Going to college changes your life. You take your first steps into the adult world and you begin to have many more responsibilities. There is no secret to being successful, but here are some tips on how to do your best.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: The Study
Step 1. Don't procrastinate.
If you do everything regularly, you will pass every exam. However, you will have to learn to be autonomous: there will be no more professors who will tell you what to do, so start taking the initiative.
- Get incentive to study. Celebrate or gift yourself after passing an exam or study program.
- Plan ahead. It is possible to combine social and academic commitments if you organize yourself once a week in a realistic way with respect to the time you can dedicate to each activity. If you like to go out every night, you don't need to lock yourself up just because you have to go to class the next day. Attend classes regularly, take notes and study day by day. In the evening, go out for a bit to relax, concentrating on longer rides on the weekend.
Step 2. Passionate about something
Always remember your goals and plans. College is another step on the ladder to professional success.
Step 3. Enroll in a faculty you like but take the opportunity to also learn something different to broaden your horizons
- In today's business world, it is essential to have more than one ability to improve your know-how and your competitive advantage.
- Speaking more than one language and knowing how to deal with information technology will allow you to have an extra advantage.
Step 4. Talk to other students but don't be swayed by their views on the university and professors
Everyone has a different experience.
Step 5. Talk to teachers to enrich your education and network of acquaintances
- Go and visit them during reception hours. Talk about your ideas and methodologies that you can't understand and make yourself known. Surely this will also help you to be appreciated by the teacher and to pass the exam with a better grade.
- Look for a mentor, someone who can guide you and build a deep bond with you, giving you advice and helping you choose and find a job after graduation. Don't underestimate this opportunity, especially if you dream of a career in research.
Step 6. Establish good study habits
We don't all learn the same way. Some people need television or background music, others need total silence; some like to study in groups, while others like to study alone. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How long does it take to learn a concept?
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What kind of student are you?
- An "auditory" student. You learn by listening and you understand better when they explain a theory to you orally instead of reading it.
- A "visual" student. You learn by watching graphics, reading or watching a demonstration.
- A "kinesthetic" student. You learn by touching and by action.
- What time of day do you work best?
Step 7. Determine your academic purpose, which should not be influenced by the people around you or by clichés
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Socialize
Step 1. College friendships are unforgettable and last a lifetime
Don't be scared, approach your new mates and establish a good relationship with your roommates too.
Step 2. Also attend other courses organized by the university or an external course and participate in events, such as exhibitions, concerts, etc
You will meet people with similar interests to yours.
Don't lock yourself in a bunch of people. Always try to meet new people but don't forget your real friends
Step 3. Go to parties
Who said that academic success depends only on the grades and credits obtained each year? Each party will allow you to have fun if you go there with the right people.
- If they invite you to someone's house, don't get confused and bring something to drink. Occasionally, organize a party in your home too. But first make sure your roommates don't have any problems.
- Having a few drinks is normal, but try to avoid drugs. Many kids believe that it is part of the university experience to consume drugs, but in reality you can have fun even with little. Either way, the choice is up to you.
Step 4. Practice safe sex
In college, many people boast of their achievements. The truth is that students have far less frequent intercourse than those they claim to have. A study done at Columbia looked at a group of young people and found that the majority of participants had only a couple of partners, some only one. Another research carried out in one month reported that the students interviewed did not have any sexual relations in that period of time.
- Always protect yourself. If you're a girl, don't expect your partner to take care of it. Buy condoms, which are 98% effective in preventing both unwanted pregnancies and STDs, and if you want, add another method of contraception. Don't have sex if the other person doesn't want to use any protection. Getting HIV, herpes, or another STD is easy and only one intercourse is enough. And if the excitement wears off after a while, the viruses hardly cure themselves.
- Alcohol can cloud judgment and lower inhibitions, increasing the chances of having sex with someone you wouldn't even consider when sober.
- Debunking the myths about sex:
- The contraceptive pill protects against sexually transmitted diseases. False. The only safe method in this case is the condom.
