Is the First Semester of College Hard & How You Can Prepare

If you’re going to college you’re probably wondering how hard the first semester of college really is. As a recent college graduate, I know first hand how hard your first semester of college can be. However, since I’ve been been in your shoes, I know some ways to make starting college easier.

Before you even start college there are some things you are going to want to know and some ways that you should prepare. Which raises the question…

Is the First Semester of College Hard?

First year students tend to find the first semester of college hard as it’s a big change from high school. Living independently, a large campus and a new environment are reasons why freshman find their first semester of college challenging. After the first semester, college becomes more manageable.

In this post, I share 8 ways to prepare for college and I answer some frequently asked questions from new college students.

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8 Ways to Prepare for College

1. Create the Right Habits

Creating the right habits is crucial to succeeding in your first semester of college. Before you start college, you’re going to want to have the right infrastructure in place so you are as prepared as possible.

Building good study habits, being disciplined when it comes to time management and controlling how much time you spend on social media are important habits for college.

Once college starts, the semester tends to move very quickly. Creating a schedule and sticking to it, is a great way to hold yourself accountable for the work that has to get done.

Before college starts, get in the habit of getting a good night’s rest. Sleep is super important in college, so try to get as close to 8 hours as possible.

The two worst habits that many college students have, is procrastinating on homework and skipping class. As a college student, do your best to avoid skipping class and leaving your assignments to the last minute.

In my experience, most students who get in the habit of not attending class early on in college, are the students who eventually drop out. It’s important to find ways to keep yourself motivated, attend class and do the work that is required.

2. Have the Proper School Supplies

The best way to guarantee good grades in college is to have the proper school supplies. Oftentimes, new college students are surprised when they attend their first lecture and every student is using a laptop or iPad.

As a college student, having the proper materials is super important for class. Notebooks, pencils, pens, an agenda and a laptop or iPad are the school essentials that you need for college.

If you’re looking for school supplies for college, check out this list.

School Essentials for College:

iPad (see price on Amazon)
Pencils
Pens
Highlighters
Notebooks
Pencil case (see over 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon)
Agenda

3. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself

It’s no secret that college classes are different from high school classes. First year students will oftentimes be caught off-guard the first time that they walk into a college lecture.

A college class is a totally new environment, so be prepared for a bigger classroom and a lot more freedom. Campus life is totally different from the high school experience. There are a lot less rules, however the expectations when it comes to school work will be higher.

In college, the semester moves faster and you will have an increased workload which can result in many students feeling overwhelmed. When it comes to your class schedule, you might want to take a reduced course load for your first semester to make it more manageable.

As a student, the last thing you want is to feel like you don’t have enough time to do assignments and study because you took too many classes. It’s a lot better to take a reduced course load and do an extra semester then to fail and do an extra semester.

4. Surround Yourself With the Right People

In your freshman year of college you will meet many new people. In college, it’s important to surround yourself with people who have similar goals as you.

The reality of college is that every student is there for a different reason. Some students want to get great grades and continue their education. For others, they want to party and just get through college.

Surrounding yourself with students who are willing to put in the hard work is a great way to succeed in college. You’ll be able to take classes together, make a study group and get good grades.

If you want to party and just get through college there is nothing wrong with that. Just remember to make time for your studies and to find the balance between school and pleasure.

When I was in college, I had a great time, made some lifelong friends and still managed to do well in school.

Unfortunately, taking this approach is a slippery slope as you will surround yourself with people who will skip class, not do assignments and even fail. Finding the right balance is important because you don’t want to end up on academic probation or dropping out.

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5. Stay Organized

When it comes to college courses, it’s important to stay organized starting on the first day of class. If you plan on getting high grades, you will need to write down important dates, take good notes and manage your time well.

Using an iPad or laptop to take notes is the best way to take clean and organized notes. When it comes to the end of the semester and you have exams, you will be grateful that you took good notes.

Part of staying organized is having a clean dorm room or apartment. Do your best to keep your living area clean, it’s a good habit to get into.

Organization is a really good habit that only makes your life as a student easier. Keeping a neat backpack, dorm room and notes will make your dat to day life a lot better.

6. Find the Right Balance

Part of the college experience is finding the right balance between school work and fun. A struggle that many students have, especially in their first semester of college, is finding that balance.

In college, you’re going to want to have a social life, but you also don’t want to get bad grades. It’s important to manage your free time properly and the best way to do this is by making a daily schedule.

If you attend class, do your homework and make time for studying, you will do well in college. If you start prioritizing partying and choose to skip class so you can see your friends, your grades will suffer and you will fall behind.

In college the semester moves so quickly that falling behind becomes a big deal really quickly! Before you know it, you will be overwhelmed with assignments because you lost focus.

7. Be Friendly With Your Professors

A attribute a big part of my success in college to being friendly and building a relationship with my professors. Being on your teachers good side comes in handy when it comes to final exams and getting extra help.

Going to your professor’s office hours is a good way to ask question and to get to know them better. If your professor likes you and sees that you try hard, they will help you out when you need them most.

Another good resource that the school offers is an academic advisor. If you’re unsure of your future and you don’t like what you’re studying, the academic advisor is there to help and they are amazing.

If you’re a new student, take advantage of the resources that your college offers!

8. Just Go With the Flow

The reality of college life is that after your first few weeks, college flies by. By your second semester of college you will know what to expect, and by your sophomore year you will no longer be a new college student.

Before you know it you will be in your senior year and you’ll almost be done college. College passes by really fast so it’s a great opportunity to try new experiences, meet new people and make the most out of it.

As a recent college graduate, I look back on my time in college and I wonder how it passed by so fast. Although college can be stressful, the good heavily outweighs the bad. In retrospect, those were some of the most fun years of my life.

Just take it day by day, attend class, do your best and you will do great in college.

Is it Normal to Struggle in the First Semester of College?

Struggling in the first semester of college is very common among college students. College is a big step up from high school, which tends to catch freshman off-guard. Larger class sizes, living independently and an increased workload are all reasons why students struggle in their first semester.

Is it Okay to Fail in College?

Failing a class in college will hurt your GPA and can effect your chances at getting into a graduate school. When students fail a class in college, they will be required to retake the class. Failing a college class means that the student will have to stay in college longer than intended.

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Final Thoughts on Is The First Semester of College Hard?

If you’re nervous for your first semester of college, don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal. Preparing before the semester starts is the best way to start your college semester on the right foot.

In this post, I shared why college is hard and 8 ways to prepare for college.

What tips do you have to make starting college easier? Please let me know in the comments below.