The summer after I graduated high school, I was constantly on Pinterest looking for college-related tips and tricks. I especially wanted to know what it would be like to be a Christian at college as I knew it was common for people to leave their faiths behind once they moved away from home.
The fear of the unknown was strong for me. I had so many concerns and questions that summer, many of which went unanswered until I was there, on campus, living the college life.
If you just graduated high school, I want to save you some of the stress I experienced that summer.
A few months ago, I asked those in the Joy Because Grace community to share with me any questions they had about college. Then, I went to the girls in my Christian college bloggers Facebook group and asked them to answer those questions.
This post is compiled of their responses (as well as some of my own).
On that note, I would like to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to all of my fellow bloggers who took the time to answer these questions!
Ally, Kristen, Kym, Lily, Cassie, Jamie, Demi, Allie, Hannah, and Monica- Thank y’all so much! I know your answers are going to be a huge help to someone :)
(P.S. If you click the name listed after each quote, you’ll be taken to that person’s blog. I definitely recommend you do so if you would like to read more awesomeness written by these ladies!)
These are the questions we’re answering today:
(Click on the question to jump to that part of this article.)
- What is it like to be a Christian at college?
- How did you pick your college/university?
- How did you adjust to college as a freshman?
- What’s your best advice for making friends in college?
- Is it possible to still have fun in college as a Christian?
- What do you think about dating in college?
- What are your thoughts about going into debt for school?
- How did you pick your major?
- Did you ever change your major? If so, how did you decide to do that? Would you recommend someone to change their major, or should they stick with the first major they decided on?
- Would you advise someone to read everything?
- Is it more convenient to have your own car, can you get along without one, or does it depend on the area?
- Are the professors mean like they say?
- How do you share your faith on campus?
- What important life skills did you learn in college?
- Which skills do you think are most vital to know before college?
- What is your #1 best organizational tip?
- What is your #1 best time-management tip?
Alright, let’s get started! Sit back, relax, and happy reading!
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What is it like to be a Christian at college?
“If you find your ‘people’ and community, then it really feels normal and natural to be yourself and be a Christian. Before I found my place in a Christian community, it was kind of isolating and hard to look past all the parties and alcohol and find Jesus in the midst of it all.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“For me, I sought out a community of like-minded people so I never felt marginalized or like I didn’t fit in with my peers. I think finding that community really helped keep me grounded in my faith.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“It’s what you make it! College provides a great opportunity to make your faith your own. I think a lot of people slack in faith in college because they don’t make that personal connection and make faith and prayer a daily priority. I’ve also found that in college, people are generally more open and willing to listen to other points of view / other religions, so it’s also been a great chance to share my faith with others (with those who are simply curious about the Catholic church or Christianity, or with meeting other Christians in college).”
–Kristen, a 20-year-old senior at a public university in Florida
“It can be hard. I go to a Christian school and even still it’s a struggle. Having some strong Christian women around me has definitely encouraged me to continue pursuing my relationship with the Lord rather than just letting it sit stagnantly.”
–Jamie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in California
How did you pick your college/university?
“It’s where my family went, and I had kind of grown up hearing about it and going to it.”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“I picked it based on the program. I wanted to be a teacher, and my school has one of the top education programs in the country. Plus when I visited, I fell in love with the campus!”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“I picked Colorado Mesa University because of its nursing program…and then never studied nursing. ha! I also chose CMU because of their dance program and that they had a Young Life college ministry.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“I prayed a lot about which college to go to. I had narrowed it down to two colleges I really liked and then prayed about it a lot and talked to my parents about it, as well as some people who went to those schools. All of that helped me decide on a school.”
–Kara, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Texas
“Initially, I took interest in my uni because of the degree program I was pursuing, but I fell in love with its Christian values and strong community of believers who can challenge and strengthen me throughout my spiritual growth and emergence into adulthood.”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“I picked my University based on size, degree programs, and campus ministry. I knew that I wanted a smaller school because Florida has a ton of really huge schools! My school is really medium-sized (about 16,000 students), but I felt that a smaller community created by being in the Honors College and by being in a strong campus ministry, allowed me to find my place pretty easily once starting at my University.”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
How did you adjust to college as a freshman?
