I don’t want a repeat of high school. I’ve done some self-reflection, but I was wondering if any of you could offer advice-anything would help tremendously. I’m starting college this fall as an economics major but I want to go into medicine. Any advice on how to manage time, balance classes, study, study tips, how to focus and stay focused, be productive, etc.?
Honestly, I’m in high school and I have a student planner on my phone and my laptop. Visit https://app.mystudylife.com/dashboard it’s awesome if you want to organize what you need to do. Maybe you could find a study group in college so you have others to keep you in check while watching their backs as well.
If only there was a sticky for that…http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.html
Wow, thank you!
My kid used to go right to the library after dinner and not back to the dorm, where she might get sucked into socializing instead of studying,
Also, take note at orientation and in the first session of any class of supports offered. Writing center. free department tutoring, etc. Use them.
If you can work ahead, do it. Better to come into lecture or section having already looked over the material and taken a shot at the problems so you are looking for the nuances in the class, not the basics.
Read the syllabus carefully. Profs mean what they say about due dates and grading.
Submit electronic assignments early in case the system goes down, and screen print that it was accepted. You might be happy to have the proof st some point.
Never plagerize or cheat. They will catch you. My kid is a TA, and deals with cheating students very often. At a minimum it will kill your grade, so don’t do it.
Don’t overload or take all classes that are hard first semester. Take one or two classes you are pretty sure are in your wheelhouse. Ease into the college workload.
Actually, would overload and take harder classes in 1st semester if your near top end of your universities admissions. 1. You’ll get to really test test your skills, when the price (B) is redeemable. 2. You can drop a class early if feeling overwhelmed and it wont show up . 3. Every grad school/med school/ law school likes to see a favorable progression in grades. If your starting in the front based on the type of high school you went to and how you preformed then expect others will catch up in the first year or two. If you get great grades with redo classes and then GPA fades it will be worse then having slightly lower overall GPA showing improvement.
I disagree with @RW1
First semester freshman year is not the time to test your skills. It is the time to make friends and get used to the work needed for college.
You could drop a class…but you can only do that within the first 2 weeks so that isn’t very helpful.
Grad schools would prefer good grades all the time over a progression.
Do not take any class for the sake of getting good grades. Take them for learning, for pleasure. Follow your interests.
https://www.amazon.com/College-Success-Guaranteed-Rules-Happen/dp/1610480422
Show up, study, serve, find a mentor.
I agree with @bopper first semester of college is about figuring things out and making friends. College is a big change and allow yourself time to see where you fit into it all. Don’t take an overly hard schedule but do take things that interest you. Finding your people is a huge thing and it takes some time. Also, you will have a lot of free time not like HS where you are in school all day. So make a plan for tat free time. Some have given good resources above use them. Good time management is a very important in college. You will do great good luck!!
I think if someone is going for premed, then they have to really consider that GPA trumps all. So I would take a class I had taken before if I hadn’t excelled in it…making sure you have good base knowledge is a good thing.
So take @leiden 's advice, with their 6 posts, with a grain of salt.
I agree with @lbf
I would highly recommend the book by Cal Newport: “How To Become a Straight-A Student:
The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less”
It will help you with time management and how to be more efficient.