Some students enter college knowing exactly what they want in terms of a career. Others have a general idea, but they find it stressful and a little intimidating to make a choice that will have such a big impact on their future.
In truth, the biggest mistake you can make when
choosing a college major is rushing into a decision before you're ready. It's a good idea to take some time to explore the options before you take a plunge.
Different students are motivated by different factors. Some students survey the job market and choose a field that is likely to pay off financially. Others "play the field" by taking elective courses until they find a field that just feels right.
If you're starting to think about declaring a college major, you can start with
this personality quiz. It can get help you think about jobs that may fit your own personal traits. If you start to feel stressed out about making this decision, you might want to tap in to a trusted resource: ask your parents to help you through the process. Sometimes their wisdom really does pay off.
The first few weeks of college are filled with new discoveries and new friends. This can be one of the most exciting and enjoyable times of your life--but there can be a down side to the fun if you’re not careful.
Many students are caught off guard when they suddenly face that first big science test or they discover a big research paper deadline is coming up fast. Reality sets in and, for many students, the stress levels go up!
You can avoid much of the anxiety that comes from the educational requirements of college with a few simple methods.
Get organized with a task diary. You can work wonders with a simple note pad and a pencil.
Pinpoint your best learning style. You’ll be surprised to find out how much easier it is to retain information when you tap in to your natural strengths.
Is the cost of college putting a major cramp in your lifestyle? If you’re starting to feel the squeeze, you should know that you have some options when it comes to padding your bankroll (other than your parents). You certainly don’t have to sit back and accept the
basic resources reported by the Financial Aid Office!
One of the first things you’ll notice in college is the energy that you’ll put into things that once came easy—like reading your textbook. Don’t be surprised if you open your textbook for English 101 and it doesn’t seem like English at all. Your college texts can be daunting at first, but there are ways to prepare for the challenge. For instance, you’ll soon learn to
become a more critical reader with a little practice, in order to pick up on the relevant points more quickly. It’s a survival technique that every student develops.
You can do yourself a favor and become familiar with your college library ahead of time--before it happens by necessity (or emergency). Get to know where they keep the scholarly journals and learn how to conduct an article search. This way you won't get stuck trying to figure it out late one night with a due date looming. You might gain an upper hand on your classmates!
Another way you can prepare for the higher standards you’ll find in college is to discover your best learning style. This will help you tap into your strengths and make the most of every study session.
Get used to the idea that you’re going to have to put a little more effort into your studies. If you take measures to live up to the great expectations now, you’ll avoid a lot of stress in the long run.
You may not have expected to get melancholy about your big lumpy mattress, your mom, or your kid brother, but it happened anyway--right out of the blue--about the second week of classes when all the college newness wore off.
If you're starting to feel lonely about now, you might think you're being weird, but you're actually being pretty normal. But there's no need to fret about it; there are lots of ways to battle the blues. Why not go shopping with your mom to find some new comfort items for your dorm? A big puffy comforter might make a world of difference.
If you're not into shopping, you can use technology to stay in touch with friends and family back home. You can send IMs, texts, and emails from anywhere, or you could get a little adventurous and set up a wiki page for keeping in touch.
Homesickness can be a very lonely feeling, but you must remember that it is only temporary. Soon you'll make so many new friends and get involved in so many activities and you’ll be back to your old, free-spirited, detached self again in no time!
One of the most rewarding courses you can take in college is a foreign language course. Some experts say that studying a language helps to develop your intellect--it sort of programs your brain by encouraging you to think in new patterns.
But besides all that stuff--a foreign language makes you look cool. You'd seem pretty impressive when ordering from a French menu on a date, wouldn't you? And just image how you'd impress your friends by speaking the local language when you’re traveling oversees as a group. Foreign language proficiency is a skill you will use for the rest of your life.
Learning is individual, and everyone learns best in a slightly different way. If you’re struggling in French class, you might need to adjust your approach. Our Guide to French Language shares some great ideas for learning and helps you avoid the most common mistakes.
Prefer German? You can also find the 10 most common mistakes made by beginning German language students.
No matter which foreign language you choose for your studies, you will enrich your life when you put your skills to work. The benefits are simply endless!
Now that you’ve met your new roommate, decorated your dorm, and made new friends, it’s time to start thinking about your classes. Don’t let your new sense of freedom keep you from your serious work. After all—you want to stay in college, don’t you?
This doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. It just means that you have to balance your schedule to include a healthy mix of fun time and study time. The best way to begin is by selecting a great planner.
Another good way to strike a balance is by using a task diary to assess how well you’re organizing your time now. You’ll be surprised how much time you spend doing nothing at all!
Once you gain a clear understanding of your needs, you’ll be able to make the most of your class time and your free time.
Another great skill you will acquire in college is the ability to become a more critical reader. As you develop the ability to read with purpose, you’ll get more out of your text—and avoid the trap of reading a passage over and over to grasp its meaning.
Ready for some alarming news? Studies have shown that more than 70 percent of high school students have experienced “blurred vision” when it comes to recognizing behavior that constitutes cheating. High school students in great numbers admit to using sources that they don’t cite—and worse.
True, this isn’t a nice subject to talk about, but it is a subject you should think about, and one that could either destroy or safeguard your future. Why? Dangerous habits like failing to cite a source on a term paper, buying a paper, and even revealing test questions to other students can be lethal to a college career.
There can be many reasons why students cheat in the first place. The important thing to know is that cheating is different in college. In college, the students are adults, and cheating becomes a very serious (and perhaps legal) issue. It can really destroy your dreams for many years. Why take a chance like that?
To be fair, it can be difficult at times to know what really constitutes cheating. If you’re confused, you might want to try taking the secret cheating quiz to determine if you need to make some big changes in your habits!
It’s true, as you communicate with old friends through emails and IMs, you’ll discover that your relationships will change dramatically. You’ll find that some friendships live on and become even stronger, because they were based on real compatibility to start with. At the same time you’ll see that others will end—and you’ll realize that that’s OK, really.
Why? You will start to re-examine and prioritize your relationships. Sometimes you’ll discover that those fading friendships were based on superficial things that you valued in high school. And your priorities change in college.
The good news is that you end up with a brand new set of people in your life who really share your likes and concerns. As you blend old and new relationships, you are able to fine-tune your support system and start your adult life with bonds that can truly last a lifetime.
I know you're itching to run out and buy great television for your dorm, but that’s the sort of purchase you should put off for just a little while—at least until you meet with your roommate and talk it over. You don't want to end up with two TVs in one room! Besides, if you're like most students, you may need to save up for other expensive equipment.
As a matter of fact, those electronic items can put a real dent in the dorm budget, so you’ll want to make each purchase carefully. Before buying a laptop or PC, you might want to try the computer compatibility quiz to determine what type of computer is best for your needs. For many students, a laptop is not necessary. For others, a PC can take up too much desk space.
Some students find that personal digital assistants (PDAs) are the most important technology for a successful start in college. They really are priceless when it comes to keeping track of to-do lists, schedules, addresses, and more. Some even come with added entertainment value and the ability to compose and send email.
I know it can be tempting to rush into a big purchase. But it can also be costly!
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