“Oh, freshman year… my college had a freshman week where you moved in early and did ‘classes’ with other freshmen. If your college has this, I highly recommend it. It was nice to know everyone surrounding you was in the same boat and to adjust a bit before everyone else got to campus the next week.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“I actually didn’t attend a Christian college as a freshman (I transferred my junior year) so I was fine adjusting to college at first because I was just living at home and driving to class every day.”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“My college was a 15 minutes drive from home, so that was quite helpful! I thought I wouldn’t like having my family so close, but in the end, I really did! My pot-luck roommate and I met up a few times the summer before freshman year (once we knew who we were living with) and it really helped to know her a bit before living with her. :)”
–Kara, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Texas
“Adjustments are always challenging for me, but I really relied on the communities that I found early on. I started off by saying “yes” to almost every social activity and becoming friends with whoever I could. Over time, I became closer to a smaller group of people and began to invest my time with them and narrow down my social group. Starting out big was the key for me, and helped me to find some of my closest friends that supported me all throughout college and now graduate school!”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
“It wasn’t easy. I made a huge effort to find all of the community that I could. I joined and visited any clubs that seemed remotely interesting to me. I got involved in student council, which eventually sparked my passion for graphic design. I got into student council, religious clubs, a college youth program at a local church, and more. I also got a stellar planner. It helped me organize everything that I was involved in and keep control of everything in my life.”
–Demi, a 19-year-old junior who has attended both private and public universities in South Carolina
What’s your best advice for making friends in college?
“Put yourself in the places where the people you would like to be friends with are. If you want to make sure you meet Christian friends, go to church, find a bible study, whatever your area offers. If you want to meet people with similar interests as you, attend a club for that on campus! The most important thing is to put yourself out there. Friends aren’t going to appear in your dorm room, you have to be in places where you can meet people.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“Go to as many events or clubs as you reasonably can, but don’t do anything you really don’t want to do. Be yourself and do things you enjoy – you’ll find people along the way who are doing the same thing as you.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“Put yourself out there!! Introduce yourself and you never know who you’ll end up LOVING. I was looking for a new roommate after my first semester and I randomly asked a girl that I sat with in class, and she knew someone next door to her that needed a roommate too! That group of girls became my very best friends.”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“Go on a mission trip/ get involved in a ministry of some sort! I met some of my dearest friends by going on a mission trip through my university’s BSM. Also- invite people to go with you to events you’re interested in, such as your roommate, your neighbor, or the girl who sits by you in class. Invite people to go grocery shopping with you. Invite people to sit with you in the cafeteria. Just invite people. You never know who will be your next friend.”
–Kara, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Texas
“I’ll be honest…I didn’t meet my core group of friends until my last year in school. I had ‘friends,’ sure, but not the kind of ‘stay up late, get coffee, talk about boys, eat junk food on the couch’ friends. My advice is to know that not everyone you meet is going to be your bestie. Seek out people whose company you enjoy, not just people who you think you should be friends with. I don’t think there’s a tried and true way for making friends other than ‘be yourself’ which sounds cheesy.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“Just talk to people! Seriously, introduce yourself to people who are alone in the line at the dining hall. Sit at tables with people you don’t know. Find organizations that sound interesting to you and actually go to a meeting and talk to them about it. It’s amazing what being open will do for other people opening up to you.”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennesee
Is it possible to still have fun in college as a Christian?
“Absolutely! I go to a Christian university that offers many events and activities that are an absolute blast (that DON’T involve drinking or drugs), but I also found like-minded friends who I can go on long drives with, day-trips, hiking or to the lake, among many other things. Find your people and stay true to yourself & you can absolutely find ways to have fun without compromising your values!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“YES YES YES. First of all, when you’re a Christian, you shouldn’t feel like you’re missing out on all the parties. Second, I got to do amazing and fun things with my club at school! We would get together and “Christian party”!”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“Oh absolutely. Once I found my community and friends amongst other Christians in college, my life became so much more fun. “Fun” doesn’t have to mean parties and alcohol, it can mean cute brunch parties and coffee dates and exploring around your college town.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“Oh my goodness absolutely, yes! “Christian” is not synonymous with “lame”. We had game night, fun on-campus events like an “Amazing Race”, movie nights. All of it. Just because you’re not participating in the typical party scene doesn’t mean you aren’t having fun. Also, some campuses bring puppies during finals week. That’s a blast.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“100% yes! I know some people who went to wild parties and just didn’t drink or anything, but my friends and I all found ways to have fun without getting into trouble! We had plenty of movie nights, game nights, food runs, and more. It’s still totally fun. It mostly depends on who you hang out with. If you focus on what you’re missing out on, you’ll be miserable. But if you find good friends to have clean fun with, college is a blast!”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“Absolutely! I think the important thing about being a Christian in college is about defining your intentions and what’s important to you. There are so many things that are fun in college that don’t involve drinking and partying on the weekend. Your idea of fun could be exploring local coffee shops, visiting museums, or going to new places in the city. However, it’s completely up to you! Going out doesn’t make you any less of a Christian, either. It’s about being intentional about what you’ll do while out, who you’re going to be with, and what will happen.”
