You’re in college, congrats! The coming fall promises so much fun and joy – exciting new classes, great pastimes with your new friends, and a whole new lot of activities you didn’t try at school. So, what to try when at college and how to prioritize your time?
#1 Study
Sure, this piece of advice may seem too dull to follow. But college is about studies, after all, and failing a course may quickly deprive you of all the fun college offers. So, to stay afloat and to enjoy the benefits of college sports and social activities, you need to study well. Some golden tips for successful studies are studying regularly, planning your assignment work in advance, and taking notes during classes. These seem primitive, but you’ll be stunned to find out how often modern students ignore the basics of practical studies and waste time doing double work.
#2 Take Regular Tours across the City
This recommendation applies to those who move to a new city for studies, especially those who used to live in a small town and now get to a state capital or a large urban center. You must explore the city and study its cultural highlights, city wonders, and hidden corners to embrace the local culture! Such tours can help you understand whether you wish to stay here after studies and serve as invaluable experiences in terms of learning your new home. Even if you plan to return home after college, you’ll bring the memories of the city where you studied back with you.
#3 Spend a Night Out
Studying all the time is hard and tedious, so make sure to diversify your time as much as possible. Having fun occasionally isn’t a crime; for busy students tearing themselves apart most of the time, it’s a necessity instead. Variants of having fun are plentiful, including a movie night out, attendance of a concert, a theater play, or an exhibition of a famous artist. In large cities, many festivals and fairs are held depending on the season of the year, so you’ll always have some public events to attend. Don’t waste your time by depriving yourself of new experiences and emotions; a night out may become an excellent refresher for a couple of days of ardent studies.
#4 Do Sport
Engaging in sports activities on campus is a great ticket to professional sports. If you’re heading to a pro sports career, don’t underestimate the resources that college gives you. Most colleges invest heavily in the development and promotions of sports activities, and many pro players started in college to rise to the top of the US and global sports ratings. Even if you’re not ready to invest the time and energy into sports at a professional level, still don’t ignore the numerous facilities on campus, available for free or at a minimal fee to students. Do some yoga or an occasional workout in a local gym to stay healthy, and you’ll have more energy for studies than you thought.
#5 Make Friends with Peers
College is a social space, and you’re likely to get exposed to a large number of new people there. You’ll attend different classes with different groups of people; you’ll meet new friends in the dorm and at the library. You’re most likely to get acquainted with some new people in social or hobby clubs, as well as when doing sports. So, be open and be yourself to survive and make friends with your folks. Remember, you can’t be super-good to everyone. As time goes by, you’ll find good friends with similar tastes, values, and preferences – who knows; maybe these are your friends for a lifetime?
#6 Try Several Part-Time Jobs
Most students look for part-time work in college as they need to finance their household expenditures, pay for the tuition or rent, and have some spare cash for a Friday pizza. Even those who receive some money from parents try to start working in college to embrace the ins and outs of adult life. So, part-time jobs are commonplace. But you probably didn’t know that you can make more than just money on a part-time job; one way to kill two birds with one stone is to choose a job in line with your major. In this way, you’ll get practice together with studies, including years of part-time employment, in your resume after graduation. If you can’t find a job within your area of studies, then it’s a good idea to find a place where you can do the homework during work (e.g., working at the library desk or as a gym administrator). Such work will become a great time-saver.
#7 Apply for an Internship Program Abroad
We all plan to travel and see the world after the studies are over, and we earn our first serious money. But the times change, and family, children, or career growth could take all the time you reserved for traveling. Thus, take your time to travel and see the world while you’re still in college. Apply for internship programs abroad and spend a semester or two in other countries to get acquainted with a different culture, to learn a new language, and to tick that “travel” point in your bucket list.
#8 Sleep
Coming to the end of our list, we can’t help mentioning the most precious asset and the most favorite activity of students. On those hectic days filled with work, study, and fun, you may lack high-quality sleep severely. Don’t underestimate the regular, adequate sleep schedule as chronic sleep shortage may cause serious health problems. Just keep in mind that once you spend several sleepless nights, it’s imperative to reserve a day or two for recovery.
Here you go with the top activities for all students. Enjoy your student life, and have fun!