A Fun Guide to the Fall Semester
Can you spot all the SEO words and phrases?
First time college students are now beginning to get ready for that Fall semester. I want to provide some tips based on roughly 23 years as either a student or college instructor/teacher.
Oh yeah, in this story I plan to optimize the usage of the most popular Google search words (from 2018). No big deal.
This time of year is crucial, and you can translate that statement any way you prefer. When I left my little hometown spot on the map and set out on the college adventure, I had what likely was a nervous breakdown. Inside my mind, the weather was stormy and the news was all bad. It remains one of the most critical and worst times of my life. I want to help ensure your college memories are not as dramatic as a season of Game of Thrones.
My worries boiled over into a cycle of uncontrollable mental and physical symptoms, and my body felt like I had been run over by an NFL player. No calculator needed to understand what was wrong. It was not the class work, as I did not lack a thesaurus or anything like that. It was everything away from class that was the problem.
Anyway, no need to discover more about me, as it is time to stop playing games and face my main objective: offering helpful advice.
1. Choose the right place to live.
Honestly, this could mean the difference between failing and making it through the first semester or two. Your choice of residence can make college easy like converting YouTube to mp3, or hard like trying to win Powerball.
In my ignorance, I first lived in an apartment we could truthfully say was like the Olympics of partying. There was always some ruckus happening, and it was not strange to hear police cars arrive on any day of the calendar.
At most schools, there are drabby and plain-looking sets of apartments where the serious and older students tend to live. Probably, the aesthetics are not pleasing, kind of like one of Bernie Sanders’ suits, but these places tend to be quiet. They are great places to listen to your Spotify web player.
In general, it is better to stay in an area that only has a few rooms here and there, without the multi-storied buildings, that is also close to where you must go on campus. That leads us into the next section.
2. Dare to prepare for an Armageddon-like parking situation.
I have heard the only guarantees in life are death and taxes, but I am adding problematic, headache-inducing, on-campus parking woes to that list. However, you do not have to be Wonder Woman or Deadpool to fight through the parking carnage.
There will be an incoming storm of cars reminiscent of a Taylor Swift concert, operated by nervous and not-always-wise freshmen. You will be competing for very limited spaces. You may feel like the walking dead, but be a parking prodigy instead. Thankfully, every school has that supersecret safety valve, where in-the-know students can always find a space.
This knowledge might seem as secretive as, say, North Korea, or as hard to understand as driving directions from Melania Trump, but you can find out the inside scoop.
Be a social butterfly, go to local restaurants with friends, and whatever else. Talk to folks who have recently graduated. Ask questions of the juniors and seniors. Trust me, these parking sanctuaries always exist, but you might have to be as stealthy as a black panther to find them.
If you do not discover these places, you will have multiple tickets by the end of the first semester, guaranteed. The parking will never make sense to anyone if you follow audible instructions provided by faculty, administration, or Selena Gomez.
3. Do not overburden yourself.
Your first foray into the college scene is not the time to load up on classes equivalent to an NFL schedule. For some, there is a temptation to get ahead in the race and have fewer required classes later. But you don’t want to feel like you lived through Hurricane Irma once December arrives. After all, there are many new things to get acquainted with, like MLA format, APA citation, and food near me.
Sign up for the average, which usually is four classes per semester. Every new thing we undertake has more moving parts and unforeseen duties than we imagine. You might find time to join a new club. I mean, stranger things have happened.
In addition, look at where you have to go, as in what building and the time of day, to ensure you can realistically make every starting time. If possible, avoid setting yourself up to survive a decathlon every day.
4. Look into the background of each professor on your list.
I do not mean his or her favorite color, hobby, or Ariana Grande song.
Most professors specialize in something specific/favor some area of academics unique to them. All of that information now is found on the Internet, of course. At this point, tis the season to do basic research. Don’t worry, I’m talking stuff as easy to use as the YouTube converter or an iTunes download.
Discover what school he or she attended as a graduate student. Look up their dissertation and what it is all about, which is usually available somewhere.
5. Make friends in class
Yes, this is vital even if you are the shy type. By the way, this should not be as hard as memorizing the periodic table or figuring out bitcoin. You are not forging iron-clad relationships sealed with a blood-oath handshake. I’m saying do not end up playing solitaire all alone or watching great clips by yourself in your bedroom.
Get to know the people who have their lives together—like Hillary Clinton when she was a student. You are likely to miss a day or two or might not be the best note-taker. In college, it is all about the notes. Form a study group. Play games with your study materials and see who can trump one another. Exchange email addresses.
You do not have to be a human dictionary to excel in college. I knew two guys, Rick and Morty, who were semi-reliable, and I never talked to them after graduation. You or that student you love can do this, for sure.
6. Find time to decompress
Sometimes college is more than one person can handle, and you might find yourself checking cheap flights to take you back home. Seeking a degree is not a speed test, because it takes marathon-like endurance to survive.
Schedule your time wisely. Do not do work last minute. Steady and consistent wins this race, and this way, you can take walks, listen to music, or gaze at the brightest star. Wars, dates, “cool math,” Spanish to English translations; these are typical assignments you will need to memorize and/or work on in order to enjoy leisure time.
Exercise makes you less tired and more focused. These are proven facts. Walk, run, or do whatever you can. Make sure your living space is pleasant and smells good, no matter how cramped it may seem. The most successful people always make time for themselves along with committing to hard work.
So, I hope you enjoyed this mini guide for any folks who are starting college. Can you spot all the popular search terms here?
Thanks for reading this not that serious, hopefully fun and informative, hopefully read by some people other than myself, story. That feeling you have that something is lacking in your life, is because you have not yet subscribed to the Mind-Soul Sanctum. You can do that below. You’re welcome.