Starting your freshman year at New England Tech? Chances are, pretty much everyone has given you advice on what to do – whether you asked or not! Don’t skip classes (of course). Get involved (yup, easy one). Get to know your professors (sure). All good tips, right? Well, here are some additional college hacks that nobody may have recommended — and that’ll help you get the most of your freshmen year.
Let’s start a conversation. What do you think of these hacks, and what other suggestions do you have for your fellow freshman classmates?
- Take a pic of your course schedule and keep it on your phone. That way, you’ll never have to think twice about where you need to be and when.
- Make at least one friend in every class, so if you can’t make a class, you can always get the notes and not fall behind.
- Speaking of notes, take lots of them. And get involved in class discussions. Chances are if you do both, you’ll perform better.
- Consider recording lectures and “how to” discussions in our labs, and then listen to them at 1.5 times the speed. Listening again will help you absorb more of the material, and playing it back at a faster rate will save you time.
- Maybe a no brainer — but make time for exercise. Too many students don’t. Hitting the gym (or the road if you run or even just walk) helps burn off stress. Not only does this increase your ability to focus, but it will also help you fend off that “freshman 15.”
- Heavy sleeper? Drop your cell phone into an empty glass to amplify the alarm at o’dark hundred.
- Use a planner to stay on top of your assignments and due dates. Break down big projects into manageable chunks and give each part a due date. No one wants to remember – and dread –a big project looming over their head.
- Make the most of your space. Invest in a couple of under-the-bed storage containers to store items you don’t use regularly.
- Use the timer on your phone. Often. That 5-minute break from studying you promised yourself could quickly turn into 50 if you start surfing the web or social media in search of shiny objects that distract you from your study time. Set a timer and stick to it.
- Ask about student discounts when shopping. Many stores offer discounts to students — not all advertise them. It never hurts to ask.
There are dozens of more hacks that can be recommended. Share your favorite ones and pass these along.
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