As the 2017-2018 school semesters come down to the final months, many seniors like Jessica Baker are finding the transition to college to be not so smooth.
photo by Lacey Watt
“I find the transition very overwhelming because there's so much to do,” Baker said.
In order to make the move to college as smooth as possible, here are some tips from Travis Mitchell, a writer from U.S. News, on how to do so.
Tip #1: Read as much as possible.
Learning on how and what to read can help in the near future when a college student is handed stacks of textbooks loaded with important information. Focus on main topics, and then create subtopics on important information that might be useful later. Reading can be considered an important first step into order have successful note taking skills.
Tip #2: Build social skills.
When someone goes outside of their comfort zone and build social skills, they are expanding their circles and getting to know various types of people. Expanding circles can allow access for people to more opportunities. Opportunities for students can include new classes, new clubs, and just overall new friend groups.
Tip #3: Learn proper time management.
Learning time management is a skill that can help organize someone’s day.
“Learning how to manage my time has helped me tremendously as I have stepped forward to continue my education,” Baker said.
Time management could include making lists of assignments or chores to do, and how they should be completed. Time sensitive assignments that are worth more may require more focus, so valuating all needs to be done and then ordering it could help with time management.
Tip #4: Get to know professors before classes start.
Getting to know professors before class can be helpful so when walking into a class there is at least a familiar face. Also when getting to know those who teach the class can help better prepare for how the class will be set up and what all it will involve. Getting to know the professors shows the care and effort prepared for the class.
Tip #5: Know where to go for academic help.
Knowing where to go before classes can help bypass the step of trying to figure out where to go before some huge assignment is due. Options at many colleges for academic help include the professor’s office hours, other students in the same classes, or students who are with a work study who are paid to help others.
