College gives you choices and those choices can help express your identity. Will you be the kid always 15 minutes early to class? Will you be the social butterfly of the school? Will you keep your schoolwork a priority or let it drift off to the waste side?
A balance can be struck between keeping a great GPA and having a social life. Freshmen may not believe in such a thing. Some enter a hard semester of courses and quickly become overwhelmed. The key to this is both managing your time well and staying organized.
First, try getting a planner. This comes in various forms: a whiteboard, a booklet planner or a calendar, either electronic or physical. Add in your class schedule, and then look for the empty blocks of time in your week. Do you have a day off? Do you have a few mornings, afternoons, or evenings open? Weigh your workload and your speed of completing homework, and figure out how many blocks of time you need to finish your homework. Dedicating specific blocks of time to study ensures that your work will get done.
“Wake up early and do your school work, that way you can have a social life,” one senior from Penn State suggests.
A junior from California State University of Monterey Bay comments balancing school and friends is not hard if you have the right people in your social life. Finding friends who influence you in a positive way and keep you driven is important.
For many, doing homework right after class while information is fresh in your mind can lead to a stress-free academic life. You will never forget about an assignment and will keep your free time actually free.
Personally, I write in my planner that each class is one or two hours longer than it is, this way I can complete all of my homework. If classes are back to back, adding a study block of time towards the end of the week tends to balance things out.
Stay organized and remember college is the most exciting time in your life. Enjoy it, just don’t go overboard!
-TravelBug
I’m reading The Career Fitness Program: Exercising Your Options
High school sweethearts tend to face issues when they separate for college. If you really love the person you’re with and you think it’s worth a try, read carefully as I share my secrets for keeping a healthy long distance relationship. My boyfriend and I have personally experienced the trials of going to different colleges this year. We have been dating since we were sixteen and are now going on three years! Our relationship requires a lot of patience and trust but with modern technology, it’s been easier than we originally thought.
The first step is to relax. You have to trust the other person and understand that even if they’re at a party or out with friends, you’re the only one they want. Its okay to ask questions about their night but don’t get to the point of being insecure. It’s hard at first because in high school you probably knew all of their friends and could trust them. It’s tough not knowing the people they talk about, who they’re with, and who these strange new girls/boys are in their life. Equally, you want your significant other to understand that you might make new guy/girl friends and go out once in a while as well. College is a two way street, trust your boyfriend/girlfriend to have a good time and trust that they’ll keep your feelings in mind.
The second step is communication. This is probably the most important step. Keeping in contact is everything. Be open and honest with where you are and who you’re with if you want them to do the same in return. You should try and text throughout the day and Skype or call at night. Each of you should compare your schedules and find weekends where you are both free. Plan weekends where you can visit if possible. When you finally see each other you will fully understand the saying, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’
Lastly, keep it real! It’s easy to get busy with a new job, schoolwork, athletics, clubs, or even just chilling with your friends. Be sure to take the time to do the cute little things you always used to do. Send a sweet text that’ll remind them of the good times from high school or brighten their day by posting a funny video on their Facebook wall. Never stop telling the other person how you feel; they will probably need to be reassured often since you’re not there.
If you truly believe your high school relationship is worth the trials of college, follow your heart. Look forward to the evenings when you can see them on Skype or talk with them on the phone. True love will always prevail, and remember, absence DOES make the heart grow fonder.
-Speedy G.
I’m reading Ethics : Theory and Contemporary Issues
Some of you may be recent alumni, pining for a kegger or two to relive your college days. Others may just be current students who are stuck living at their parents house for the summer and following curfews and doing dishes for the first time in months.
Watching the big game at work might get you in trouble
Whether you’re a recent grad, or just home for summer break, I’m sure you’re missing the college life! I graduated 2 months ago and have recently started a new job. Sure, the pay is great and it’s nice to never have any more homework or studying to do, but I’m definitely having some college withdrawals!
There’s nothing that compares to living on a rowdy street near a college campus surrounded by other kids your age. There’s always a party going on just around the corner, or a game of beer pong taking place in the apartment next door. Sure, you made time for going to class (and reading your textbooks!), but the college atmosphere and the lifestyle are the best part of those 4 years (or, in my case, 5) and they are the things you will miss the most. It’s also difficult after graduation, because all of my friends went different directions. Some of my friends got jobs in their home towns, and others have moved halfway across the country for grad school.
