College presents a new set of challenges and experiences to all freshmen. From increased responsibility for your academic schedule to late-night parties, life in college is nothing like high school. It is no wonder why the majority of new students often report transition struggles.
College life in 2020 is particularly unique, given the impact, the COVID-19 disease has had on education. So, if you are about to start life as a college student, you’ll need some tips to ensure that your stay is effortless and productive. In this article, we highlight the most effective tips when it comes to surviving college in 2020. If you are already in college, these bits of advice will also prove helpful.
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Embrace Online Learning
First-year students of 2020 should prepare for a college experience like no other. There’s a need for them to prepare for online classes among other measures such as social distancing on campus. To make the experience as smooth as possible, students should familiarize themselves with various technology. At the same time, they need to be prepped to observe all strategies for fighting the spread of COVID-19.
Study With Friends
Many colleges, if opened, will forbid any form of assembly among students as a response to the ongoing virus situation. As such, forming any study groups on campus is bound to be a tricky affair. Luckily, this situation can easily be circumvented by forming online study groups since they do not require any physical contact.
As a student, you could make arrangements with your peers to meet online for studies. Today, various platforms allow for virtual meetings and study sessions. These include:
- Zoom;
- Skype;
- Facebook video chat.
If you are already on campus, you could consider tutoring your friends online to keep ahead of your studies. As you tutor them, you get to revise what you’ve covered in class, which makes your understanding of concepts better.
Revise Before Each Online Classroom Session
As a college student in 2020, it helps to make good notes and go through them before every online class with your educator. Doing this will prep you for the class and better yet, make it easy for you to retain what you learn. Consider recording live classroom sessions from time to time. This way, you can have material to watch during your study times.
Create A Conducive Study Environment
The place where you hold your studies will affect how well you remember information. Nonetheless, there is no single study space that works for each student. For the best results, be sure to identify a space and fill it with things that help cultivate and maintain focus.
If you need music to get in the comfort zone, then be sure to have the same. Put some snacks in there too if you need one to get your energy up when studying. Want to create an excellent study space at home? Here are four tips to help you.
Work On Your Social And Soft Skills
In college, you will have to interact with others often, be it professors or classmates. As such, you will need to be in a position to communicate effectively and collaborate on various issues. You have to be more tolerant too, given the diverse nature of people you will have to mingle with on campus.
It also helps to work on your soft skills, e.g., your problem-solving skills, which are useful for internships and other opportunities. Other valuable soft skills include:
- Leadership;
- Teamwork;
- Conflict resolution;
- Flexibility and adaptability;
- Emotional intelligence.
Manage Your Time Well
To get the most out of your college studies, you need to be good at time management. However, it helps to appreciate that managing time remains to be quite a challenge for students worldwide. To address this issue, there are several digital tools that you can use to plan your hours. With these solutions, users can limit their time on distractions and stay on track with their studies.
Have A Routine
You do not want to go about college haphazardly. It helps to create a routine that works well for you and stick to it. Identify a specific time for getting up, eating, resting, socializing, and studying. This way, it becomes easier for you to do all activities in your day without getting off the curve.
Consider Getting A Job
College is expensive, and it is common for students to struggle with finances during their studies. To ease your financial burden, consider getting a part-time job. However, make sure that your work does not affect your studies significantly.
Check if you qualify for federal work-study. If you are, it becomes easier for you to take up a job on the side while pursuing your studies. Remember, when applying for jobs as a college student, you will have to write an excellent application. Work with a personal statement editing service to polish this bit of your application to a sheen.
Final Thoughts
Earning a college degree is not easy at all. It would be best if you plan your studies and lifestyle effectively right from the start. Besides, it would help if you worked both hard and smart to ensure that you excel in academics while leading a balanced life.
Not to forget, the COVID-19 pandemic has indeed shifted the dynamics of college life. As such, it is necessary to tweak our college strategies to ensure success. To kickstart your journey path to excellent college life, the tips in this article will prove invaluable.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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