College, if done right, is a time for self-discovery, meeting new people, and deciding the adult you want to be. It should be fun, freeing, and educational. To help you make the most of it, we’ve put together these 9 Best Ways to Spend Time in College. Your homework for the next four years is to do every one of them.
1. Going To Class
Class is a place where many of your future lifelong relationships will form, and if you think about it, it really makes sense. In the beginning, you’re still largely in a group of your peers. As you move forward, you’ll take an interest in classmates, who are not only your age, but also sharing in your interests. This can really forge bonds that last a lifetime. Aside from the touchy-feely stuff, it’s also best to hit the classroom because it may improve your understanding, and be a teacher requirement.
2. Studying Course Materials
In high school, it can be easy for a talented student to coast by with minimal effort. That gets tougher in college, especially as one becomes more entrenched in their major. Studying becomes a more essential part of the arsenal. And even if your major doesn’t seem like much of a challenge, tackling the books can help deepen your understanding beyond the norm and distinguish you from the rest of the pack. More importantly, it can help you learn how to work hard and develop creative solutions to life’s problems.
3. Reading For Pleasure
A good reader is a good writer. A good writer is a good communicator. And a good communicator is someone more capable of standing out in a sea of job applicants. But notice that the chain starts with reading. And the best way to develop the urge is by reading things that interest you. When you can do that, it’ll lead to comprehension of more difficult materials and make you a viable part of society.
4. Disconnecting
Too many people entering college are obsessed with their phones and texting. In so doing, they never give people the chance to miss them! Worst of all, they damage their own ability to be observant of the outside world. Not only can texting or talking on the phone or surfing the Net on a phone lead to automobile accidents and death, but it can also cause one not to notice the cute guy or girl making eyes at them from across the room. It can hinder human interaction and break down networking opportunities. It can diminish one’s appreciation of the physical environment, and it looks very rude, which can also hurt one’s sociability and stand in the way of landing a great job. Making a conscientious effort to disconnect from technology at regular intervals enriches life and makes one available for whatever opportunities arise.
5. Having A Good Time With Friends
We realize that by saying to study and go to class, we’re dangerously close to sounding uncool. That’s why we’ll now tell you to go out and have a good time with your friends. While taking education seriously will become even more important in the years ahead, especially as the US attempts to catch up to some of the countries currently leaving it behind, that will not diminish the importance of life experiences. It’s important to go to concerts and movies and parties and make late-night runs to the Waffle House. All of these things can rejuvenate mental function and unburden you from the stress of school and work and other not-so-fun factors that insert themselves into your post-high school life.
6. Doing An Internship
Most internships are unpaid, and that can be an unattractive prospect when you’re staring college loans in the face, but we would advise you to consider pursuing them anyway. Internships are incredible chances to network with highly successful people and organizations. They can be a foot in the door to some pretty massive opportunities, and they look pretty awesome on a resume. Depending on the company, you might even earn a little money.
7. Sleeping In
As your college career grows more intense, the long nights of studying will become common. But you’ve still got time before the real world comes crashing in and requires five to seven days a week of your early morning time and attention. You can still make those Saturdays work to your advantage by catching a few extra hours of sleep. Also, we wouldn’t make a habit of it, but you may even want to occasionally sleep through morning classes, provided you’re not violating attendance policies or missing something vital. Chances are, the additional shuteye will do some good and better equip you for the day ahead.
8. Spending Time Alone
If you’re heading off to college, there is a temptation to go home every weekend. It’s understandable. Turning all your white shirts pink at the community laundromat isn’t quite as appealing as having Mom do everything for you. But we’re going to ask that you learn how to live without Mom’s help a little more often. The experience will help you feel more self-reliant, and more importantly, it will give you some time to yourself. Time alone is a precious commodity when you’re uncertain of what you want to do with your life. Take it from someone, who had no clue as he was crossing the stage to collect his degree. By understanding who you are and what you like to do in the downtime, you’re in a better position to pinpoint what passions you truly have in life. Pursue hobbies and interests, and then listen to what those hobbies and interests are telling you. Then, find a way to monetize them.
9. Getting A Job Or Treating Your Studies Like A Job
The level of commitment you have for your school work is often tied to how intensive the area of study actually is. Let’s hope you’ve chosen a major with a viable career path. If so, then you’ll probably have to undergo future testing. You can use any downtime to study for things like the PRAXIS or GRE or GMAT. If so, treat it like a job. Try to devote at least 40 hours per week to class, homework, studies, and test prep. It’ll take some planning, but you can do that, and still have a life. If a degree path is less intensive or you simply need the money, it’s a good idea to get a part-time job while attending school full-time. Part-time jobs offer actual participation in the “real world” even as you spend most of your time preparing for it. These positions can also boost your social life, your networking opportunities, and your chance to learn the aspects of the business world you like and dislike.
With college, your main goal is to always be moving forward with your understanding of and participation in the world. Every day after high school that you don’t spend pursuing an education of some kind is a day that you are falling behind the rest of society. By making time for a little bit of everything on this list, you’ll come through this time ready to handle anything life throws your way.
Aric Mitchell's work appears regularly here at 4tests.com and across the web for sites, such as The Inquisitr and Life'd. A former high school teacher, his passion for education has only intensified since leaving the classroom. At 4tests, he hopes to continue passing along words of encouragement and study tips to ensure you leave school ready to face an ever-changing world.
