1. Think before you speak – we all are guilty of saying things that we don’t actually mean. Instead of rushing when you talk to someone, slow down and let the conversation flow, so you and whoever you are speaking to can clearly get their thoughts together. We are in college now and need to show that we can handle having professional conversations and take things seriously. Professors like it when students show they can contribute effectively and professionally. This will take you a long way in life even when you’re done with college.
2. Save everything! – You never know when the power can go out or if your device is going to freeze or freak out. Make sure you periodically save everything you have typed.
3. Don’t leave everything to the last minute before it is due– We are all guilty of waiting until last minute to write a paper but most likely you are going to have multiple reports due at the same time.
4. Be kind to everyone- This one is very important. You never know who might be your next partner in class or your next professor. The world can be very small at times.
5. Don’t change for anyone- don’t change to fit into a group or a sorority. You being you is all you need to do. Stay true to yourself no matter what anyone else may say or do.
6. Join clubs! – The beginning of the semester is the best time for searching for a new club to join. Through clubs you can make new friends, find volunteer work in the community, and be able to join the e-board which would look great on your co-curricular transcript. Also, it gives you something to do so you’re not having all work and no free time.
7. Pay attention to what days most students do laundry– No one likes having to wait in line to do laundry! Find out which day the laundry room is less packed, or even empty and make that your weekly day and/or time to do laundry so you worry about it less.
8. Try to keep things minimal- We all know how tight dorm rooms can be and we also know how heavy our book bags can be if we are commuting. To save your back and save space, try to keep things together. Use one binder for multiple classes, and keep only a few pens, pencils, and a highlighter or two in a pencil bag or case. Carrying textbooks all day adds a lot of weight so don’t add in extra things you don’t need. For those who live on campus, only bring the essential things you need. You won’t need more than two toothbrushes (one should be a back-up), some bedding options, clothes, desk organizers, desk lamps, a full-length mirror, makeup, and whatever else you have to have. When there are breaks, you can always go home and switch things out when you need something else.
9. Always know where to go in case of an emergency- No one ever thinks about emergencies in college but it is something that you should think about. You should know where you find the local campus police, the town police, and blue emergency light stations. You should also have a copy of your insurance card on you as well.
10. Stay organized- Out of the other nine rules listed, this is one with the highest importance. College students constantly struggle to keep up with assignments, projects and deadlines. The trick to solve this problem is stay organized and invest in a desk calendar and a planner. With a desk calendar, you can write down all your important due dates so it’s not only in your planner and syllabus. You can also write important dates for clubs, volunteer fairs, job fairs, blood donation drives, and more.