Freshman student - learning to cope with college life

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>This week, i am finally starting college, doing a degree in 3D Animation and Design. I have just received my official schedule, and i am finding that all those tales of "college students having tons of free time" aren't true at all in my situation.</p>

<p>I have classes from 8:20am until 16:20pm three days a week, and until 17:20pm twice a week. On top of that, i live an hour by city bus from the college, so every morning, I'll have to get up at 6:30am, and that also means going to bed very early at 10:30-11pm. I have calculated that in average, i will have 4 to 6 hours of free time at home per day, most of which will probably be spent on studying. And on top of that, i currently work part-time about 16 hours per week.</p>

<p>Now this probably seems pretty normal for most of you, but back in high school, i was used to coming home at 4pm, and crashing in front of the TV or the Playstation and spending my entire evening doing that. It probably sounds childish but having a normal, easygoing life outside of my studies, even if that life consists of gaming and watching television, is important for me.</p>

<p>I'm just afraid that with my busy college schedule, and the studying I'll have to do at home, I'll have little to no free time whatsoever left to just enjoy myself. I know that i should be putting studies first no matter what, but i have a feeling if i don't find a way to manage my schedule effectively to have a normal life not totally centered around studying, I'll end up hating my college and my program, and will be having a depression by the middle of the semester.</p>

<p>Any advice you guys might have will be really appreciated.</p>

2

<p>You could always drop a class for this semester to get used to college then add it back next.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, it seems like you must be in a lot of classes or something.</p>

4

<p>I don’t see how that schedule is possible without some serious breaks in between classes. Also, you combined 24 and 12 hour clocks by saying 16:20pm…</p>

<p>Sent from my MB860 using CC App</p>

5

<p>I have 25 hours 30 minutes of class per week. I’m in Canada if that possibly changes anything.</p>

6

<p>That is a huge amount. That can’t possibly be normal for your school…</p>

<p>I’d say drop several of them. You have plenty of time to get it all done, trust me.</p>

7

<p>I assume it’s too late to find an appartment or room nearby…I couldn’t imagine spending so long traveling to get to class (hell, I complain about distances and I live on campus). And yeah, I would drop the latest class you have in the day so you have more time to work/relax.</p>

8

<p>have you spoken with an advisor?</p>

9

<p>Drop some classes. Thats WAY too much for a freshman to be doing.</p>

10

<p>As others have said, try to drop some of hat nonsense. My classes don’t begin until noon and go until 4:10 at the latest. If you can’t drop classes, make sure to take advantage of commute time to get ahead on school work.</p>