With school back in session I figured now would be a great time for some tips on how to make your semester awesome!
1. Go to office hours.
Office hours is the designated time that your professor sets aside to answer your questions. You can also use this time to get to know your professor. Find out what their grading standards are, if they offer extra credit, how much homework they will assign, and what you can do to get the best grade you possibly can in their class. At first it might be uncomfortable, but teachers remember their students. They pay attention to who sits in the front of the class, who attends office hours, and who answers their questions in class. Bonus points: If you get to know a teacher in your major really well, they may be able to help you network and also give you an awesome recommendation.
Alternative: If you aren't comfortable or can't go to office hours, email your teacher. You may be able to get a lot of what you need out of the syllabus, but it's always good to build some kind of a relationship with your teacher. They respect a student who puts in a tiny bit of extra effort.
2. Find a place to study.
Whether it be the library, bedroom, study hall, the forum, student union, or a friend's room; find that space! It is important to figure out how your mind focuses best and then to utilize that knowledge. If you know that you need quiet, go to the library and find a quiet room. Work best while talking to others? The student union, forum, study group, or a friend's room might be ideal. Or if you need quiet but don't mind some interruptions, your room could be perfect for you. Find that place and try figure out it quickly. It might take a little trial and error but once you're settled you will notice that
My Study Life: An app that keeps your schedule in one place. I prefer to write it down in a planner but I also like to have it available whenever I need it.
3. Eat and drink.
If your school is like mine, you'll figure out really fast that meals aren't exactly awesome all the time. To get around this, find out what will be served and when. I like to get each weeks meal plan and then figure out ahead of time what I'm going to eat. Do your body a favor and please eat! Sure you could use that extra time to sleep, but your body needs it. I have a horrible habit of putting off breakfast and lunch and so to get rid of that I bought a mini fridge/freezer for my dorm and a cooler for my backpack. That way I don't have to venture all the way to the caf for my meal.
My typical week
For breakfast: Bagel with peanut butter and a sliced banana around the top
Cheerios and an apple
Omelette with green peppers
Bagel with egg and cheese on top
Muffin with a banana
For lunch: Bologna and salami wrap with lettuce, spinach, and green peppers.
Ham/turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat bread
Chicken and cheese quesadilla
Sides: apple sauce, yogurt, salad, or fresh fruit
For dinner: Typically whatever they are serving that doesn't sound awful. I usually try to stay safe with pasta, a large salad, or soup. I'm super picky about the meat I eat so I usually try to keep away from it. Although, on Sunday nights the only thing served is hamburgers and I definitely get on board for that.
Water is also as equally important! I try to stay away from juices all of the time because even though fruit juices sound healthy and awesome, they are also packed with sugars. Carry a water bottle with you to class and do yourself a favor.
WaterIn: This app is awesome for monitoring your water intake! I've used it for awhile now and it definitely takes some remembering, but how cool is it to physically see how much water you've taken in?
Food Planner: Keeps your meal plan, grocery list, inventory, and recipe collection in one place. So helpful!
4. Rest.
Sure you have that test at 8 a.m. tomorrow and you've been studying your butt of for six hours already but you really could go over the flash cards 11 more times before you crash. But what is this really doing to your mind and body? You can only hold so much information and the more rest you give yourself after studying the better off you will be. And I mean, staying out until four a.m. sounds awesome but how much better will you feel if you get those couple extra hours of sleep? Your body and mind needs the rest so you should be kind to it.
Rainy mood: This site is my favorite go to when I can't sleep. The sound is soothing and you can even add background music to it.
5. Get involved.
Motivation will be one of your keys to doing well in college. What better way to stay motivated than to get involved on campus? Find a club, sport, or organization and get your butt in action! You'll meet new friends, try out something new, or help some people out.
Alternative: If school work is keeping you so busy that you find you don't have enough time for something like this, incorporate it into your school work! Start a study group instead or get to know the kids in your class! That way you're still involved but still have time to get all your work done.
Have a great year!