–Demi, a 19-year-old junior who has attended both private and public universities in South Carolina
“Absolutely! I didn’t drink until I was 21, and I avoided frat parties completely. My school had a very strong culture of partying, hookups, and drinking, so sometimes that was awkward. But you can find friends who want to do the same things as you, or go to smaller parties and have fun even if you choose not to drink or anything. You have to be a little more confident in your decision, but it’s very doable!”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“YES! Some of my favorite college memories include baking cookies with my friends, going bowling, renting out paddle boards, heading to the beach, coffee shop study dates, movie nights with popcorn, Bible studies, and crafting with my roomies. Being a Christian doesn’t mean sitting in your room and praying 24/7, but rather living out a moral life in our studies, work, and social lives. We can be an example to others of true freedom through wholesome fun.”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
What do you think about dating in college?
“I’m for it – doesn’t mean it happened to me 😂”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“There’s nothing wrong with it, but like any season of life, it should NEVER be your first priority. Don’t go to school looking for a husband. Go fall in love with your studies and your friends and the place where you are instead. When y’all do cross paths, you’ll have a lot more to talk about that way!”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“I’ve gone back and forth on this one! I personally haven’t really dated in college. I think it’s hard to find men with the same dating mindset as me. Most people are focused on having fun and not finding a serious, marriage-headed relationship. The college dating scene is kind of discouraging because so many people are settling for relationships with little to no standards. I think it’s just fine to date in college, as long as you’re coming from a good place and you know what you’re looking for in a partner.”
–Kristen, a 20-year-old senior at a public university in Florida
“I think it’s important to date only people who have similar standards to you. This will keep you from getting into situations you may be uncomfortable with. College is a great time to meet and date new people, but you have to be careful who you surround yourself with.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“I think dating in college is awesome if you’re dating someone whose values align with your own. I met my now husband my freshman year and we dated throughout college.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“I haven’t dated much, but it’s definitely a part of college culture. If you’re going to date, just know what you value and don’t compromise your beliefs to do so. There are great guys out there who’ll match your values if you look. It’s perfectly fine to go on dates with different people and find out what type of guy you want, just stay true to yourself along the way.”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“Dating in college is awesome! I think that the most important thing to do if you’re dating in college is to be intentional about knowing what you want. If you’re interested in just dating casually, do it! I think that there’s nothing wrong with going on and seeing what you’re looking for in a partner, especially if college is your first time in the dating field. If you’re looking for a husband, be intentional about that. Don’t settle or allow certain standards that you want in your husband, DON’T SETTLE. There’s a person who’s out there for you who is exactly and everything that you’re looking for, but you have to be willing to wait for him.”
–Demi, a 19-year-old junior who has attended both private and public universities in South Carolina
“I think dating in college is great! College is a place where we can join clubs, sports, and other groups related to our individual interests, and we can meet other people who are into the same things that we are. There is really no other time in life where we have this much social opportunity and freedom. Within that, prudence in decision-making is SO important. The hook-up culture is VERY real and we have to be extremely conscious of the choices we make and follow God’s lead in any dating encounters. I met my now-fiance through my campus ministry, and am so grateful for that connection every single day!”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
What are your thoughts on going into debt for school?
