10 Ways to Survive College

It’s that time of year folks, the school year is just beginning to wind down with only a couple months left. Some of you have a lot more years of high school to go, some of you are in college. But there is a good chunk of you guys are getting ready for one of the scariest times in your life, COLLEGE. (Insert scary sound effects here) But this isn’t only for people going into college, a lot of this information applies to everyone. As my freshman year of college is winding down, I think I have come up with some fine ways to help you survive. So without further suspense, here are my Top 10 ways to survive college!

1.  BE SOCIAL: college is all about making new friends and just getting to know random people. So don’t be afraid to jump outside of your comfort zone a little bit! Talk to the people in the elevators with you, say hi to your neighbor, and talk to the random kid you sat next to in class. Because you never know, they could become your new best friend!

2. DON’T SKIP CLASS:  I’m telling you right now, just don’t do it. I know that sleeping in through your 8am sounds like a really good idea, but trust me it’s not. If you skip it once, then you’re just going to keep doing it until you fall so far behind that it’ll overwhelm you. Even just being there and not taking notes is better than not being there at all. You’ll be surprised by the amount of information you retain just by listening! So get out of bed you lazy bums.

3.  STAY ORGANIZED: With so many different things going on, it’s so easy to fall behind on your class work and forget things. You must keep yourself accountable for your homework, and studying for your tests, because your professor isn’t always going to remind you. So keep a planner, and stay on top of what needs to get done. 

4.  BE COME FRIENDS WITH YOUR PROFESSORS: I know they can seem a little intimidating especially when they have over 200 students in each class, but your professors can be some of the coolest people you meet! Don’t be afraid to go up to them the first day of class and introduce yourself, or stop by during their office ours to chat. They are there to help YOU, and they want to help you. So make yourself known, because it’s going to help you in the long run.

5. FIND A PLACE TO STUDY: I can’t tell you how much this has helped me. There are a lot of places to go around campus, and if you can find a spot that you love, and where you can focus it’ll be a lifesaver!

6.  MEAL PLANS: Don’t feel the need to get the highest meal plan, trust me you will not use all of it. Think about how many times you’re actually going to eat breakfast at the dining centers, and even lunch! If you get a more reasonable meal plan, it’ll save you time, and most importantly, money. Otherwise you’ll end up like me and have 120 meal swipes left at the end of the semester.

7.  Speaking of meal plans, EAT HEALTHY: I’m not saying that you need to go and eat a salad every time you eat, but just make sure you’re making conscious decisions. Don’t be like me and eat ice cream every night. The best piece of advice I’ve heard about dining centers is, just because it’s in the dining center, doesn’t mean you have to eat it!

8.  TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF: In college, and life in general, there is always so many things going on, and tons of stuff being thrown at you. You try too hard to be perfect at everything and get all your work done, that you forget to think about yourself. Now I’m not saying neglect all of your responsibilities, but don’t be afraid to take some time for yourself. It’s okay to take a night off of studying so that you can relax a little bit. Your health is one of the most important things to worry about!

9.  CALL YOUR FAMILY: Trust me, it helps. Whether you’re feeling a little down, or just want to talk to someone, your family is always a good choice. Because odds are, they’re missing you just as much, or even more then you’re missing them.

10. Last but not least, BREATH: College can be hard, heck life can be hard. So many things can pile up that it seems just too overwhelming, and you feel like you can’t do it all. But if you just stop for a second, take a deep breath, you’ll realize that you CAN get through it, and it’ll all be okay.

Just like high school, college is going to fly by, and pretty soon you’re going to be out in the real world with a job and adulting, stuff like that. So take your time, live in the moment, and enjoy the ride. 

Chase Kusel

State Secretary