Starting college is a major life transition. While it’s liberating not to have anyone telling you when to go to bed or when to study, the tradeoff is that you’re responsible for yourself. No more having your mom call the guidance counselor to get your schedule changed. It’s up to you to handle problems with professors or roommates, and as you do, you’ll gain confidence in your ability to manage your life.
Speaking of confidence, you will be surrounded by a lot of smart, accomplished students, and this can be intimidating. But admissions officers don’t admit students who can’t do the work. In fact, they turn down thousands of well-qualified students, so if you’re at UCLA, Yale, or a similarly selective school, you’ve got what it takes.
High school is over, and you don’t need to keep proving you can handle the most rigorous curriculum. Give yourself a break the first semester, and sign up for at least one course that just sounds interesting and fun. If a class you really want is full, talk to the professor. Teachers love enthusiastic students, and you may very well find that a space opens up.
Take some time to adjust to college life. Your first task is making friends, and there will be many opportunities. In freshmen residence halls, the first few weeks are nonstop socializing. Students leave their doors open and everyone visits at all hours. Resident advisors host pizza parties to help you meet your hall-mates.
You may not become best friends with your roommate, but chances are you’ll get along. In the rare case when roommates really cannot live comfortably together, they can ask the housing office to make a change.
Everyone goes through a period of adjustment. But there are ways to minimize the stress. Even seemingly small things, like keeping your room clean, can impact mood. Exercise helps you stay mentally as well as physically healthy. Working out gets endorphins going and relieves stress.
Creating a structure that provides time to study and sleep is another way of taking care of yourself. You’ll probably have no more than 15 hours a week in class. That leaves plenty of time, and if you treat college like a 9-5 job, you can get your studying done during the day and have evenings for fun.
It is important to go to class. Sit up front and you’re less likely to doze off. After each class, read your notes and clarify anything you didn’t understand. Good notes are very helpful at exam time.
If you’re struggling in a class, ask for help. That’s what professors and teaching assistants are there for, and many schools also have tutors and writing centers. When it comes to studying, it’s much easier to keep up than to catch up.
Studies show that students who are successful and happy in college participate in campus life. Whether you love film, environmental issues, vegetarian cooking, hiking or improvisational comedy, you’ll find people who share your passion. Joining a club is a great way to create a feeling of community, which is especially important at a big university.
Everyone feels homesick at some point. You realize how much you miss your parents, friends, even your house. Add the stress of midterms and sleep deprivation, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The counseling center is a great resource. They see many students who are having trouble adjusting to college, and talking to someone can really help.