“I personally didn’t want to be tied down with student loans my whole life, so I actively worked to avoid debt. I choose a cheaper school, worked hard to get scholarships and worked through school to avoid taking out any loans. This isn’t possible for everyone, but I would advise you to keep your debt as low as possible. It’s not worth suffering the rest of your life paying off loans for four short years of school.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“I took out loans for most of my schooling. For me, it’s “Good debt” and I know I’ll be able to pay it off. If you’re truly passionate about what you’re studying then I think the pros outweigh the cons.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“While debt is NOT fun, I think it’s okay to invest in a college education- if you find balance and start planning on how to manage and pay off debt from the get-go! Working while in school or just saving up money by not going out to eat or doing activities that cost money every weekend, you can start paying off loans while in school so you don’t accumulate as much interest. It’s also beneficial to consider what degree you’re planning on pursuing, how good the program at your school of choice is, and what the job outlook is like while considering a school. Don’t let it scare you if you find the right school, you’ve just got to consider the opportunity cost of receiving the education at that school and be diligent in keeping up with the debt you accumulated so you can formulate a plan to pay it off!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
How did you pick your major?
“I became interested in psychology in high school, so knew that I wanted to study that in college. After that, I researched graduate degrees and landed on Mental Health Counseling. Everything just kind of fell into place with lots and lots of prayer.”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
“When choosing a major, I considered my spiritual gifts and personality as a whole and narrowed it down to a few majors that I thought would suit me. I then researched programs, more career details and shadowed in those fields to see what I liked best. I also ended up choosing something a lot of people thought I’d be good at & that fit hobbies/interests I had throughout my childhood! It’s important to choose something you’re passionate about, but that you’ll also be good at. For instance, I absolutely LOVE art, but I’m not amazing at it and don’t have the personality to fight for a career in that competitive field, so it wouldn’t have been a good major for me! Nursing, however, matched my interest in science, surgery & caring for others with my ability to memorize things easily, my encouraging attitude & my lack of squeamishness!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“I thought about what I loved to do. I was really passionate about teaching people how to be healthy so I chose Kinesiology with a concentration in fitness and health promotion and love every second of it. So much so, that I graduated in 3 years.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“I chose Spanish education because it was my favorite class in high school and because I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I also loved the idea of potential missions opportunities that could come from knowing a second language.”
–Kara, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Texas
Did you ever change your major? If so, how did you decide to do that? Would you recommend someone to change their major, or should they stick with the first major they decided on?
“I volunteered for a blood drive and almost passed out, that’s how i learned I couldn’t be a nurse. So I reevaluated what my passions were and found something I loved.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“I actually advise taking a wide range of classes you are interested in freshman and sophomore year, and researching other majors even after you’ve chosen one. It’s not the end of the world to change your major and you want to do what going to make you happiest in the long run! If you do want to change your major, meet with your advisor and they can help you figure out how to do it easiest.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“I changed my major twice. I knew that the major I started out with was not what I wanted, I was settling because I thought the degree would be easier than the one I wanted. Once I was confident enough to change my major to the one I always dreamed of, I took one semester of classes and realized I hated it. At that point, I picked a completely random major that I didn’t know a whole lot about, and it turns out this is exactly where God wanted me all along. It’s okay to change your mind. This is potentially what you will be doing for the rest of your life, so you don’t want to hate it or be miserable. Changing majors is actually really easy, there are advisors to help you out the entire time. Changing your major may mean graduating a little later, but I think that is totally worth it.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“Definitely change it if you think you might want to. I should have!”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
Would you advise someone to read everything?
“Read everything, as in every assigned reading? I didn’t! I think if you have the tools to be able to skim and find key concepts, there’s no need to read word for word. Unless it’s the Bible…don’t cliff notes that one. ;)”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“YES! It is always better to read too much than not enough. I’ve had professors where I didn’t really HAVE to read anything, but I’ve also had professors who had a quiz at the start of every single class.”
–Demi, a 19-year-old junior who has attended both private and public universities in South Carolina
“Nope! Learn how to skim well. Always read the intro and conclusion paragraphs to anything assigned, then the first sentence of each paragraph, then if you need more info, the last sentence of each paragraph. If the material is still confusing after those, that’s when you read word for word.”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“Everyone learns differently. Personally, I’ve found it helpful to read chapter summaries and bolded information before class, and then see what the professor goes into detail about during their lecture. This way, I know what’s going on ahead of time, but I’m not overwhelming myself. I would always suggest asking the professor what they expect and what they recommend. Each class is different!”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“I would read everything before the first test, and then evaluate whether or not all of that reading was necessary afterward. In some classes, you just need to take notes on what the professor says in class, but in other classes, there will be material on the test that wasn’t covered in class so it’s essential to read the assigned text.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
Is it more convenient to have your own car, can you get along without one, or does it depend on the area?
