do not enter any room without permission, bring something to drink such as soda or beer if you are old enough … well, be the kind of guest that everyone Host would like to invite again: generous and well mannered.
- Be very careful with drugs. Recognize what can really hurt you (alcohol and marijuana will rarely land you in the ER, but cocaine, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, and pain killers can be fatal). Some students believe that college is to experience everything, but it is better to follow the dictates of your conscience. Don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with. And remember that most of the time you don't know what kind of drug it is.
Step 4. If you decide to have sex, take your precautions
Many students are alarmingly ignorant about sex. The truth is that college students have much less sex than they brag about. One study revealed that the majority of students did not have a single sexual encounter during the course of a year. And another survey found that 59% had not had sex in the past 30 days.
- Always wear protection. If you are sexually active, take a condom with you. Condoms guarantee 98% effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. Do not consent to unprotected sex. Just doing it once would put you at risk of contracting HIV, herpes, or another STD. And contrary to your arousal, which will wear off in a few minutes, a sexually transmitted disease doesn't just go away.
- Recognize that alcohol can cloud your judgment and make you make the wrong decisions. Alcohol removes your inhibitions, meaning that under the influence of alcohol you could justify having sex with someone you would have rejected while sober. Think about that before you start drinking.
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Don't be fooled by myths about sex. We will unmask some of them:
- "Birth control pills protect me from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)." Myth: they do not protect you at all from diseases such as AIDS and others.
- "I can't get pregnant on my period days." Myth: without a doubt you can get pregnant on the days of your period.
- "I cannot get pregnant if I am a virgin and it is the first time I will have sex." Myth: it's false. There is still a 5% chance of pregnancy.
- "The pills are effective from the first day you start taking them." Myth. For birth control pills to be effective, you have to take them for at least a month.
Step 5. Don't eat alone
(In fact, if you feel lonely, eating alone is not going to improve your condition.) According to Keith Ferrazzi's book "Don't Eat Alone," the idea is to take advantage of all the opportunities at your fingertips to create new relationships and have more contacts. This will help you move up your career by making connections that will help you out of college. This can be done easily if you take advantage of your stay at the university and do not isolate yourself. Take advantage of the time you spend in the dining room and turn it into a rewarding lesson.
Method 3 of 3: Health, Safety and Economics
Step 1. Eat healthy, exercise, and get plenty of rest
These three basic things are what college kids always forget. If you want to be successful in college and learn to balance your work with the rest of your life, you should take your health seriously.
- The ideal diet for one student is the same as for any other: low-fat or protein meat, fruits and vegetables, seeds and legumes, and stay away from carbonated beverages, sweets, simple carbohydrates, and saturated fat. Not only will you feel better, but you will avoid being your typical newbie and stay in shape.
- Exercise is a miracle medicine, it just isn't medicine. Exercise helps you burn fat, build muscle, reduce stress, and sleep better. Join a sports team, take a few laps in the pool, or just take the stairs instead of taking the elevator or try to walk at least 30 minutes a day.
- Sleep enough. One of the best ways to maximize test performance is to have a good night's sleep. In fact, students with nocturnal habits, with sleep disorders, or those who tend to stay up late every weekend, tend to have worse academic results than those who sleep well, comfortably, and for long enough each night.
Step 2. Visit the university health department
In this department they will give you all the advice you will need to stay healthy on campus, in addition to the fact that you will find good doctors there. Some free benefits they will offer you are: Free vaccines and condoms, and advice on the most common problems.
Step 3. If your university has a security department, use it
Many universities have a department to take care of the safety of students. They may offer the following benefits:
- Escort to your home or bedroom if you don't feel safe.
- Valuable tips adapted to the area (especially in urban areas).
- Investigation of crimes that occur on campus. If you have been the victim of a crime such as robbery, rape, duress, or assault, please notify the department and local police.
Step 4. Manage your money well
College is the time to stop being a child and become an adult. Part of that process is knowing how to manage your money with a good budget. Take an inventory of the funds you will get during the month. Review your expenses from previous months, and find out how much you can spend that month. Expenses should never exceed your income. Your budget might look like this:
- Total income per month: $ 1,300.
- Housing: $ 600
- Food: $ 250
- Books and Study Materials: $ 100
- Fuel: $ 200
- Miscellaneous expenses: $ 150
Step 5. Apply for financial aid to the government before going to college.
Look for grants or scholarships regularly. Check with the student aid department in case there is any opportunity for extra funding for academic merits. There are plenty of student aids that you can take advantage of if you're vigilant.
Step 6. Look for job opportunities at the university itself
Your university needs employees to function, and it knows perfectly well that employing the students themselves is a winning bet. Many of the jobs are not very hard (like guarding the entrance to the library), and will allow you time to study while you get paid.
Sometimes the university itself offers money in exchange for research assistance for a professor or department. This is a cool job you could get. This is where having a mentor (see above) becomes important. Your mentor could convince the department that you are the one for the position
Step 7. If you can, save
If you have gotten any school aid or scholarships, or your parents are paying for your studies, do your best to save while you are in college. Once you graduate and go out into the real world, you will have to start paying bills. If you have some money in the pig, it will be much easier to deal with the bills. Other reasons to save:
- Studying abroad is expensive. Very expensive. If you want to expand your studies in Florence, Shanghai, Barcelona or wherever, it will cost you a bit. It is true that there are aids to do it, but you cannot always count on them.
- College loans are not paid off overnight. If you are like many students, surely you have asked for a loan to study. Paying fees and interest will take up a large part of your monthly budget after you graduate.
Advice
- Stay healthy by doing these five things: 1) Eat healthy, 2) Exercise, 3) Relax, 4) Be optimistic, 5) smile and laugh, and 6) Get enough sleep.
- Don't rely on strenuous late-night study sessions unless you're sure you'll benefit from doing so.
- Make it a goal to learn the lessons, not just do the homework.
- Remember who you are, what you are doing and why you are doing it.
- Try to sit in a place where you are comfortable during class. It's easier to focus on the front seats.
- Use old tests as study guides. Make sure you can answer the questions you didn't know correctly. Obviously the teacher will want to know if things were learned well and will use the tests to find out. Similar questions are likely to come later.
- Clutter and sloppiness only work for a select few, those who are innately equipped to handle pressure and finish tasks at the last minute, with some degree of quality. If it's not your thing, don't risk it.
- Buy textbooks online or secondhand to save about $ 200 per semester. You will probably only study them once.
- If you have trouble understanding, ask for help! Ask your teacher or tutor to help you.
- Complete the tasks at the end of each chapter. Get a solution manual so you don't get bogged down.
- If you tend to be easily distracted, find a way to minimize distractions and optimize your ability to learn.
- Read beforehand. If you know the teacher will cover a certain section, try reading about it before class. In this way, they will have a more complete understanding and you will be able to ask questions in class.
- Do everything you can in college! The most complete experience is learning to balance academic responsibilities and leisure activities.
Warnings
- The best way to act, but perhaps not the safest, is to learn for yourself what your strengths and weaknesses are.
- Don't be afraid to make some mistakes or take risks, just remember to learn from them.
- The steps and tips presented here on how to face your first year at university are based on personal experiences, and are general principles that are easy to apply; do not take them as pedagogical advice or ideological precepts that hold you back from being yourself, or restrict your free will.
- Everyone is different, and therefore there is no one foolproof specific strategy for all students.