Written by Bryan Laprise
Are you soon heading off to college and looking for tips and tricks? Or are you simply planning ahead and wanting some advice? Well you're in the right place! I've spoken to two students that recently graduated from ETSB high schools—and are currently in college! Their tips and tricks span through different aspects of college life.
Without further ado, here are the tips and tricks to get you through your college years:
1. Go to open houses and do your research!
Get a feel of the space you might be heading into. Look at the campus, and visit the town in which the college is in. The internet comes in handy with this aspect, you can find so much information that might answer your questions regarding a school or program.
2. Choose the right program for you
To find the program for you, take a look at something you love, and see the courses available with a guidance counselor—that's their job! Maybe you can even meet people in the field you're thinking of entering. They can talk to you about it, and you can ask questions!
If it ever happens that the program you're in doesn't seem like the right fit for you, there's no shame in changing. It's your life, do what makes you happy.
3. Get a better look at finance and budgeting
In order to better manage your money, try to get a better look at finance and budgeting. There's many things to think of—groceries, rent, transportation, etc. You want to be able to better organize and plan your expenses.
4. Learn how to cook and take care of yourself
If you're planning on heading out on your own for college, it's important that you can take care of yourself. You won't have your parents reminding you of things you have to do anymore, so you have to make sure you know how to do things around the apartment. You have to know how to cook meals, do laundry, cleaning and much more.
Make sure you know how to cook healthy and balanced meals. By cooking for yourself, you'll save much more money than if you get take-out all the time, and you'll be healthier in the process.
Another important aspect of taking care of yourself is taking care of your "image". If you're doing an internship at a certain enterprise, whenever you're out in public, you have to act professionally as you never know if people will recognize you.
5. Make sure you can manage your time well
There's no use in hiding it: college is a lot more work than high school, so you have to know how to manage your time wisely. There are lots of assignments, and you have to make sure you're not procrastinating about getting them done. Teachers might be fine with giving you an extension once or twice, but they won't want to do it every time.
Most experts say that the best amount of time a college student should spend at their job throughout a week is 10-15 hours. Some students say that it's best to choose which time of the week you'd rather spend working—either during the week, or on the weekend—and not mix both. If you limit your time at your job, you'll be able to be more free to work on assignments, and to have fun with your friends. You might even be able to accumulate money by working during the summer!
6. Surround yourself with good people
College can be tough, so it's important to have friends who are there to support you during tough times. Friends can help you stay motivated, and remind you of assignments that you may have to complete.
Let's face it; college is a lot of work. But if you take these tips and tricks into consideration, it might be a bit more smooth-sailing.
Another thing that's important to know is that you don't have to be embarrassed if you need help. There are people who can provide support for that specific reason. You don't need to be shy if you need to hire a tutor if you're having a hard time in class. If you're having other troubles, you can talk to counselors,or someone at Student Services. There's no reason to feel embarrassed about needing help.
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