“I lived on campus my first year and didn’t bring my car the first semester. It was a little difficult for my roommate and I the first semester because neither of us had a car, so even getting to the store for groceries was a challenge. I brought my car the next semester and used it for errands mostly. You can definitely get along without one, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have one, either.”
–Kristen, a 20-year-old senior at a public university in Florida
“I didn’t have a car my freshman year but I did the rest of the time I was in school. Freshman year I was generally able to get around because the grocery store was within biking distance and I hitched rides everywhere else. but I definitely benefited from having my car from a job standpoint, that’s for sure.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“Having a car is very convenient, but where I go to school, it’s easy to walk places or get an Uber/carpool with friends. I personally use my car mostly for driving the few hours from campus to my home.”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“It depends on the area! I went to school in the middle of downtown Nashville, so we did cabs and Uber a lot. But if you bring a car, a great way to love others is to be willing to offer rides to places like church and the grocery store!”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“I think it definitely depends on the area and the public transportation system in that area. Personally, I have to have my car. It’s so much more convenient to go run errands or go to meetings or appointments without the stress of relying on public transportation.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“It definitely depends on the area, but I actually found it was more convenient not to have one! Parking is a huge hassle at my school and everywhere I’ve lived (on- and off-campus) and my town has excellent public transport. Many cities have great public transport deals for college students, so look into that before deciding whether or not to bring a car.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
Are the professors mean like they say?
“Honestly, 90% of the professors I have had are chiller than my high school teachers. Be sure to use office hours to meet your professors and develop a good relationship with them and you’ll find out most professors are really cool.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“Nope! It depends on the professor, but most of them are there because they like interacting with students. Show you care and they will usually match your effort.”
–Allie, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“Some professors can be mean or intimidating, but some are amazing! I personally have only had good experiences with professors that are very caring and approachable!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“At my university, the professors were WONDERFUL. They cared about me and my well being. They would actually tell me to skip class if I wasn’t feeling well and catch me up when I came back!!”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“Oh. Heck. No!!! I don’t think I had one single professor that I didn’t adore. That said, I did go to a smaller university, BUT still. One of my professors had a “Rate my Professor” rating that called her “Satan with a pen”… no lie. She was one of my favorite professors. As long as you are there to learn and are respectful then you will be fine! Also, professors benefit from putting a name to a face…so ALWAYS go in and meet them in their office hours so they know who you are.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
How do you share your faith on campus?
“Being a part of ministry in some capacity has always been important to me, and open up a lot of doors for me to share my faith. I was a leader in a ministry on campus for a while, but even just attending a religious club or organization can be fulfilling and lead you to like-minded people.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“I actually was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a women’s chaplain for my club, meaning I organized devotional and prayer groups for about 100 girls. It was my favorite thing I did at school!”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“I was a Young Life leader so I helped with tabling events and the like. I also talked about it to people I encountered just as casually as I’d talk about how much I love Starbucks Pink Drinks. Because my faith is part of me and I’m not ashamed of that.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“My number one way of sharing my faith on my campus is by living out a life of virtue. By being boldly Christian, people recognize that I live differently, and will often ask me about it. This helps me outreach to people who are open to hearing about Christ and can lead to some powerful conversions. I speak openly about my faith and wear some Saint medals around my neck that often draw questions and start conversations. Speaking about my faith positively and radiantly makes others interested and helps them know that I am available to chat with any time about my BFF Jesus Christ.”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
What important life skills did you learn in college?
“How to be an adult. Haha just kidding, I still have no clue. But I learned how to be a good friend, how to handle mean girls, how to run a cardio stress test, that I hate playing bingo, that not all churches will be your favorite and that good guys do exist. I learned so much and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“How to make friends and meet new people!”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“If your college offers counseling, GO. I have gained SO much from taking advantage of the student counseling center during times that have been a bit too stressful for me. There are people all over the campus who want to help you succeed, so find out what resources are available to you, and use them. There is never shame in asking for help. And most colleges offer counseling for free or for a super low cost, so why not at least try it out??”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
Which skills do you think are most vital to know before college?
