Graduating from high school and starting college is a major transition. Many students go from having a set schedule while living at home to attending college all on their own. This change can leave many students feeling unprepared as they tackle a new set of responsibilities and challenges in a whole new environment.
This transition from high school to college doesn’t have to be stressful or intimidating. By taking positive steps and with the right support, navigating college life can be easy — and even enjoyable!
Here are five things you can do to make a smooth transition into college life.
1. Create a daily schedule.
For many students, having to manage their time can present a huge learning curve. You’ll need to consider when you’re going to study, spend time with friends, eat meals and do homework — all while keeping your class times in mind. In high school, many of those things are usually planned out for you each day; you just have to show up. In college, it’s up to you to keep up with your responsibilities.
Start by creating a schedule of each week in a physical or digital calendar (like Google Calendar). Set reminders on your phone for your class times that include the building and room number. From there, plan out when you’ll finish assignments and study for your exams. Mark out time to eat meals, rest, spend time with friends and even keep up with personal responsibilities like doing your laundry. While it may seem tedious at first, having a set schedule during the first few weeks can help you create a consistent routine and adjust to all your new responsibilities as you begin navigating college life.
2. Don’t procrastinate.
In the first weeks of classes when workloads are lighter, you may feel you can procrastinate and still submit assignments on time. However, as the semester progresses and homework begins to pile up, you may find yourself struggling and feeling overwhelmed.
Create healthy habits early on by giving yourself more time than you need to complete assignments and study for exams. First, look ahead in the syllabus and note important project deadlines, major homework due dates and test days on your calendar. From there, set an artificial deadline two or three days before the actual due date and do your best to stick to it. By doing so, you’ll still feel the last-minute motivation many students need to complete assignments, but you’ll finish several days before the actual due date, giving you time to review your work, make corrections and prioritize other responsibilities.
3. Limit your spending.
College is often the first time many students begin managing their finances. You may be allotted campus funds and meal credits, or be working a part-time job that gives you some spending money to use throughout the semester. However, you may be eager to enjoy these new perks, and quickly find yourself with little to no funds left before the semester is over.
Start managing your spending at the start of your college experience. Take note of how much money you have available to you for the semester and then roughly divide that by the number of weeks you have on campus. If you’re working part-time, consider how much you make a month and divide that by the number of weeks in the semester. From there, you can see how much you have available to you each week and have a rough budget to try to stick to. It’s okay if you don’t always follow it exactly (you may spend more some weeks and less others), but having a goal will help you be more mindful in how you spend your money.
4. Participate in social opportunities.
When faced with the busy first few weeks of college life, many students may decide not to attend any welcome events, extracurricular activities or groups offered early on. You may feel like you don’t have time to meet with your new friends, or get to know your roommates and classmates. However, this can inadvertently lead you to feel isolated and make it harder to get to know new people or join established groups as the semester progresses.
Be intentional about getting to know those around you. Start by getting to know your roommates, next-door neighbors and classmates who sit next to you each day. Ask them to meet up for coffee or to hang out as a group after class. Take advantage of welcome events on campus and take time getting to know new people. While it may not seem essential now, knowing those around you and around campus can make all the difference in navigating college life during your first semester.
5. Establish healthy habits.
The busyness of college life can be overwhelming early on, making you skip otherwise essential self-care. Homework, time with friends, and other responsibilities may seem to outweigh getting enough rest, causing your sleep schedule to fall by the wayside. You may opt for more convenient meal options like fast food or skip eating altogether so you don’t miss your class or study time.
Work your sleep and wake times into your new schedule, and try to stick to them as much as possible. Look around your cafeteria or campus restaurants for healthier options that are protein-heavy. Schedule your meal times around your classes, and find healthy snacks for times when you need to eat on the go. Make time to exercise during the week and spend time outside, even if it’s just going for a walk around campus. Practicing healthy habits early on can set you up for long-term success and limit stress, exhaustion and anxiety before they start.
You’re not alone in this transition. Remember to reach out to your family back home, and make it a priority to spend time with friends and mentors throughout the week. Take advantage of on-campus support like tutors, academic advisors and counselors, and talk to your professors if you’re struggling. By staying connected to your community, you’ll feel more capable of navigating college life and be able to enjoy this new season and the exciting opportunities it presents.