What was college like

On the other hand, one of the big benefits of college is meeting new kinds of people, so going outside your comfort zone might surprise you. If you are a gamester whiz, maybe a rock climbing class will open up a whole world for you. Even in bigger colleges, you will likely see the same people in your dining hall, dorms, and classes. Hanging out with students you meet in your dorm hallway is an easy way to make friends.

The important thing is to take that first step. Don't hole up in your room. Cut back on solitary amusements, such as computer games. Introduce yourself. Invite new friends out. Even something as simple as wearing a friendly face can get the ball rolling. It typically takes a semester or quarter to hit your stride. Looking back on those early days you may very well shake your head and wonder what all the fuss was about. You might even feel a little nostalgic! A few students, however, may feel overwhelmed and homesick for a while.

They may miss their parents, friends, even the family dog. They may find that going to college is not quite what they expected. Digital reminders are a good motivator for some students, while others like to keep a paper calendar on the wall of their dorm room. That way you stay on top of your work, keep your GPA up, and can still have a great time!

Brooke, a student in New York , says this:. But in college, not everyone goes to class. I think that the first step to success in school is going to class. Use your planner. You can check out our favorite digital and physical planners that will set you up for academic success in this article. Even if you didn't use a planner in high school, you'll need to get into the habit in college if you want to keep all of your assignments, due dates, and extracurricular activities straight.

In general, most college students will tell you that the only bad time management strategy is not having one at all! There will probably be at least a handful of times when you forget about a quiz or have to study at the last minute.

It happens to every college student sometimes! You just want to avoid making it a habit. While college can be tough, following our advice can make sure you don't feel like Grizzled Leonardo DiCaprio by the time you graduate. Since much of what college is like will be up to you, here are four tips for getting everything you can out of these four years of your life! We already mentioned this, but it's worth saying again: if you want to make the most of the time you have in college, get and use a planner.

Planning how to spend your time on a daily and weekly basis is key to your overall success. Budgeting your time well allows you to really enjoy your leisure time too. When you're on top of your schedule, you don't have to stress out about when you'll do your homework or if you'll have a few hours to relax. You'll already have those things mapped out! Keeping up with a planner takes consistency and commitment, but the time and stress it will save you is worth it in the grand scheme of your college experience.

One of the best things about college life is the chance to be a part of a community of peers in a place that is totally dedicated to facilitating a positive experience for you. Pursuing extracurricular activities and attending social events on campus is the best way to meet new people, make friends, and find people to make memories with during college.

When you get to know your dorm neighbors, chat with the person sitting next to you in class, or strike up a convo with the person in line behind you at a coffee shop, you open yourself up to new knowledge, new relationships, and powerful memories from your college years. It may be tempting to go home to visit old friends every weekend or hide out in your room, especially at the beginning of college, but taking the plunge and allowing yourself to dive into the newness of college will help you feel more invested in making it a positive experience.

Most students want to do well in their classes and make good grades, but it can be hard to feel motivated if it seems like everyone around you is somehow always out having fun instead of hitting the books.

Though it might be a drag at the time, working hard on a consistent basis --especially early in the semester--will make the academic side of your college experience less painful in the long run. When you pay attention in class, show up consistently, and study hard, you save yourself from having to retake courses, pull all-nighters during finals week, or beg your professors for extra credit at the end of the semester. You've probably realized that college can be pretty dang awesome.

We agree! Now it's time to focus on getting in. This article will give you a general overview of the college application process.

You can learn even more about specific aspects of your application, like your admissions essays and entrance interviews , on our blog! We have tons of amazing resources for college hopefuls, so be sure to check it out. One of the keys to having a great college experience is picking a school that's right for you. The good news is that there are tons of colleges out there!

The bad news is that it can be hard to narrow the field down. Learn more about how to choose your potential schools here. For some students, academics are the most important part of choosing their dream school. If that's the case for you, be sure to check out our guide to the top academic colleges in the United States. We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service.

We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process.

Ask questions; get answers. How to Get a Perfect , by a Perfect Scorer. You and your roommate will be so close. Everyone will be super friendly. College is like one big party. Loading Something is loading. Email address. College experience Evergreen story. The mental health support I have received has changed my life and has kept me going. I love everything about this college especially the community.

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