5 Ways to Survive College Life

College life is always a new, unprecedented experience for young students. None of them know quite what to expect when it comes to college, and this remains true long after they’ve begun their first semester. To help you navigate the treacherous terrain of college life, just follow these few simple steps:

• Manage your time. There are a lot of things competing for your time at college. There are classes, class homework, study sessions, social events, friends, parties, clubs and so much more to think about. The only way you can hope to keep track of all this is to make to come up with a competent way to manage your time. Keep track of due dates, events, study sessions and everything else using a calendar or personal schedule. If you keep track of everything you need to do, you’ll find it’s easier to navigate the tricky terrain of college life.
• Prioritize.With all these competing classes, assignments, events and friends vying for your time, it may be hard to please everyone. It’s your job to prioritize your responsibilities and duties. Naturally, academics should take precedence. After that, you need to decide what else is important: sports teams? Clubs? Parties? By understanding what’s most important in your college career and putting that first, you’ll avoid falling behind on assignments, disappointing others and overwhelming yourself.
• Take notes. You may find yourself with something like five classes a day – this can be a little hard to swallow. One of the best ways to survive college life, though, is to work hard in each and every one of them. This means taking notes! Notes can be an absolute lifesaver, especially on nights before big tests. If you have to miss class for any reason, at least make sure someone in the class gets you a copy of what topics were covered that day.
• Make time for socializing. Contrary to what some teachers or parents might want you to think, socializing and spending time with other people is essential to your college experience. It’s also essential to your survival as a person throughout your college years. Students need the relaxation and relief from academics that comes in the form of personal interaction.
• Be financially responsible. It’s no secret that college is a pretty expensive undertaking. You can help stave off some serious headaches, though, by employing some fiscally responsible behaviors. Don’t overspend on eating out, partying or other non-essentials. Save your money for the important things – like books and tuition – and you’ll have a much less stressful college experience.