13 Quick Tips To Enhance Your College Experience
By Dr. Richard Boyum
College is a unique experience on the planet. Relatively few individuals get to experience this unique opportunity. There is probably no period in your life where you have more choices, more free time and as wide a range of activities. With this period of time also comes high levels of responsibility. There is probably no period in your life where more significant changes will occur than in any other single five-year period.
There are a few quick and simple things you can do to enhance the quality of this time and experience called college. Spend a little time reading through this list and work on implementing one or more of these ideas:
1. Be sure to stick with the basics. These include eating a balanced diet, at least most of the time. You are smart enough to know what the basic food groups are and how you should eat. It is up to you to take responsibility to do that. It is much too easy to garbage up on fast food rather than take the time to eat some of the good, slow food that you need to keep yourself at a level of health that allows you to be a maximized performer.
In addition, the basics involve getting appropriate rest. Research indicates that the average college student needs 7 to 8 ½ hours of sleep to max out the use of their skills. It is important to try, on most school nights, to get to bed at about the same time and get up at the same time. Students often make the mistake of trying to set and reset their biological clocks by the first class they have. This can create a constant state of jet lag. Even on weekends it is important not to stretch your time schedule too much. You spend too many days early in the week trying to get back into a healthy sleep cycle. Many feelings of fatigue are really a function of irregular sleep patterns. Research shows that short naps in the afternoon or early evening can enhance your performance but they have to be paired with regular and appropriately long night sleeps. In a related issue, if you work, try to limit your job time to less than 20 hours per week.
The last piece of basics is related to exercise. As a college student you know that structure determines function. We have large muscle groups that need to be used on a regular basis. A lot of college work is head work. You need to be able to, on a regular basis, use your body to be a peak performer. Exercise can be solitary or done with friends, but it needs to involve both cardiovascular activity and the use of your large muscle groups. Exercise at least three times a week for an hour. Daily is fine too. Some exercise can be intense and some can be as relaxing as a semi-brisk walk with a friend. Again, research says that this basic skill is important to doing well.
2. Minimize or eliminate the use of alcohol as a drug. When utilizing alcohol, do so as a beverage to enhance a social event or a meal. Consider as often as possible alcohol-free days. The problem with alcohol used to the level of intoxication is that it not only destroys brain cells, but it takes your body too long to recuperate. It is your responsibility to make alcohol decisions sensibly. Your university counseling service has information that might help you make more responsible choices regarding this drug.
3. Almost all college students live with someone else. This may involve a single roommate in a residence hall or a number of people in an off campus residence. It is important to set aside some time to deal with the kinds of issues that people need to deal with when living in close proximity with each other. Consider once a week setting aside at least 30 minutes to an hour for a roommate and/or housemates meeting. Issues involving noise, cleaning the room, what is going right or what is going wrong, will help keep the relationships smooth and positive. You can nip problems in the bud before they get out of hand and become major distractions. In addition, you begin to respect and appreciate some of the individual differences that can occur when people are functioning in a high stress environment such as the university.
4. A cluttered living environment usually relates to a cluttered mind. Take some time once a week to clean and reorganize your living space. When things are kept in order, people just seem to work more efficiently and more effectively. It is a disciplined activity that seems to help people manage their time and their life more effectively. It is also just more comfortable to be in an environment that is neat and in some ways ordered.
5. Woody Allen once said that one of the most important things in life is to show up. A significant part of university structure is about classes and what occurs there. This may sound trite but GO TO CLASS. Some classes are boring, some professors are boring, some classes are hard, some classes are at a time that you don’t particularly like. In some ways this list is endless but if you need this class and it is part of your degree program, the most important thing you need to do is to show up. By showing up you demonstrate your commitment to your goals of staying in and finishing college. Once you are there you might as well take notes, read the material and know when tests and quizzes are going to take place. Research on college students indicates that higher class attendance correlates with higher grades, earlier completion of degrees and simply staying at the university. . . . so, GO TO CLASS!
6. The old rule of thumb of two hours of study for every hour in class is a good one. It has also been proven that people tend to get the most work done when they do the subject they like least first and use as a reward the subjects that they like the most. If you are having difficulty in a course, see if you can find a tutor or help from someone who understands the content material. Many courses at the university have structured, tutored experience to help individuals who are having difficulty in any given class. Chart out your week and set aside specific study times. Research shows that using early morning hours before or in-between classes sufficiently increases the amount of studying that students do. In addition, find at least one subject area to challenge yourself in, to do a little bit of extra reading or study. Consider using current events as a way of relating material to course content.
