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| [Spongebob-tired gif image]. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from: http://mashable.com/2013/10/07/tired-gifs/ |
1. Don't pull an all night cram session.
Staying up all night may sound appealing and productive when a test is looming overhead, but it's not. It's better to get up early and study in the morning. You function a lot better with a good night's sleep. Avoid staying up all night at all costs. If you MUST pull an all-nighter, eat oranges or apples instead of drinking caffeine, and almonds instead of power bars. These foods naturally keep you awake and you won't crash like you will with caffeine. In addition, try to get up and move around every twenty minutes to keep you from tiring. Remember that any sleep is better than no sleep, so if you get the chance to nap, take it.
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| [Cloudy with a chance gif]. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from: i.imgur.com/W1GDmgP.gif |
2. You don't need to raise your hand to go to the bathroom anymore.
A lot of silly and benign rules that were drilled into your head in high school no longer apply. Invariably someone will ask to go to the restroom during the first day of a class. Don't be that guy. You also may use your phone or computer during class but remember to use these freedoms at your own discretion. These are privileges, not rights, and can be revoked if you spend the entire class time in the bathroom, or snapchatting.
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| [High tuition meme]. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from: http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35aozh |
3. Go to class.
This is just a good general rule of thumb. You go to class, you learn the material, you pass the class, you don't waste your own time and money. Simple. There will always be people who only show up for test days. Don't be those people. Going to class will never hurt. Who knows? You might even learn something.
4. Talk to your professors.
Really. Your teachers don't enjoy failing people or yelling at students. If they did, they'd be a drill sergeants, not teachers. They're here to inform you. Remember that they're human, they're just as tired, and make mistakes too. If you have a problem with grading, be civil. Going to them to clear up an assignment can only help you, and you won't look stupid. Keep in mind that they're PAID to help you learn.
5. Find a way to de-stress .
School is hard, and stress will be in abundance during the majority of the semester. Whether it's hanging with friends, painting, playing an instrument, athletics or anything that floats your boat, use it to unwind when you can. Although binge-watching Netflix can feel so right, don't forget about getting active. Studies show that physical activity can help a TON with stressful situations. This doesn't mean you have to run a marathon. Playing frisbee, kayaking or anything that gets you moving can work just as well. In the end, it doesn't really matter as long as it helps you detox.
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6. Get them digits.
Get the numbers of a couple people in your class. That way you have a couple of contacts in case you miss class, or if you're unsure of an assignment. If you don't know something, odds are they do. You don't have to become best friends with these people but it helps to be able do discuss assignments and help clarify requirements. Also, it's always good to have someone to rely on in case something happens.
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| [Pen hoarder cartoon]. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from:http://www.igotstiffed.com/227/stop-stealing-my-pens/ |
7. Bring extra pens to exams.
This is a little tip, but bringing only one pen or pencil to an exam is one of the grave little mistakes you can make. Pencils break or get dull, and all sorts of horrific accidents happen with pens. Bring extras in case something happens so that you don't have to walk all the way down the lecture hall and grab a pen. This wastes valuable time, particularly if the test is timed.
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| Horan, M. (2013). Pacing cat [gif file], Retrieved April 30, 2014, from: http://mashable.com/2013/06/18/panic-gifs/ |
8. Find a way to prioritize.
One of the most important college skills is learning time management. Find a system that works for you; this may include trial-and-error, so prepare. If you are a visual learner, using a calendar may be the best tactic. If you have trouble focusing on which item to do first, create a hierarchy or to-do list. Different methods work better for different people.
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| [Cute bunny eating]. Retrieved April 31, 2014, from:http://www.stuffmakesmehappy.com/2013/06/30-cutest-baby-animal-gifs-ever.html |
9. Try to eat healthy.
Yes. Pop tarts are 80 cents at the vending machine.Yes, the vending machine is 20 feet from your class. Yes. Pop tarts are delicious, but that's not license to eat pop tarts for lunch every day. Eating poorly is cheap and easy, but it can affect your mental state as much as it can physically. Healthy food is brain food, and you operate optimally when on a balanced diet. You can also avoid the dreaded "freshman fifteen" this way.
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| [Kanye runaway gif]. Retrieved April 31, 2014, from bright futura.com |
10. Know where your classes are ahead of time.
Nothing is worse than walking into class, sitting down and realizing that you're in the wrong class five minutes into the lecture. Not only are you now lost and humiliated, but you're late for your other class. Look up your week at a glance from SAIL online before the first day, and have an idea where each building is before you go. That way you're not sprinting through the spine trying to get to class. If you have a large lecture class, come in a little early to get a good seat and to find some friends from a previous triad or class.
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| [Kardashian gif]. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from: http://www.likeable.com/blog/2013/07/10-reasons-you-should-consider-gif-marketing/ |
11. Make friends
Not only are friends great, but they can help you de-stress. College is no fun without a little, well, fun! And it's good to make friends wherever you go. You don't just have to meet your friends in class: you can meet them off-campus, in campus events or organizations. Having a buddy who's got your back feels good, and it feels good for them to know you've got theirs. Making friends is a part of the whole college experience. It's part of the whole life experience, really.
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| [Spongebob and patrick gif]. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from: http://mrwgifs.com/patrick-spongebob-freak-out-run-in-circles/ |
12. Start work ahead of time
No one likes staying up late to work on an assignment they put off, and changing the date on the final copy doesn't fool the teachers into thinking you did it a week before. Now, you don't have to do the assignment three months ahead of time and be a precrastinator, but don't wait until the last minute. It's a lot of extra stress and histrionics that can easily be avoided by time management and prioritizing.
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| [Let it go gif]. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from: calypso31.deviantart.com |
13. Realize you can't control everything.
The Frozen cliche is necessary. Realize that you can't control every grade you get in college and that's okay. Some things are out of your realm of influence. This one goes out to all the perfectionists out there. Sometimes editing ten times for a two page paper isn't necessary. If you've worked hard on a paper and it's the best you can do, let it go.
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| [HvZ logo]. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from: https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/556663_10151622171108375_1765598494_n.jpg |
14. Humans vs. Zombies
Worth it. Every time.
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| [Up gif]. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from: http://www.keesvandijkhuizen.com/post/8099490610/adventure-is-out-there-up-2009 |