So if you’re missing college life as much as I am right now, here are some tips on how to cope:
- Grab a bite to eat with a college friend: Getting together with a friend from school is a great idea to help you reminisce about your college days. It might make you miss it even more (or get excited for your return), but it’s a great opportunity to look back on all the fun times and trouble you got into!
- Have a sleepover: Yes, I know, this one sounds a little ridiculous but I’m serious! My favorite part of college was living with my best friends. I loved the mornings that we would wake up and make breakfast while we tried to piece together the night before, or the nights when we didn’t wanna study and decided to order pizza andwatch a movie instead. Those are the nights that define college. So make some more of those this summer and you’ll have just as much fun!
- Have a college movie marathon: Spend an evening with some friends watching a few of the most classic college-themed movies. Here are some suggestions: Animal House (the most obvious choice), Old School, The Graduate, House Bunny, Rudy, Good Will Hunting, Revenge of the Nerds, and The Social Network
Well, there are just a few suggestions on how to relive the glory days of college (or to just survive the summer with your parents). Hope they’ve been helpful! Feel free to leave some comments with any more suggestions!
Have a good one,
Riddler
I’m reading Business
During the college years of most peoples’ lives, they tend to find themselves in a bit of a financial pickle. that is most students work part-time jobs and make less than what many would call “good money”. Unfortunately it is during this time of one’s life that they are expected to socially bloom to their fullest, by having fun, making friends, and dating. However, without a serious pay raise most of us college kids cannot quite afford to do all of those things. Going out on the town with friends or trying to impress a first date can prove to be quite a challenge. Fortunately you do have the eCampus blog to help. Here are some great ways to spend quality time with friends or significant others without breaking your bank.
- 1.
Skating
- - this is a favorite past time for many. Most skate rinks are inexpensive and if you take the time to check out your local rink, chances are that they will have a night during the week were it can cost no more than $5 a person for addmission and skate rental. Plus skating is fun no matter how old you are, and if you happen to be like me, and be somewhat of a clumsy person, don’t worry there is still more to choose from.
- 2.
Garage saling
- - Who doesn’t love a good garage sale? You can browse through other people’s old stuff that they don’t want anymore and possibly even pick up a new poster for a dollar, or whatever happens to catch your eye. Even if you don’t find much that you particularly like, you will always run into great conversation starters that will make it impossible to become bored.
- 3.
Dog park
- - I don’t know a girl who isn’t completely infatuated with a cute puppy when she sees one. So if you are planning to take a girl out, you might think about just picking up some coffee and grabbing a bench at the local dog park. Even if you don’t have a dog you can still go and play with other people’s fury friends, and its doubtful that there would be a dull moment with dogs and puppies running around.
- 4.
Drive-in movie
- - Most people forget that drive-in movies still exist, but i assure you they do, and they are a lot cheaper than going to the theater to see a new movie and they usually show 2! Drive-ins make for a really great date. Most drive-ins only charge per car, and if they don’t, you could always sneak a couple friends in the trunk and make it a double date. Not to mention, drive-in theaters have a much more intimate setting due to the fact that you are sitting in your car, alone.
- 5.
Make Dinner/Picnic
- - You can never go wrong with a picnic, its cheaper than going out, but also it is more personal and intimate. All you need to do is wait for good weather, and make some sandwiches, maybe take some fruit and a few drinks and you are good to go. If you don’t have good weather you could always stay in and make dinner. Invite your date over and make something nice, but not extravagant, like spaghetti with meatballs, then maybe you can have a “Lady and the Tramp” type of moment.
SeanJohn
I’m reading Chemistry
Anyone ever had a bad roommate? Of course you have! We asked people on a college campus to give us their best advice on how to get rid of one of those nasty pests known as “the roommate”. We are guessing that these tips will push your roommate over the edge and have them out by next Friday.
What’s your worst roommate story?
SeanJohn
I am reading College Algebra
