5 Simple Tips for Adjusting to Life in College
Attending college is one of the most the exciting adventures. However, the transition from high school life to college life is quite challenging for many new students. The workload is likely to be more challenging than high school. College is so much more than academics. It is not only a place where you acquire knowledge, but also a place where you will have the wonderful opportunities to make new friends, embrace diversity in your campus experience. You have been given the gift of higher education and now get to also work toward independence, and growing into a functional young adult.
Adjusting to college life can be difficult and challenging, but if you know the basics to smooth your transition, it will help you make the most of your experience in college.
1. Understand the responsibility
College life is a very different than high school life. In high school, you probably live with your parents, and they might have managed most of your finances. While in college, you will be more responsible for mananging your own finances and will need to learn to budget effectively. Hopefully you began to learn to manage money before college, if not, just start where you are now. If you need to get a part-time job as a student, you will need to know how to manage not only your money, but also how to manage your time. College academics can be more challenging than high school. It is your responsibility to attend classes to avoid missing valuable information about assignments or lectures.
2. Patience is key when adjusting to dorm environments
If you live with someone in a dorm, you need to learn to be patient living with others. Although you may have grown up living with siblings, it is completely different if you live with others. Diversity is a blessing, but living with different personalities and cultures can be a difficult adjustment. Remember to be patient, both with yourself and your new roommates. Using patience and kindness first, you’ll be well prepared to deal with any kind of diverse living situation you may encounter, now and in the future.
3. Build a good relationship with a roommate.
You probably will spend most of your college life with new people, especially with your roommate. For that reason, you will need to build the foundation for good relationship with your roommate. Doing this from the beginning will help you both feel comfortable with each other, enabling you both make the most of your experience in college. Some suggestions for breaking the ice include; inviting your roommate to dinner, to join you in participating in any campus opening events, or anything else that comes to mind. Just remember the phrase “from good initial relationship, to a wonderful friendship.”
4. Get involved outside the classroom!
There are many ways to become involved in campus activiies outside of the classroom. You can join events held on campus or even volunteer with an organization. It is a great way to gain experiences as well as meeting new people.
5. Know how to deal with homesickness
The best way to manage feelings of homesickness is making yourself comfortable at college. There many ways to do to reduce your homesickness. For example, you may try local foods or cook foods that remind you of home. Remember to explore the new country, spend your time volunteering, send letters, emails, small gifts to your parents, and call your family once a while when you have a chance. The the most important thing is to make your new home, your home.
Adjusting to college life can be difficult, following these simple tips will help you adjusting to college life with ease and make the most of your college experience.
