7 Ways to Make Your First Year at College Count

First year pic

You might be thinking of not taking your first year in college seriously, as majority of colleges don't count the first year in the final degree classification. After all, you're about to enroll in modules that doesn't relate to your chosen degree course. It's a wrong assumption, without a doubt.

College education is expensive, so taking your first year for granted would be foolish and irresponsible on your part. Secondly, making the most of your freshmen year pays off in the end. It might not be freebies, which you couldn't live without. It may not be someone doing your homework for you. The challenges you encounter - and overcome - would prepare you for your second and final years. And it should be more challenging than you think. If you happen to pursue a Literature degree, you couldn't imagine your passion diminishing as the months go by. For one, you won't be reading at a leisurely pace. You could be wishing for it during the few weeks leading to Christmas. (And you might skip the Easter holiday.) If you want to manage the coursework well, you must be serious about it. And you should start on your first month. It's not too late if you don't.

How to Get on the Habit of Early Success

Take note of the feedback from your professors. You're grateful to your admissions tutor's feedback on your application essay, which would be several pages long. It may have exceeded the required number of pages, but you want to make a good impression. (And you forgot to ask about certain rules on college paper writing.) You would get another feedback from your professor, and then another one (and so on). You lose count of it, but you must take heed of every word, as it should give you an idea on how to write your assignment, how to structure your ideas, and how to pace yourself. The last one might be more important than the other two, as you would find out next month.

Socialize with your course mates. You need a course mate whom you can keep on asking questions for clarification. You can do the same thing to your professors until you notice the annoyed expression on their faces. And you can't expect your professors to provide emotional support when you need it. If you haven't found one, you better show your cheeky side (and do it). Christmas is around the corner.

Make use of the support available to you. University is your second home, if not your home away from home. Administrative officials and members of faculty would ensure that you would do well in your chosen degree. Support won't not only come from your tutor, but the staff as well. You would know after making inquiries in your dormitory. (There could be a weekly meeting, which you shouldn’t miss at all.) It's up to you to find out the rest.

Join the club. Your first year in college won't be as demanding as the following year and the year after next, so don't pass up the opportunity to join a society. Surround yourself with like-minded people, which should lift your spirits up. They will also give you support when you least expect it. (Don't underestimate a stamp collector's opinion on "Little Women". You might be surprised to hear more opinion on the sequel.) Remember that you won't have lots of time for socialization during your final year, as you would spend more time on thesis writing. And your second year would depend on your ability to manage your time. Strive for it, if not practice it.

Brighten up your room. There's nothing wrong about being obsessed about the details of your room, as this could be your private sanctuary. It should influence your moods, so make sure you would be in a good mood. You may not fancy a plant or two, which is fine. If you make it spacious, you would have room for stretching and calisthenics. You would need the energy later on. Photos and postcards could motivate you, but overdoing it could distract you.

Never on Sunday. You deserve a break, so make sure that you follow your schedule accordingly. It would ensure that you have nothing to do on Sunday, which should be the case during your first year. You may do it during your second year, but it would be a luxury during your final year. Plan ahead, so you won't regret later.

It pays to be curious. There will come a point when you get tired from studying. If you keep your curious approach, you would look forward to the next lecture.

Hard to Fight the Feeling of Being Fresher

Peer pressure would put you to the test on more than one occasion, but you should know your goals. Remember that recruiters and employers are keen on details, which would include your transcript. You don’t want your first year to be less impressive. Chin up!

 

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