It's an exciting time of year! The school year is coming to an end, it's the height of test-taking season, and many of our students are figuring out where they're going to college. With college in mind, I decided to ask my cousin, a Neuroscience/Behavioral Biology major/Dance & Movement Minor at Emory, what advice she had for incoming college freshman. Below are 5 tips she would give to any high school students getting ready for college:
Get to know your professors early
It can be intimidating to go to office hours, ask or answer questions in class, or sit at the front of the room, but you never know when you’ll need a letter of recommendation, and it is always much easier to get one from a professor that you already have a relationship with.
Quality over quantity
If you’re like me, your freshman year you will want to sign up for every club, sport, and activity that seems remotely interesting. This is good! Sign up for all the clubs and try them out, but make sure that you eventually narrow down your extracurricular activities to the ones that really make you excited and passionate, and the ones in which you may have leadership opportunities in the future. The quality of your experiences is much more important than the quantity!
Find a calendar system that works for you
Keep a detailed planner and put events/due dates in it as soon as you get them. I personally like to put events and reminders in my iCalendar because then they are accessible wherever I am, but if you need a physical planner to stay organized, get one and use it consistently!
Learn what study habits work for you
College classes are tough, and often what worked well for you in high school will not be enough to get good grades in college. My freshman year, I thought that studying with friends was a great idea, and it wasn’t until I tried studying in the library in a quiet room by myself that I realized how much more efficient I could be. Learn what study habits work for you and stick to them!
Take some 'Me Time"
College will be the busiest time of your life, and you will want to spend a lot of your free time with all of your new friends, but it is important that you also take time out of each week for self-care! Whether its going for a run, doing yoga, painting, going for a walk, or taking a bubble bath, find what relaxes you and take time to clear your head and rest. Learning how to deal with stress is SO important and will make you a happier, more successful person in the long run.