Starting college can be an exhilarating time in a young adult’s life. For many kids, it’s the first time they’re striking out on their own and they have more responsibility for their own success than ever before. This newfound authority over their future can lead to unwanted events, however. Some kids might get overwhelmed trying to find the correct campus building for their first class, and others might not thrive without the structure they previously had at home and in high school. Whatever the situation, there are some basic tips any college freshman can follow to keep them on the path to success.
Key Focus Areas
The most important part of attending college is going to class. Some students struggle with attendance their freshman year because there’s no one waking them up on time or pressuring them to attend every lecture. It can seem like a no consequences situation, but missing class is a sure fire way to earn low marks. The first thing every freshman should focus on is aiming for perfect attendance in all of their courses. Having this goal in mind can be an incredible motivator to set an alarm, hustle across campus, or keep a detailed planner so they never miss a class meeting. Some teachers even award bonus points at the end of the semester for those who attended all the lectures!
Remembering to submit assignments can also be a challenge for freshman because not every professor will continually remind their students of due dates like some teachers do in high school. Just because a due date isn’t written on the board to see every day, doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Freshman need to make sure they’re maintaining some type of calendar or reminder system for important project due dates and exam days to ensure they don’t miss out on turning in something worth a large percentage of their grade. This system can also help to keep them from turning in something late and missing out on points just because they weren’t punctual.
Finally, there’s studying. Some students are able to coast through high school without cracking a textbook once, but college isn’t quite so easy. Maintaining a strict study schedule can help freshman prepare for the new level of testing and the type of information they’re expected to know. A good rule of thumb is to study twice as much as what seems necessary, to ensure all the material is understood and memorized.