Tips on doing well in college while employed and coping healthily with mental illnesses?

Hello, there! I’m very anxious understandably about starting college this Monday, even though it’s community college. I’m in three classes, and one is online. I have bipolar, PTSD, anxiety disorders and a few others, although I don’t have anything to give to the disability office.

I’ve been working 20 hours a week since this June and I’ll be continuing to work while in school. I don’t have a car, so I’ll be Ubering, I graduated from high school last summer and I’m hoping to at least maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Are there any other college students who also have mental illnesses? I’d really like to do well, especially since I don’t want to have to repay for the FASFA money & the money I’ve spent already.

I’m going to two classes a week and taking one online, I’ll aim to study at least three and a half hours a day, and I’ve been reading up on articles and tips though I feel like I’m gonna fail. I really want to do well, and I really hope I could make some friends, since I could really use some. I try to tell myself I’ll do well, though I’m really afraid.

Thank you so much for reading & your time & I am wishing you well !! <3

20 hours and 3 classes is pretty much full time…

for every hour in class, you should have minimum 2 hours of study/reading/homework.
So you have 3 classes x (3 + 6) academic hours/week =27 hours of class/homework per week.

This adds up to 47 hour per week. That is doable…keep up with your work.

Ideas on doing well:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.html

Ideas on making friends:
For Commuters: .

  1. During Orientation, go to as many activities as you can. Talk to people and for those you like, ask them what activities they are going to tomorrow/or are they going to the ABC activity.

  2. Go to the Activities/CLub Fair and sign up for a bunch of clubs that are of interest. They may not all pan out, but don’t eliminate anything yet. If you are into music/D&D/running/church/whatever, you can find other people who are interested too. Service clubs are great because you spend time working together.

  3. Join the Commuters Club. Go to the Commuter Lounge and talk to people.

  4. At lunch time, ask people in your next to lunch time class if they are grabbing some lunch.

  5. Adopt a dorm. Maybe some of your friends live in a particular dorm. Hang out with them some nights.

  6. Join an intramural team. Sometimes you can just sign up as a single.

  7. Talk to others in your classes…exchange numbers so that if either of you miss you can exchange notes… Ask what someone got on a homework question (that you did too)…once you get to know them, ask if they want to form a study group.

  8. If this isn’t working, go to the Counseling Center…they are ready to help freshman this time of year. Don’t think you are a loser because you have to go…this is something you pay for! Get the benefit! You may need to learn some new social skills. They may also have group talks on Homesickness or fitting in.

  9. Go to ongoing campus activities…concerts/movies/lectures/sporting events/parties. Invite someone/group of people or just sign up and meet people for activities that might be off campus.

  10. Get an on campus job. This will give you something to do during the day in between classes so you are on campus more. It will also help you get engaged into the campus.

You may notice that all of these things take some action…they are not passive. You have to take initiative. But the risk is small…if someone says no, then just say “Maybe another time”.