Mastering College Life: How to Balance Academics with your Social Life

So, classes have started just like every other year. You may be making new friends, living in a new place or even joining new organizations, but one thing that is probably still very new in your life is figuring out how to balance all of this schoolwork with your social life. Many people don’t know the importance of finding this balance early on in your college career. Even though you may not necessarily be a freshman, it is still important to realize that each year brings new opportunities, as well as new burdens.

For those of you who are brand new to the college life, especially here at Millersville, you’ll find out soon enough that MU is pretty different from the typical “college scene” that you’ve see represented in movies and television. Our campus is relatively small: you have classes with professors who actually know your name, you don’t need to take a bus 15 minutes to get to the other side of campus and as time goes on, when you walk around campus you will see faces that will become more and more familiar.

With that being said, there is one very critical thing to realize: you are still at college. Even though Millersville is not the typical “party school” socializing still happens. But remember, there is another reason why you are here: academics.

[pagebreak]
 

With the economy jumping around like a Richter scale during an earthquake, the price of tuition, books, and fees is constantly fluctuating, and unfortunately is rising instead of dropping. The last thing that you want to do is waste your time and money. You have to remember that no one will be your babysitter here on campus. This goes for sophomores, juniors and even seniors, too. Sometimes we lose sight of our responsibilities because we are not freshman anymore and think we know how things work, but I have seen many people fail out, drop out, and stress out to the max because they do not know where to find the balance between academics and a social life.

It may sound like I’m preaching to you to never go out, have a good time, and just to stay inside with your nose stuck in a book, but that is the complete opposite of what I am trying to say. I used to be that student who thought having a social life was the most important part of college when I first came to Millersville, and even was caught up in the social side of things even into my sophomore and junior years. Being a senior now, I look back and wonder, if I had done things differently, would I be busting my butt this hard right now to graduate on time?

[pagebreak]
 
This is exactly what I do not want anyone else to experience because it’s stressful and unnecessary. So, to help everyone out, here are some tips that I have gathered over the years that help me get my school work done, successfully devote time to organizations, clubs, and work, but still have enough time to actually have a life outside of Academia.

Keep track of your schoolwork early!When you get your syllabi from your professors, find out when all your major assignments are due and make note of them in the way that works best for you (putting them in a planner, on a dry erase board in your dorm or apartment, put sticky notes on your desk, etc.).
 
If you have a job, fit that in next. After you find out when everything is due, book your work schedule around this so it does not interfere with studying or classes. Having a job is important, but losing a few hours (thus making less money) here and there to study isn’t as bad as losing a few points off your GPA.

[pagebreak]
 
Leave room for campus involvement. After you see what your schedule is for classes (and work if you choose to have a job), check out organizations, clubs and teams you are interested in. See when their meetings or practices are and what time commitments you have to make. If they fit in your schedule, go for it! Even though your schedule seems full, joining organizations, clubs and teams on campus is very beneficial, and you often end up building your social life through them.

Make the most of your free time! After all is said and done, you will find that you actually have time throughout the day that serves no purpose but down time. If you are a freshman, this is completely new, and is often not utilized correctly. In these times, do your homework (even though you may not want to, just do it!), make flashcards for an upcoming test, go to the gym, take a nap, etc. Utilizing your downtime efficiently though out the day can open up a world of possibilities at night.
 
Now get out and have some fun. So now you are left with your time to socialize! Obviously socializing with your peers does not always have to be planned, and frankly is almost always spontaneous anyway. But by planning ahead with steps 1-4, you are able to quickly reference whether or not going out and/or hanging with your friends is suitable for your class schedule/work load on that specific night. This takes the pressure off of your shoulders, and allows you to feel more confident that you are done with your work, and can now go ahead and play!
 
NOTE: Although you may have found time to socialize and have fun, being smart about socializing is the most important part. Having a bustling social life can be, especially if you did not have as many friends in high school or in past years here at Millersville. DO NOT lose yourself in your social life. Keeping a balance of everything will help you in the end. Honestly, no one will remember you five years down the road for being the person that pulled all-nighters or could out drink everyone. They will remember you for your achievements, dedication and the hard work that you devoted to every area of your life.

[pagebreak]
 
This may have sounded like a no-brainer, but college students often forget that a little planning on the forefront may actually save you a lot of trouble in the end. So, for this semester, I challenge you to do 3 things:
 
1. Plan your schoolwork first, even though it may be challenging/tedious.
 
2. Go out and join organizations, athletic teams or clubs.
 
3. Actually HAVE a social life!
 
Without a social life, you are actually missing out on learning experiences that no professor or textbook could provide. That is why college is a very special experience, and I hope you all embrace that to the fullest.