When you get to college, most things, including classes, teachers, and even your study habits, might appear different. It’s a new world where you’re expected to take care of yourself, manage your time and be responsible for your happiness and success.

The good news is that there are some things you can do to help make your transition from high school to college easier. It’s time to break the “Freshman Rules” familiar to most high school students and discover a few new rules that will lay a foundation for a successful future in college. These things will make all the difference when it comes time for study groups or exams, which will help you focus on learning in lectures instead of catching up on lost sleep.

1. Attend Your Classes

College classes have a lot of small, discrete activities that can be challenging to keep up with, like group projects or group presentations, outlining, reading and researching texts, and listening to lectures online. If you’re not in class, there’s a strong chance you’ll miss something important.

Attending your scheduled classes will help you maximize your learning experience by staying sharp and alert. You can achieve this in various ways, including keeping a schedule for yourself and your roommate.

Since students often have different schedules, it’s crucial to coordinate when you’ll meet and study together. Be sure you have time in between classes to study and prepare for your next class while avoiding the feeling of being rushed during those final hours before the next class starts.

2. Join a Study Group

If you’re a student with good study habits joining a study group might be an excellent way to go. This is better than cramming or using your time to study alone, especially when trying to learn something challenging.

If you have a study partner, you’re more likely to get the material down and just as important, you’ll enjoy it more. Additionally, meeting other students in your class will help you get used to interacting with others outside of your comfort zone in a new environment. This way, you’ll be better prepared to study and form relationships with other students outside your study group.

3. Find a Comfy Apartment

Freshman housing or dorms can be very noisy, especially if you have a roommate who always brings friends home. While this may not be the case for all freshman dorms, it’s a good idea to consider finding a place to live that is private and offers ample privacy when you need it.

If your preferred location is close to campus, you might consider renting an apartment instead of living in a dorm. This way, you won’t have to think about things like meal plans or dealing with strict housing rules. You can consider finding an apartment close to campus and signing a lease for the entire year. For example, Over-The-Rhine luxury apartments offer a variety of upscale apartments and condos for rent.

4. Procrastination Kills

Many college students face the problem of procrastination, which impacts their grades and their ability to get things done. The best thing you can do is avoid it in the first place by scheduling time for studying and working on assignments.

When you’re procrastinating because the assignment is complex, break it down into smaller parts and tackle it. Setting goals is an essential part of time management, which is another crucial factor for success in college.

As a freshman, it’s to your benefit to start early. Set goals for yourself and write them down so you can track progress toward those goals while motivating yourself to keep going and achieve them. These goals include finishing an assignment on time or performing well on a test or exam.

Work toward achieving small goals to keep your momentum going and gain confidence. Every time you accomplish a goal, you’ll be able to celebrate for a little while, giving you the courage to keep working hard toward your next goal. That way, procrastination will be less likely to affect your productivity.

5. Choose Friends Wisely

The people you hang out with in your free time will significantly influence your academic performance and the quality of your college experience. Your friends can be a great source of motivation for you when working on your work. You might even want to start studying together to achieve better grades in class.

This way, you can ensure that you have a support system to help keep you focused when it’s time to buckle down and study. Also, if your friends are intellectual, they can help motivate you to do well in school by studying with you.

Conclusion

As a freshman, you can do many things to prepare yourself for the challenges better. You must begin this journey with a few small steps, and with time, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident in your new life at school. These five tips are a great starting point for first-year students who want to improve their college experience and enjoy life more at school.