Library_writer 6 | - Freelance Writer
Aug 01, 2019 | #1
Moving into college period is a daunting and yet exciting period in one's life. While transitioning into this period can bring about personal challenges, it paves way for students to learn more self-development practices that they can integrate in their day to day lives. This explores ten tips that freshmen college students can bear in mind for a smoother transition. The first half will focus on pre-moving, while the latter portions will emphasize on sustainable and long-term college tips to be mindful of.
1. This is your chance: be whoever you want to be.
Remember those labels that you had acquired throughout high school? Yes, no one cares once you enter college. It doesn't matter if you weren't the smartest student or if you were the teacher's pet-college is the time that everything resets. Treat this as an opportunity to reestablish yourself as an individual. Having a firmer mindset regarding your own identity will help you have more determination for your future aspirations.
2. Chill out in the summer before your college starts.
Starting college in a few months? Take this period as your cooling off period. If you still want to be productive, it will be beneficial if you can start reading up on lighter materials on courses that you are interested in taking. The key is to not pressure yourself; these overwhelming emotions will not benefit you in the long-run. Try to take it slow and gradually sink into the interests and passions that you want to explore during this period.
3. Start integrating healthier habits in your routine.
It's easy to slack off and not be mindful of your habits, considering that this period will cause you to be feeling the peaks of your emotions. But this period paves way for you to develop a healthier lifestyle. While you're unoccupied with responsibilities from your coursework and still capable of changing your sleeping habits to a normalized routine, you should begin to integrate these activities. This will help you adjust with a better pacing once you enter college. Keep a journal and retain these customs.
4. Learn more tips on studying and researching smarter.
What type of learner are you? If you're a proactive and visual one, using cue cards will help you. If you prefer memorization and repetition, writing things down consistently will be beneficial. If you had issues back in college when it came to studying, you can know try to learn more valuable skills from other people. If you can boil down tips that'll help you, you would make yourself an efficient learner for your college courses-a critical skill when you're a few semesters in your program with an upcoming major exam that covers twenty different chapters.
5. Yes, you can contact professors early.
Are you curious regarding the coursework? Have you skimmed through your curriculum and still uncertain about its content? Do you want to know what to study ahead of time? This may be-for good reason-too much for some people. But, in general, professors would perceive this enthusiasm and interest as a positive trait. If you show a lot of fervor for your program, you'll manage to subtly gain leverage with studying tips directly from the source of the program.
6. Socialization will help you integrate.
Being a freshman in college is an exhilarating period of your life. At this point, most people have just moved in. There's no better time in your life to reestablish and connect with other people than this moment. Consider college as your clean slate. Whether it's through attending orientation seminars or bumping into people in the corridors of your dormitory, socializing will help you get the comfort of having a family far from your home.
7. Join organizations early.
If you're uncertain of what path you want to partake in the future, joining organizations will help you expand your skill sets. You'll be able to gain more experience in a variety of fields; this will help you broaden your horizon even more so when it comes to determining career paths. If you enter an organization and fall out, the exposure that you would gain from it in the first place will be beneficial for you.
8. Get out of your comfort zone.
I know you have repeatedly heard of this, but hear me out: staying in your comfort zone will stagnate your personal growth. If you were quite inactive and passive during your high school days, then this will be your chance to have your breakthrough. Want to learn a new skill? Go for it! So, there's an opportunity for you to go on an exchange program on the other side of the world? Why not try? Not only will these experiences nurture you internally, but they also look interesting in your resume.
9. Study hard but have fun.
I'm not saying disregard your transcript, ditch classes for day drinking, and party all night long. It's essential to ensure that you are able to take care of your mental health during this critical and yet exciting period. One way for you to make this certain is through still having fun while studying hard. You can follow a reward system: every time you finish a long paper for a tedious class, give yourself a bit of treat and hang out with your friends. This will help you incentivize yourself.
10. It's okay to take your time with choosing your major.
You don't need to have your whole life figured out. It may feel as though these huge changes are all crashing in at the same time-still, avoid fretting and panicking. While there are people who feel as though they need to have a precise outline of their entire life at the age of 18, this is not applicable to all and is surely not realistic. It's better to move around a bit, figure out what field you want to dedicate your time in, and then spend more time unraveling the puzzle. Even if you have chosen a program and change your mind about it, you're entitled to do so.
