When you first start college, the academic side of your life isn’t pressured. It is unlikely that you will be given intensive essays to write in the early part of your college year, and any exams you will one day have to take will be some way into the future.
Plenty of time for partying, right?
Well, yes and no. While there is no harm in enjoying the benefits of the social side of college, you should still make an effort to get ahead of the curve with your academic life. By working hard early on, and by finding strategies to help you cope with your college work, you will make life easier for yourself.
Here are some ideas we hope you find useful.
#1: Create a study group
You will hopefully make a lot of friends at college anyway, but its important to find those people who won’t only boost your social life, but who will help you with your academic life too. So, look for those people you can buddy up with on the courses you are taking, and create a study group with them. This way, you will all be able to help one another, and problem-solve together the harder parts of the courses you are taking.
#2: Use the internet to find help
Not only can you delegate your writing assignment online – see here – but the internet is a great resource for finding the information you need. Through academic videos, online course guides, and perhaps even personal tuition from an online tutor, you have access to a wealth of material and support online. We came across Numerade, an excellent website that offers video solutions for difficult textbook questions relating to subjects such as maths and chemistry, for example. So if you’re struggling with trigonometry or dealing with mind-bending questions such as ccl4 polar or nonpolar on your chemistry course, you might want to bookmark this particular site. Consider an AP Physics Tutor because the consultation of a professional often helps you learn the crucial points, faster. Do the same for any other website that relates to the courses you are taking.
#3: Take care of your body and mind
Taking care of your health is essential in college, because if you are too tired and lethargic to concentrate on your studies, then your performance is obviously going to fall. So, as tempting as it might be to chow down on pizza with your friends at 2 in the morning, try to refrain from doing so. Go to bed at a sensible time so you are ready and alert for your studies the next day, and eat those brain foods that will make your study time easier. Be sure to exercise too, as the fitter you are, the more energised you will be to crack on with the work before you.
#4: Review your class notes weekly to see if they make sense to you
Don’t wait until the beginning of exam and essay-writing season to review your notes. If they make little sense to you, then you are obviously going to struggle. Instead, review them weekly, clarify anything you are unsure about with your course tutors if necessary, and write them up again in a way that makes sense to you. This way, you will be able to make reference to them when studying without having to scratch your head wondering what on earth you had written.
Conclusion
Studying is an essential part of college life, so don’t fall behind with bad habits and lack of support by your side. Use the tips we have given you today, and look for other advice online for tips on how best to carry out your studies.