Essential Skills for Students Going Into College
Going off to college can be a scary venture. It’s a completely different experience than anything most students have gone through in their lives. Many students that excel in high school will struggle in their first year of college because they have trouble adapting to their new environment. While there is no way that you can completely prepare yourself for college, there are skills that you can learn that will help you acclimate to this new scenario. These are skills that you will use throughout your entire college experience, learning them as early as possible is critically important. So, here are a few essential tips for students going into college.
Time Management
Time management is one of the most helpful tips for college. In high school, schedules are laid out for you, and teachers constantly remind you of the work you need to complete. College, on the other hand, is a completely different ball game.
You are in charge of your schedule and keeping track of your assignments. This means that you have to be able to manage your time effectively. Otherwise, you will find yourself getting backed up on your assignments and studies. One way to avoid this is to get yourself a planner. It can be on your phone or an old school paper planner. Mark down your class schedule, assignments, and any extracurricular activities you have for the week. This is much easier than trying to keep track of everything in your head. It is also smart to schedule 30 minutes to an hour each day to work and study for each class. Even if you don’t have anything due you can use this time to get ahead.
Note-Taking
Learning to take good notes is an important skill for college. It’s not like high school where the teacher tells you what you should be writing down. You have to learn to decipher the important information from the professor’s lectures. Your notes are going to be your main source of reference when it comes to studying. So, if you are not taking good notes during your classes then you’re going to find yourself being unable to effectively study for your test and quizzes. One tip you can tip for note taking is recording lectures with your phone. By doing this, you can go back and listen for anything you missed during your class and add it to your notes.
Build Connections
There are two aspects of this skill you should learn. The first is building connections with your classmates. You may find that you can’t make a class one day or need help studying. Having friends in your classes can be tremendously helpful for these scenarios. They can send you notes from the classes you miss and help you study when the test comes around. The other aspect of this skill you should learn is building relationships with your professors. Your professors will be your most beneficial resources in college. You should make an effort to go to their office hours and get to know them.
As stated early, nothing is going to completely prepare you for college. But using these tips is a good place to start. So, learn to use your time wisely, take good notes in all of your classes, build connections with your classmates and professors, and get ready for the most rewarding four years of your life.