Treat this transition as a refreshing moment in your life. There's not a lot of milestones that you're going to go through-cherish this one. Make your transition smoother by listening in on these techniques.
1. This is your chance: be whoever you want to be.Remember those labels that you had acquired throughout high school? Yes, no one cares once you enter college. It doesn't matter if you weren't the smartest student or if you were the teacher's pet-college is the time that everything resets. Treat this as an opportunity to reestablish yourself as an individual. Having a firmer mindset regarding your own identity will help you have more determination for your future aspirations.
2. Chill out in the summer before your college starts.
Starting college in a few months? Take this period as your cooling off period. If you still want to be productive, it will be beneficial if you can start reading up on lighter materials on courses that you are interested in taking. The key is to not pressure yourself; these overwhelming emotions will not benefit you in the long-run. Try to take it slow and gradually sink into the interests and passions that you want to explore during this period.
3. Start integrating healthier habits in your routine.
It's easy to slack off and not be mindful of your habits, considering that this period will cause you to be feeling the peaks of your emotions. But this period paves way for you to develop a healthier lifestyle. While you're unoccupied with responsibilities from your coursework and still capable of changing your sleeping habits to a normalized routine, you should begin to integrate these activities. This will help you adjust with a better pacing once you enter college. Keep a journal and retain these customs.
4. Learn more tips on studying and researching smarter.
What type of learner are you? If you're a proactive and visual one, using cue cards will help you. If you prefer memorization and repetition, writing things down consistently will be beneficial. If you had issues back in college when it came to studying, you can know try to learn more valuable skills from other people. If you can boil down tips that'll help you, you would make yourself an efficient learner for your college courses-a critical skill when you're a few semesters in your program with an upcoming major exam that covers twenty different chapters.
5. Yes, you can contact professors early.
Are you curious regarding the coursework? Have you skimmed through your curriculum and still uncertain about its content? Do you want to know what to study ahead of time? This may be-for good reason-too much for some people. But, in general, professors would perceive this enthusiasm and interest as a positive trait. If you show a lot of fervor for your program, you'll manage to subtly gain leverage with studying tips directly from the source of the program.
6. Socialization will help you integrate.
Being a freshman in college is an exhilarating period of your life. At this point, most people have just moved in. There's no better time in your life to reestablish and connect with other people than this moment. Consider college as your clean slate. Whether it's through attending orientation seminars or bumping into people in the corridors of your dormitory, socializing will help you get the comfort of having a family far from your home.
7. Join organizations early.
If you're uncertain of what path you want to partake in the future, joining organizations will help you expand your skill sets. You'll be able to gain more experience in a variety of fields; this will help you broaden your horizon even more so when it comes to determining career paths. If you enter an organization and fall out, the exposure that you would gain from it in the first place will be beneficial for you.
8. Get out of your comfort zone.
I know you have repeatedly heard of this, but hear me out: staying in your comfort zone will stagnate your personal growth. If you were quite inactive and passive during your high school days, then this will be your chance to have your breakthrough. Want to learn a new skill? Go for it! So, there's an opportunity for you to go on an exchange program on the other side of the world? Why not try? Not only will these experiences nurture you internally, but they also look interesting in your resume.
9. Study hard but have fun.
I'm not saying disregard your transcript, ditch classes for day drinking, and party all night long. It's essential to ensure that you are able to take care of your mental health during this critical and yet exciting period. One way for you to make this certain is through still having fun while studying hard. You can follow a reward system: every time you finish a long paper for a tedious class, give yourself a bit of treat and hang out with your friends. This will help you incentivize yourself.
10. It's okay to take your time with choosing your major.
You don't need to have your whole life figured out. It may feel as though these huge changes are all crashing in at the same time-still, avoid fretting and panicking. While there are people who feel as though they need to have a precise outline of their entire life at the age of 18, this is not applicable to all and is surely not realistic. It's better to move around a bit, figure out what field you want to dedicate your time in, and then spend more time unraveling the puzzle. Even if you have chosen a program and change your mind about it, you're entitled to do so.
Treat this transition as a refreshing moment in your life. There's not a lot of milestones that you're going to go through-cherish this one. Make your transition smoother by listening in on these techniques.