Whether you’re a first-year student or one class away from graduation, college can be overwhelming. You’re having to create and maintain a balance between your course load, social life, and work schedule, and keep your mental health afloat. It’s a lot to say the least, and you’ve probably scoured the internet for ways to make it all a little more manageable. While we don’t have the answers for everything, here are a few ways to ensure that this is your most successful semester yet.
Always go to class. This may seem like a given, but it’s far too easy to fall into the “as long as I show up for exams I’m good” mentality. I can assure you, if you’re only showing up to class for exams, your grade (and probably your mental health) is not good. You never know when your instructor will drop hints for finals, or decide to give out extra credit. Plus, you’ll be far less stressed when you actually know what to study for. Not everything in your textbook is going to be covered on your exams. Don’t spend unnecessary time studying irrelevant material; just show up for class.
Get a tutor. Getting a tutor doesn’t make you look dumb. Not getting one when you actually need help does. No one is going to give you a hard time for taking whatever measures necessary to ensure you pass your classes. If they do, just remember it’s your grade not theirs.
Register for classes ASAP. There is nothing worse than having to take a filler class just because the one you actually need filled up before you got to it. Coalinga Collegeoffers year-round registration. Take advantage of it and register for a whole year’s worth of courses at once to ensure you aren’t wasting time or money.
Get involved. If you have the opportunity to choose between taking an extra course or getting involved on campus, always get involved. You can take every course your school has to offer but that time in the classroom won’t help you if you graduate with no experience or knowledge of how to cultivate meaningful, professional relationships.
Explore your new community. Don’t spend 2 – 4 years in one place and leave knowing nothing about it. Get involved in your community too. Go to community events, support local businesses, and find out what makes your new home unique.
Do the best you can to make the most out of your time at school, because the opportunity won’t be here forever.