Tips to Survive College

by Sarah Scrafford


Statistic from the American College of Testing (ACT) show that 25 percent of college students drop out before their sophomore year is up and that nearly 50 percent of all freshmen either leave for good before obtaining a degree or transfer to another school. While the figures are alarming, they are a true reflection of the inability of American youngsters to cope with the pressures of college. It’s not that hard though, not if you prepare yourself to work hard and determine to face anything that comes your way. Here are a few pointers for those ready to take their first steps into the portals of a university:

1. Get organized as soon as you arrive. Familiarize yourself with the places on campus and attend as many orientation classes as you can.

2. Do not schedule back-to-back classes if you can help it.

3. Make it a point to attend classes regularly, even if they’re early in the morning.

4. Do not get into the habit of skipping lectures.

5. Take notes in class and spend time after class going over what you wrote in class, editing it and preparing it to help you study during exams.

6. Familiarize yourself with the library on campus and other sources of research and study material.

7. Get to know the people in your living accommodation.

8. Set aside a place exclusively for your study needs, somewhere quiet where you can concentrate and prepare for the next day’s class or the exam coming up.

9. Talk to your professors and get to know them at the start of term.

10. Use a planner to help you remember when assignments and papers are due.

11. Start planning for a career right from your freshman year.

12. Talk to your guidance counselor on a regular basis.

13. Sign up for activities, clubs, fraternities, and sports so that you’re not lonely and homesick.

14. Get to know at least some of the people in each of your classes so you’re not at loose ends when you need extra study material or help before an important exam.

15. At the same time, make sure these extra curricular activities do not take precedence over your lessons and classes.

16. Eat healthy right from the word go. If not, it’s very easy to slip into a junk food-soda routine that will kill your figure and wellness.

17. Set aside time at least three times a week for a physical workout even though you are not into games or sports of any kind.

18. Set up a study group if you’re not too sure of studying on your own. Combined or group study is sometimes more effective and motivating when you need to follow a tight schedule.

19. Watch your money closely – it certainly does not grow on trees when you’re in college. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up deep in debt even before you’re done with your freshman year.

20. Get to know the college shuttle routes and timings so you save yourself a lot of time walking from one class to another.

21. If you’re depressed and lonely, seek professional help which is often available on campus.

22. And last but not the least, work really hard, and you’ll find that you have the time and inclination to party just as hard. It’s very easy to lose focus in college because for the first time in your life, you do not have parents and teachers breathing down your neck to see if you’re studying or not. The onus is on your shoulders once you set foot on campus, so be responsible and put your grades before anything else.


This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of university of phoenix rating. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25atgmail.com

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