Stepping into college is a very exciting phase of life. You step into a whole new world with your new-found independence. While it sounds fun and liberating, it can also be a bit scary and stressful to adjust and adapt to this new life. This is the time when you have to focus on your studies despite all the distractions, plan for the future while making the most of your present and develop your skills to thrive in a cut-throat competition. Not to mention, the challenges of managing your own monthly finances and the emotional constraints of living away from your family. Your college days can be glittering or gloomy, depending on how you tackle these challenges. Read on to discover some amazing tips that can help you set the right foot in the first year of college!
7 Things You Must Know Before Starting College
Freedom Comes with Responsibility
One of the best things about college life is the freedom that comes along. There will be no one nudging you to study or forcing you to attend the classes, but it is important for you to understand your own responsibilities. Attending the classes, doing your regular assignments, and preparing for your exams from day one will save you from the last moment chaos. Further, managing your time well will help you make the most of your college days. You have to find that fine balance between education and recreation and maintain that consistently.
Making Friends is Easy, Keeping them is Hard
Friends make a strong emotional anchor when the family is away. A good social life is very important for your mental health, emotional health and even physical health. While you can wave and chat with everyone, having the right people in a close knit is crucial. Your close friends will impact your life choices and also influence your perspective for the future. Ideally, you should be able to pull each other up and defend each other's back. So, keep your eyes and ears on alert in the first year to find the right friends.
Choosing the Right Major Makes All the Difference
Your core study subject, that is your major as a 1st year student, is going to define not just your college life but also your future career. You should choose the one that gives you the best prospects in future endeavours while keeping in mind your strong suit of skills. All your career opportunities will stem from the education you’re going to get. So, college, course and educators are the three most important factors you must consider to make your final decision. In some cases, you might be able to change your major but this is a big decision and you should give due consideration to it before you go forward with it.
You Need the Professors Beyond the Classroom Too
Your college professors are a foundation for you to build your academic as well as future career opportunities. Once you are done with your graduation, you will pursue other educational opportunities and your professors can put in a strong recommendation to help you. This works even in the professional world and any projects you have done under them may make a big difference in your employment. Obviously, maintaining good relations and a healthy academic candour with them will help you get more out of your college as well as future activities.
The Cure for Homesickness is Just a Phone Call Away
Moving away to attend college and getting homesick is a common experience for 1st-year students. If you feel like returning home, you do not need to sacrifice your semester grades for it. With the abundance of technology available, you can always call back home and talk to your loved ones. In fact, it is always better to reach back home virtually every now and then. Homesickness is one of the biggest challenges for first-year students. And it should not be ignored!
Dorm/Hostel Life is a Mixed Bag
Whether you have positive or reserved feelings about hostel or dorm life, you are definitely going to have a unique experience while living there. In fact, many would say college life without dorm life is an incomplete experience. In any case, you have to manage your time and interactions with others effectively to get the most out of your days. There will be all kinds of experiences and your first-year student expectations must adapt accordingly. You will learn a lot from them in all probability. Stay open to new experiences but keep people you trust close to you and you will emerge a more responsible and mature person out of it.
Getting a Dressing Sense Will Help a Lot
Lastly, clothing plays a huge role in the way people perceive you. Ideally, you want to reflect your personality as well as your future prospects in your everyday clothing. For professions like medicine and law, wearing formal clothing and habituating for daily work in them is a good idea. If you do not need that, you still want to reflect your persona as both upbeat, upfront and enterprising to give off a positive vibe.
How Should You Prepare for Your College Life?
There are many challenges for 1st-year students that you will have to overcome. Can it become a bit overwhelming? Yes. Can you survive the tough life? Damn yes! College is like that tunnel where you enter as a timid young individual and come out as a whole new person brimming with confidence. The tip to survive your college life is to look at things clearly without getting emotionally overwhelmed. Also, asking for help and advice from trusted people is always a good idea. Make sure you to save this blog and read the it again to get physically and mentally prepared for your first year in college.