Going to college can be such an exciting period of your life, you’ll meet new people, study whatever you have chosen to and get yourself one step closer to your career. For many of us, it’s also the first time that we live apart from our parents, and with that newfound independence can come a lot of benefits and consequences. If you’re heading off to college later this year, or still in your first year of college, these 4 handy tips for surviving college will help make your college experience easier.
1. Work While in College
If you can work while in college, then you’re going to be able to make a substantial dent in your fees. While student loans are always an option, the reality is most of us have never borrowed a sum of money comparable with a student loan before. It can actually be very hard starting your working life with such a big debt. That’s why I suggest if you can work during college it’s a very sensible idea. Even a few hours a week can make a difference in terms of how much money you’ll have to borrow overall. If you can’t find a job locally, you could consider working online like perhaps freelance writing for the Best SEO Company in North America or through Upwork.com. A little extra money will go a long way to minimising debt and making the rest of your life easier.
2. Take Time to Relax
Many college students feel overwhelmed with the new workload and find themselves struggling to fit everything in from the additional assignment load to the big social life. Even though there’s a lot of fun to be had at college, it’s also important to take time for yourself and down time to ensure that you have energy to fit everything in. Many college students fall into the trap of pulling all nighters, and going to class having barely slept. There are many ways you can relax, but some ideas include going to the gym, walking around, or even herbal options like you can find here.
3. Expect to Get Homesick
If you’ve moved half way across the country or world for college, then you’re probably living far away from your parents for the first time ever. This can be a pretty substantial adjustment, especially if you’re not able to visit home often, it can make everything feel a lot worse. Thankfully we’re living in the digital age and you can easily use Skype to keep in touch with friends and family back home. I think knowing that a wave of homesickness is likely to hit you when all the fun of being somewhere new has faded is helpful. It’s a part of the process, but it usually tends to get better around month 4 or 5.
4. Have Fun
Many people consider their college years to be the best of their life. It’s important to make time to meet new people, try new things and even travel to new places if your college allows. I highly suggest doing an exchange year overseas if there’s something like that for your program. Although it might not feel like it at the time, college will go fast so do your best to savour each second, even the tedious exams!
These are my tips for surviving college. Do you have any other tips you want to share? Let me know in the comments below.
