Top 10 Ways to be a Better College Student

I am grateful to Courtney Bishop for a timely Top 10 for all you students just starting out at college or returning for another year.  Courtney is a lover of all things creative, she likes to write and has an obsession with crosswords!  She recently started blogging and you can follow her on Twitter @cbishopBG

Being a college student presents challenges for everyone. Fortunately, there are ways you can be a better student, improve your college experience, and help yourself grow and develop in the process. Here are 10 things to consider:

1. Go to the right college.

Sticking close to home will save you a lot of time, money, and struggles with homesickness and other issues. Besides, you can always plan to travel later in your life.

2. Stay dedicated.

It’s easy to slack off, especially if a particular class seems easy. Everyone takes several elective classes that are relatively easy so they can get a little bit of a break, but don’t let that one easy class give you a lax attitude about your actual degree program.

3. Know what you want to be when you grow up.

If you have a degree plan and don’t change it, you can get through school faster and less expensively. It’s alright to change your mind sometimes, but if you’re incredibly indecisive, it could be that you’re simply not ready for college.

4. Make friends

They can help you get through the hard times. You will need people around you who support and care for you. Make friends with like interests and personalities that mesh well with yours. You can use Meetup.com, Facebook.com, MySpace.com, and other, similar sites to find people who like the same things you do.

5. Partying really isn’t the answer.

It might be fun for the night, but you’ll wake up with a headache, potential shame, and perhaps next to a stranger the next morning.  It’s okay to have fun, but do it safely and responsibly – you’ll feel better about yourself and be more productive in college.

6. Use caution when it comes to serious romantic relationships.

They can take a lot of time away from studying and devastate you when they end just before a big test. Having a relationship can be good for you, but be careful of how much you invest in it.

7. Don’t lose your faith.

Whatever your belief system was or is, hang onto it. A lot of people lose theirs in college. It’s okay to change things if you feel right, but don’t abandon something that matters to you just to be accepted.

8. Know that it’s okay to seek help for your problems.

Schools and communities have counselors if you need to talk to someone. Don’t feel ashamed. You’re not the first college student who’s struggled with the pressure, and you won’t be the last.

9. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

Dedication is important, but perfection is unattainable. Avoid making yourself miserable by trying to always be the best at everything. You don’t have to have a 4.0 and belong to 10 clubs to be valuable. Be yourself.

10. Remember to enjoy your experience.

College is unlike anything else. Don’t go through it with blinders on and avoid all of the great things that you could learn about life while you’re there.
It’s not always easy to be a good student because there are so many distractions in life, but if you give college your all, you’ll have the opportunity to go much further in life. And that’s worth working for.

Many thanks to Courtney for an interesting and helpful Top 10, do you have any other tips for students?

*image sources

College  - Flickr, Sean Macentee

Future  - Flickr, Sean Macentee

Love  -  Flickr, Sean Macentee

3D College – Flickr Sean Macentee