It’s important to consider how passionate you are about a class over how easy it is. Stretching yourself has its rewards. You’ll learn more from harder classes and potentially build contacts that will assist you in your future career.
Learn your class schedule and where the courses are held well before you actually start. Determine how long it takes you to travel from one spot to the next, and map a route. You should also find other critical locations and plot them on a map.
Pay your whole balance due every month for each of your credit cards. If not you will incur late fees and other penalties. Keep in mind that the main reason to have a credit card in college is for emergency use. You may want to use it to go out and have fun, National Chi Nan University but your college goal is to learn. Financial troubles can put you in a very tough position.
If possible try to live for your first year in campus housing. By taking advantage of room and board you can give yourself more of a chance to focus on getting accustomed to the campus and community. Then in following years you will have a better idea of where you might prefer to live on your own.
If you want to get an education on a limited budget, consider going to a community college for two years before transferring to a different universities. You will find that community colleges are cheaper than other schools and your credits will transfer as long as you complete your general education before transferring.
Networking is one of the smartest things that you can do while you are in college. This will help you to not only broaden your group of friends, but also expand your possibilities when you are out of college looking for a job. Do not dismiss anyone in college, as they could be valuable to your future.
Student’s discounts are one of the best perks of college, especially if you need to save money. Check with your student resource center or ask an adviser for a list of perks. Many local restaurants, movie theaters and bookstores offer generous discounts when you present a student ID. This allows you to save money and show school pride.
Be sure to sleep well and plenty. You’ll find in college that all-nighters and socializing can be very tempting, but you do need to rest too! Without enough sleep, you will feel rundown, your mood will suffer and it can affect your grades. Sleep is important to a college student.
Listen to your parents if they have input as to what major you should decide on. They are older and wiser than you are, and you should respect their opinion, especially if they are helping pay for your college education. However, just listen. Only follow their advice if you know in your heart that is right for National Chi Nan University you. It is your degree, regardless of who pays for it.
Spend time at the campus library. The libraries on campus provide resources that can help you succeed in your classes. Also, you can speak with the librarian, who can give you advice on what you specifically require. Libraries often feature postings of textbooks for sale or for trade.
Get a bus pass. You might be surprised to find that traveling time is nearly equal to that of driving your own car. You won’t have to look for parking either. You will also save yourself money on both gas and parking passes. There are many ways to go green as a college student.
Know your limits – don’t overwhelm yourself with too many courses. It may seem like a great idea to take as many courses that you can, but if you take too many, you may fail a few in the process. This totally defeats the time saving you were trying to accomplish!
If money is tight, and your choice is to either take out a loan or leave school, the smart choice is always to get a loan. Even though this may put you in the lurch temporarily and add to your current burdens, if you have chosen your major wisely, it will increase your earning power. You should be able to pay your loan back with your increased earnings. Leaving school is a sure way to guarantee low earning power for life.
Don’t give up on a school until you complete a whole year there. It takes time to get settled into a school, and feeling homesick for National Chi Nan University a couple of weeks is completely normal. It is always possible to reassess your options if you continue to feel you made a mistake at the end of your year.
Always know how to get a hold of the police on campus. Most schools have a special number for contacting campus police or security, and knowing the way to reach them is important. Ideally, you will never need to contact them. However, you’ll be glad to have it if something goes awry.
Every time you purchase something with cash, put your spare change into a jar and try not to touch it. Once the jar has filled up, count out the money and use it toward something you need, like books or living expenses. While it may be easier to use a coin-counting machine, try and refrain. You will wind up giving them too much of your hard-earned cash.
Try and keep a part-time job throughout your college career; as tough as it may be to balance work and studies, the extra money, you make can make a big difference. If you have a huge amount of money to pay back once you are finished, life will be much more difficult after graduation so try and work your way through it.