7. Often students say there is nothing to do on campus. What this really is about is that many times, as creatures of habit, students don’t look for the alternatives. There is probably no singular environment on the planet than that of the university that offers a wider variety of activities and choices for events and activities. Take the time to try out at least one new activity each month. Things that may not have seemed appealing or that you have never done in the past may become intensely interesting to you. Plays, concerts, films, and special interest groups/clubs can add a great deal to your experience. Challenge yourself to get involved.
8. It is important to keep a reasonable level of contact with your family. This varies from individual to individual. College is a transition period in life where you are beginning to develop the building blocks for "your own nest". Consequently, the combination of changing interest patterns, the very nature of education itself and the distance will cause you to have less contact with your family. Many students find it helpful to have ritualized ways of being in touch with their family. A phone call at a certain time of the week seems to work well for most students. Decide on the appropriate number of visits for you to return to your home environment and for people from home to come and see you. Balancing developing new relationships with maintaining the old is an art form. When communicating with parents and family members, find some time to communicate the kinds of changes that are taking place. This will help others be more respectful of how you are growing as a person. you may not find that people always accept the changes but it nonetheless is important for you to communicate them.
9. Career choice is a difficult area for students to deal with. In many ways it is best to come to college without a career decision cast in stone. There are offices, individuals and programs to help you become more informed about career decisions. Using career-testing instruments, computerized programs and career resource centers are probably the most common ways that individuals make good career decisions. Talking with advisors and people in a variety of professions also can be extremely helpful. Know that for the majority of college students, several changes are made before a real career direction is solidified. Even then, the majority of people make a number of career shifts after they have left college. Set aside some time to address your career concerns and issues and see a professional at your university to see what doors can be opened for you.
10. Research shows that, in kindergarten through college, people find attending school pleasurable for reasons that are more social than academic. (Hopefully in college, academics in itself at least competes with social relationships as a reason for being there.) With this in mind, it is important to set aside time to develop meaningful relationships in college. They will enrich your experience in a variety of ways. Having someone to exercise with, someone to grapple with ideas as part of your intellectual academic experience and someone to feel emotionally and, when appropriate, physically connected to is important. In college, most people sooner or later develop a series of acquaintanceships, friendships and bonafide, loving relationships. Set time aside to define and focus on these relationships. Know that people grow into relationships in college and grow out of them. It is the nature of this rapid period of transition. Again, there are courses and counselors who can help you define healthy aspects of relating and ways to improve your general communication skills. The friendships that college students have generally take on more meaning that friendships of previous periods. Work to make these relationships a healthy and positive part of your experience. Know that all relationships are not smooth but there are ways of dealing with conflict while maintaining friendships.
11. It comes without saying that all individuals who go to school have personal concerns and problems. Problems are a part of life. The difficulty with personal issues is that they can take a real drain on our total amount of energy and really affect students from achieving their intellectual potential. There comes a point when you need to talk with someone else. Sometimes a friend or family member is sufficient but research indicates that most college counseling services serve close to 20% of any given population in a year. The majority of those visits are for personal, emotional concerns. You paid for this service through your tuition and student fees. Use these trained psychologists to help you deal with your issues. Concerns involving self-esteem, depression, dating relationships, problems with parents, sexuality, and alcohol-related issues predominate among college populations. Sometimes taking that first step in making an appointment can lead to a real road of positive change and transition. Not only do you feel better, but your academic performance and skill are enhanced.
12. Get to know your faculty-teachers. Try to find a time to visit each of your faculty members at least once or twice during the semester. When you have problems or concerns related to coursework, know that faculty members do have posted hours and they are available to visit with you. Most faculty members have a diversified background above and beyond the course matter that you are taking. They are a valuable resource to stimulate your ideas. They also are excellent resources for networking as you move through your college career. The time spent in one-to-one conversation with a faculty member can be one of the most positive aspects of your career. Sooner or later you will find a faculty mentor who can and will open some very interesting doors for you. Target a time and get yourself to go visit those faculty members.
13. There will be one particular faculty member that you have or will have a very special relationship with. This is your faculty advisor. Offices of academic advising or your major will provide you with an advisor. It is important that your advisor is someone you are comfortable working with. Often students ask to have a particular advisor. If and when this person is assigned, they are someone you should visit at least twice a semester. They have information and ideas that, as mentioned above, will open doors for you. Advisors can make your life a lot easier while you are in college. Don’t be afraid to use them. Information they have regarding course selection, the use of the catalogue or other options such as scholarships or special programs are usually things that they can and will communicate to you. Advisors don’t go looking for you—you need to go looking for them. This is just one other little thing that can make your college experience a bit better.
The above listed suggestions are only a few quick tips to help you have a smooth and successful semester. Take a little time to see what you can add to this particular list. To discuss any of these issues you may want to make an appointment to see a psychologist or counselor at your university.
