How to succeed during your first semester of college

by Madeline Penzel

Assistant Editor

Many seniors have finalized their decisions for next year and are preparing  to take on one of the biggest milestones of their lives: college.

With some students choosing schools far from home, the stress of living alone for the first time and entering a totally new environment can be daunting. As a senior myself, I wanted to try and find the best tips for how to succeed in college my first semester for myself and fellow students. Here’s my list of tips to keep stress as low as possible in your first semester of college.

#1 Start habits early:

Habits are a key tool to making the transition to college smooth. On average, it can take 66 days for a habit to become automatic, so starting early can be a key to success. Start by using a planner to write down all your assignments, tests and class times to stay organized and keep all tasks in front of you visually when the school year starts. It’s also recommended to form habits, such as sleep, before classes begin  since being well rested helps you perform at your best. Things like getting 8 hours of sleep and getting up and going to bed at the same time everyday will help you adjust to college well.

#2 Don’t be afraid to ask for help:

It can seem scary asking a professor for help, but these instructors are paid to help you. Professors and counselors are there to help you through this big transition, so don’t hesitate to ask for extra guidance. It’s highly recommended to use office hours to your advantage because that’s when you can get one-on-one time with your professor. Even the smallest things such as asking upperclassmen for directions may be frightening, but I can assure you that most people will be glad to help. Everyone has been a freshman before, so they will understand what you’re feeling.

#3 Learn time management techniques: 

Time management is a big way to make or break your college experience. In high school, you have a strict class schedule with a teacher telling you what to do for the whole day. Once you’re in college, you have a lot more free time because  most people only have classes a few days a week. Some tips for time management include setting goals, setting time limits to get tasks done, taking breaks between tasks and making a to-do list/using a planner. Again, starting these habits early will help make the transition to college easier.

#4 Be prepared to be overwhelmed: 

College is a huge change for everyone no matter what school you’re going to. It can be scary to live alone for the first time in a new area. Just trust the process and everything will get easier to manage over time. Taking breaks for yourself while studying or doing school work, making time for friends and other hobbies, exercising and having a good diet can help manage stress. You can always reach out to professors or counselors for support as well. Just know that other people feel the same way and you’re not alone.

#5 Get involved: 

Making new friends and getting familiar with your peers can make college a lot more fun while also helping with homesickness. Joining clubs, groups, or Greek life can help you meet new people from all grades and different backgrounds. It can be comforting to find people with similar interests as you in a new environment as well. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to make new friends and try new things.

#6 Adapt to living alone: 

For most, college is the first experience of living away from home. Whether you’re moving an hour away or across the country, it’s good to know some basics to help you function alone. I suggest knowing how to do laundry, clean, and shop for groceries.

Those things may seem simple and obvious, but they’re just basic things everyone should know how to do. Locating the closest grocery store, bank, doctor and pharmacy to where you will be going is also helpful to making the transition easier. Finally, homesickness is a big concern for many freshmen. To help this, stay in touch with your family and friends by texting or facetiming them. A final tip is the more time you spend on campus, the more you will become comfortable with it.

#7 Keep your priorities straight: 

Going to class and turning your work in on time is crucial in college. Going to class is vital in college because you’re paying for it, and each class will give you important information you will need to know like test dates and assignments.

It can be tempting to do assignments at the last minute, so you can go hang out with friends, but staying on top of your work and setting goals for yourself will make college way less stressful and easier to manage.

College is the route many high school seniors decide to take, and it’s a big change. I hope the tips above will help your transition to college be as smooth as possible. Just remember that everyone is going through the same thing as you and just stay positive and have fun.

Just like high school, the next four years will fly by, so enjoy it while it lasts.