The transition from high school to college academics can be intimidating, especially if you go in blind. Exams and papers often comprise the majority of your grade in a class, which can make them seem like Herculean tasks. However, there are quite a few ways to alleviate the initial stress of it all — the majority of which simply involve being prepared. With that said, here are a few tips and tricks to help get you through:
Do not, under any circumstances, procrastinate. I know this may seem like very standard advice, but it is probably the most important component to succeeding in college. Now, we all know that a little procrastination does happen from time to time, but try your very best to avoid making it a habit. I can say from experience that finals week is a lot less stressful if you’ve already started writing that 20-page paper before the day it’s due. So make an academic planner at the beginning of the semester and stick to it. Don’t wait until the last minute to do your work; it will not benefit you or your grades in the long run.
It is inevitable that you will have to write some sort of paper before you graduate. As an English major, I feel qualified to let you in on my process, as writing papers is basically my life. The best advice I can give to you is this: compile all of your evidence first. Yes, sitting down to comb through hundreds of pages of a book or to look through 10 different academic articles is not exactly fun, but it is a life-saving technique. Find all your quotes, organize them into groups and then fill in the gaps with your own commentary — the paper will practically write itself. Trust me, this method has never failed me, and I can almost guarantee that it will help you write a killer, college-level essay, as long as you take the time to do it well.
Flashcards will be your best friend. You probably thought you’d escaped them, but flashcards are still the perfect way to study for an exam. I use them for vocab tests in French, but my roommate uses them to study for her biology exams. No matter your field of study, they will come in handy. And, for those of you who like Quizlet but don’t want to pay for premium — let’s be honest, who does? — I would recommend checking out Knowt.com. It’s the same thing, but completely free!
Make friends in your classes because they will save your life. I’m not even being dramatic. There is a 100% chance you will miss a class at some point, and you will want to have someone to contact for notes, help and inside information on what happened when you were gone. So, on the first day of class, just sit next to someone who looks nice and introduce yourself. I promise, everyone is in the same situation as you and will appreciate the effort.
Use the resources that are available to you. Professors, TAs, tutors, etc. — there are so many people here at Clemson to support you. Everyone wants you to succeed, and you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not take advantage of that. Your professors may seem scary, but going to office hours is probably the best decision you can make — for yourself and for your grades.
That’s all for now, but I hope to see you around, living your best, hardworking college student lives. Hopefully, you take some of my advice and have a productive semester full of good grades and great memories.