“Know how to take care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. Know what fills you up, and how to make time for those things in your busy schedule.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“I think having no expectations is vital. it’s so fun to dream but don’t get so caught up in creating perfect scenarios that you get disappointed when they don’t work out. I thought I would LOVE dorm life…I had the worst roommates. I thought my buddy from freshman year would be my maid of honor someday…Baha nope! Make sure you know that college is tough, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually but you’ll get through it best when you haven’t created best-case scenarios that never play out in real life the way they do in your head.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“How to get yourself up in the morning, how to form a weekly budget & how to ask for help are all really important things to learn how to do for college. They sound simple but for me, they took getting used to and have made all the difference!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“Just being responsible! Don’t slack off in college.”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
What is your #1 best organizational tip?
“Don’t bring more than you need to school, it’ll cause clutter. It’s much easier to stay organized if you don’t have too much stuff!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“De-clutter!!! It’s much easier to stay organized if you have less stuff! I feel like I’m constantly de-cluttering, but it really does help keep down the mess, especially when you’re in a smaller space of an apartment or dorm.”
–Kristen, a 20-year-old senior at a public university in Florida
“I create a master schedule on Excel of every single assignment for all of the courses I am taking at any one time. I put the due date, the name of the assignment, the class it’s for, how many points it’s worth, and a progress bar to mark when I start the assignment, and when I complete the assignment. This has absolutely changed my life in helping me keep track of all the different things that I have to read, write, and submit. I highly recommend doing this!”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
“Find the planner system that works best for you, and write EVERYTHING down. Whether it’s a physical planner or just a note/calendar on your phone, have a place to write down dates and times for everything.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“Keep some kind of page or notebook or planner with all of your assignments for the week. I just kept a word doc on my computer!”
–Hannah, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Tennessee
“TRELLO!! Oh my gosh. if your list-oriented like me you NEED this app!”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“Have a planner. You’ll die without one.”
–Jamie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in California
“PLANNERS. PLANNERS. PLANNERS.”
–Demi, a 19-year-old junior who has attended both private and public universities in South Carolina
What is your #1 best time management tip?
“Prioritizing is so important. It’s helpful to know how to say ‘no’ or ‘not right now’ so that you have time for important things like assignments or self-care. You don’t have to do everything all at once, and especially not all in your first semester.”
–Ally, a 21-year-old senior at a public university in Texas
“Don’t leave things for the last minute! Work ahead in your assignments as much as possible.”
–Kara, a 22-year-old private university graduate from Texas
“Plan for and get enough sleep. Schedule in 6-8 hours every night and go to bed when you need to to get those hours. Get out of bed when you plan to. This will help you get more done in the morning, and keep you more energized to get the rest of your tasks done. When you have a good sleep schedule, the rest of your time becomes way easier to manage.”
–Kym, a 23-year-old public university graduate from Utah
“You have all semester to write that paper… do it in chunks…don’t wait for finals week.”
–Lily, a 22-year-old public university graduate from Colorado
“Use a planner! I was never a planner person before college, but now I swear by it! By using a planner, I can split up what I assignments I’m going to work on each day & intentionally set aside a bracket of time to study- and then plan my break time or day off or whatever. It honestly helps so much with keeping me accountable and ahead of schedule!”
–Cassie, a 20-year-old junior at a private university in Texas
“Keep a planner! I write out all my classes, meetings, assignment due dates, birthdays, daily to-do’s, self-care time, meals, basically everything I possibly can. This helps me make sure that I’m getting everything done, and also allows me to figure out when I have time to hang out with friends or get in some much-needed alone time. Don’t just schedule in the school stuff, use it for everything!”
–Monica, a 21-year-old public university graduate from Florida
And that’s it! :)
I hope this post was helpful for you and answered a lot of questions you might have had about college :)
Let’s chat in the comments!
- What was your favorite piece of advice shared here?
- What other questions do you have about college?
- If you’re already in college, what other advice would you share with incoming freshmen?
Find this post helpful? Would you please take a second to share it with a friend so it can help her as well? Thank you! :)
Edet
This is a handful! I found this very helpful. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
Edet recently posted…My Thoughts On Getting A Degree In Christian Ministry
Jesse Dimapilis
being emotionally prepared on what people has to say to you really is important without a good role model in the school things can be really tough but having friends or a mentor to follow really helps a lot
Neil Dimapilis
Thank you for sharing this, being confident in speaking out what you think really helps a lot!
All Things Allison Marie
I’ll be a freshman in college this fall, so all of this was very helpful! Thank you!
Kara Beth Post author
I’m so glad! :)