- You cannot get pregnant during your period. False.
- You cannot get pregnant if you are a virgin and it is your first time. False. You still have a 5% chance of staying that way.
- The contraceptive pill is effective from the first day of taking. False. You should wait at least a month for it to become one.
- The right diet to follow includes the intake of proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Do not consume too many fizzy drinks or eat candies and anything that contains simple carbohydrates or saturated fats. You will have more energy and you will not get sick.
- Exercise is miraculous - it helps you burn fat, build muscle, lower cholesterol, relieve stress and sleep better. Join a team, go to the pool or gym or walk 30 minutes a day.
- Sleep well. It has been shown that students who have sleep disorders and stay up late tend to have lower academic performance than those who rest well.
- Monthly income: 1300 euros.
- Rent: 600 euros.
- Food: 250 euros.
- Books and stationery: 100 euros.
- Bills: 200 euros.
- Various and any: 150 euros.
- To stay healthy, you need to do five things: 1) Eat healthy, 2) Exercise, 3) Relax, 4) Be optimistic, and 5) Get enough sleep.
- Don't stay up late to study or have fun unless you can catch up the next day.
- Really learn what you study, don't memorize everything just to pass exams. This type of study might work at school, but not at university.
- Sit in a comfortable seat for class.
- If you are taking a written exam, find out if you can see the old ones.
- Procrastination only works for those who are innately able to handle the pressure and finish their tasks at the last minute. If you are not like that, don't take the risk.
- Read first. If you know a course program, read what the professor will explain next time. Thus, you will understand better and be able to ask questions in class.
- If you don't understand something, ask the teacher for help during office hours and the tutor.
- Don't lose sight of who you are and what you want to become.
- Always practice, whatever your faculty. Practice what you learn.
- Does your head go elsewhere with ease? Minimize distractions when studying.
- Buy used books or borrow them from the library to save money.
- Study in connection with the course process, not just before the exam. Many students concentrate the entire program in one week of study, but then they become unnecessarily stressed and there is nothing left after they finish.
- There are so many things you will learn about yourself and mistakes you will make, however much you try to follow all the advice that you have been given.
- Don't be afraid of mistakes, but treasure them.
- The advice given in this article is general and based on pure observation as well as first-person experiments, do not consider it pedagogical or idealistic, born with the purpose of restricting your free will. By the way, everyone reacts differently. For example, if you feel more productive after drinking gallons of coffee and eating tons of gummy candies or if you prefer to study at night, go to class in the morning and sleep in the afternoon, that's okay. Of course, it is not recommended from a health point of view, but you decide how to live.
Step 5. Try not to eat alone, either at home or in the canteen
However, if you prefer, there is nothing wrong with that. Meal time is an opportunity to build your university network and to make friends and establish future business contacts. Don't miss any opportunities. Studying is important, but you also need to know how to relate to others.
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Health, Safety and Finance
Step 1. Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep
Learn to balance work, fun, and everything in between. But most importantly, think about your health:
Step 2. Visit the university health center if you have any questions or concerns
If they provide vaccines, condoms, and professionals who can help you, take advantage of them.
Step 3. If you went to study in another city, do not venture into dangerous areas and be careful when you come home late
Keep the number of carabinieri and police close at hand and find out about the crime rate in the area.
Step 4. Make a note of your expenses
It is during college that we learn how to manage our money. Be aware of your income and expenses. Write down everything and then evaluate accordingly how much to spend and how much to save. Of course, don't spend more than you earn. Here is an example of a budget:
Step 5. Apply for the scholarship
Ask the secretariat of your university and search the internet for the regional body that deals with financial aid to students.
Step 6. If the money isn't enough or you can't get the scholarship, look for a part-time job
It is rare that the universities themselves offer it, but ask. Otherwise, opt for one that doesn't take you too long. The best would be to deal with something related to your studies. Either way, whatever job you find, you will learn.
This is one of the reasons why it is worthwhile to have a mentor: this figure could help you find a job
