Hey! It's me again. I thought that it would be helpful to provide some words of advice to incoming college students in regards to their studies. As an honors college student who made the dean’s list both semesters of freshman year, I feel inclined to provide some study tips.
I am sure many of you are fearful of what to expect, because I know that I was. Throughout high school I constantly had teachers telling me “just wait until you get to college”.
To be completely honest with you, my freshman year of college was much simpler than I anticipated. The most distinct difference that I know many people struggle with is the responsibility of self-advocacy.
In other words, in college, it is very important that you hold yourself accountable. As a freshman especially, you will likely be a part of very large lecture halls. Your teacher probably won’t even know you unless you make it a priority for them to.
One of my biggest pieces of advice would be to make use of office hours. In highschool many of us were blessed with the opportunity to ask our teachers questions whenever we needed help. In college, this can be difficult because professors have a ton of students.
However, the classes that I found to be harder became significantly more manageable when I took it upon myself to ask for help. Office hours saved my grades and helped me to get As in all of my classes.
The other unknown benefit of getting to know your professors is that you can rely on them in the future. Eventually, you will need to develop a thesis and your professors will help you to do so down the road.
As for organizational tips, it is important for you to learn what works best for you. I find to-do lists and calendars to be very helpful. Also, make sure to always have your computer or a notebook ready to take notes.
During lecture halls, I would advise you to use a computer for faster note taking. However, if you are a more visual learner like me, it can be beneficial to write your notes by hand and draw out diagrams.
I also make digital to-do lists on a google doc. It constantly changes but it drastically helps me to stay on top of my school work. For example, I list each of my classes and highlight them in different colors and then list my assignments with their deadlines below each subject.
Unlike high school, your professors won’t be giving you as much grace with late work. Therefore, it is critical to stay on top of your deadlines. I found it helpful to strive to complete work ahead of time so I didn’t have to rush at the last minute and try to upload my assignment moments before midnight.
However, if you are to submit late work I advise you to email your professors or go to office hours. They are more than likely to be forgiving if you demonstrate effort and provide a plausible explanation as to why you may have had late work. Yet, if it becomes a habit they won’t let it slide. Unfortunately, in some cases, your grades will simply suffer because you submit a late assignment.
I also found it very helpful to write out my schedule for each week. Different from high school, you typically don't have built in class time to complete your assignments. Because of this, it is your responsibility to designate time to study and complete your work.
Typically I would list my classes and what I hoped to accomplish in each of those classes for that day. I would also designate time to spend either at the library, in the lounge of my residence hall, at a coffee shop, or wherever I worked best. This would then influence me to be loyal to myself and get my work done in a timely manner without the stress of rushing to finish all of my work at the last minute. It also gave me something to look forward to. I often used this study time to explore new places in my college town and discover my new favorite things like local cafes and coffee shops.
Quizlet will also likely be your best friend so make use of it. Simply taking the time to rewrite your notes and make a quizlet is a great study method. I also highly recommend study groups. You are more than likely not going to be the only one in your class struggling. Taking the time to connect with your classmates to make a snapchat group chat or a study group will make a world of a difference. People often think differently and ask questions that you may have never thought of. Working with others will benefit you down the road and help you to succeed, trust me, I know from experience.
It is also vital to work in time for yourself to take breaks and place incentives. Yes, studying is so important, but forcing yourself to spend hours on end staring at a text book won’t get you anywhere. It is very important that you learn to manage your time so that you can complete your work effectively and learn the material.
Giving yourself incentives such as getting coffee after you complete an assignment or going out with friends once you finish a project are also some great motives. In some cases, I felt that after I stepped away from something, whenever I came back to the same assignment the next day, it made sense to me. Your brain gets tired, at least in college it will, so ensure to give it a chance to recover and prioritize rest and breaks when you need them.
It is very important to find a healthy balance. Studying is beneficial in the long run but you also need to stay organized and take care of yourself. I would often designate time to study, and then go to the gym. I also took lots of naps when I could because you will probably be exhausted, I know I was.
If you become a part of Greek life or any clubs, make use of your peers. More often than not they will be more than willing to help you out because they were in your position once before too.
I also loved having a study playlist and snacks, days can get long so it is good to be prepared. Definitely bring headphones or airpods with you wherever you go. I found myself using them a lot more than I expected when I was studying or even just walking around campus. These both helped me to be a more productive student.
You will also find school supplies to be a bit different. I would recommend getting at least one notebook, some pencils, highlighters, and a planner to start. Your professors will let you know what they want you to purchase within the first week, typically known as Sylly week or “syllabus week”. One of my favorite items is my mini stapler. It has come in handy many times and is the perfect size for my backpack. I also made sure to always have a water bottle with me because you will be walking around a lot and it is important to stay hydrated.
Additionally, I found it very helpful to only put that materials in my backpack that I needed for that day to prevent my back from suffering the consequences of constantly hauling around heavy textbooks.
Make sure to make use of your campus resources as well! There are typically tutors available, study rooms, and counselors. All of these resources are there to help you succeed.
The most important thing to remember is to find what works best for you and be loyal to yourself! Tell yourself that you are going to get an assignment done and follow through with it. I'm going to tell you right now that it will be difficult to deny opportunities to spend with friends, but you need to keep your priorities straight. Remind yourself of why you are there, school comes first, friends second. It can be fun to live in the moment but you will regret it if you allow going out with friends to take priority over studying for your classes. It can also be fun to study with friends so don’t let this stop you from making memories. Late night study sessions with your best friends are a lot more fun than you would expect.
You should also anticipate the workload for classes to vary depending on your teacher. There are often a lot of optional assignments as well but they will help you. Make use of the study guides that your professors provide you with and do the practice assignments. Many times the questions from the study guides and practice assignments will show up on exams and you will feel fully prepared and be more likely to succeed.
Now I know that was a ton of information but don’t be overwhelmed. You are far more prepared than you think you are. As long as you keep up with your work and take care of your mental health you will be a very successful student. Please feel free to reach out to me if you want any more advice or have questions! I am always here to help.
Bye for now :)
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