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Preparing for College Life

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College life is different from almost any other kind of life. There is structure, to be sure, but not in the way you have experienced in the past or are likely to experience in the future. In a way, you are given a lot of "free time," but it is up to you to use it wisely and to your advantage. If you are mentally prepared for the differences between your life now and what it will be, it will be easier to adapt and come out on top.

Classes

First of all, your class schedule will fluctuate from semester to semester. Depending on where you have chosen to attend, your freshman schedule may have been put together for you. In this case, you don't need to worry about choosing classes for a while. However, when you do, there are a lot of factors to consider:
  • Are you a night owl or a morning person? When would you prefer to be sitting in a classroom?
  • If you want to take a particular class, ask yourself: is there room for it? That is, will it go toward credit for graduation, or is it just something you'd like to learn about? This is a financial and time-management consideration.
  • Are all of these classes offered every semester? Should you take one now while you have the chance?
  • Are there prerequisites for any classes you want/need to take?
Asking these questions will put you in a frame of mind in which you are planning ahead. Scheduling your classes according to a set of goals (i.e., graduating on time) is extremely important. If you aren't thinking ahead and considering all the factors involved, you might find yourself in a sticky situation later on.

TIP:Get your degree requirements together and try to map out all four years of school. You don't need to view this as a strict plan, but rather as a guideline. It will come in handy later on.

Another thing that takes some getting used to is attendance. Some professors will take it and have it factor into your grade; others will honestly not care if you come to class or not. Having this freedom to come and go as you please can be a rush at first, but you can end up shooting yourself in the foot once finals come around if you aren't familiar with the material. The best advice is to start by going to every class, every time, as though you have to. From there, you can make up your mind about your attendance rates, after you've built a good habit pattern.

Social Life

College is a time when a lot of people are fish out of water. This makes meeting people a lot easier; you'll find that a lot of people feel as out of place as you might. Initially, you could attend as many functions put on by your school or dorm as possible. There are numerous opportunities to get to know people, especially early on in the year. It's in the college's interest, after all, to foster an active student community.

Don't fret if you don't meet people right away. You'll most likely have a few classes with the same people, usually those who have the same major as you do. This should tell you that you have something in common already. There are also a ton of clubs and other activities that cater to a wide range of interests; one of yours is probably covered. That's an icebreaker already taken care of for you.

Of course, it's a cliché, but college is about trying new things. A lot of people find they can shed some of the restrictions their parents, their peers, and even they themselves had previously put on them. You might surprise yourself with what you realize you actually like but, for whatever reason, never gave a chance before.

Ultimately, you're going to blaze your own trail through school. That's kind of the point. Just remember to stay safe and that you're there, at least partly, to get an education!



Patrick Hanan  Posted by Patrick Hanan on June 29, 2010

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