College is when many young people first get a taste of independence. Unfortunately, this newfound freedom can lead to basic mistakes that can easily be avoided that may impact life well beyond graduation.
How can college students avoid the pitfalls plaguing fellow scholars?
Here are strategies for dodging common mistakes made by college students:
- Media Overload
Many college students tend to spend hours and hours a day on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.
Overloading on social media will take time from valuable studies and make it harder to focus on any content not forked over in bite size.
Be sure to outline and block out the time needed to dedicate to each course.
- Poor Credit
College seniors owed $4,100 in credit card debt by graduation, according to recent research from debt.org.
Exposure to credit card offers for the first time and building good credit can help lay the groundwork for future financial options — but proceed sensibly.
Don’t let credit cards be an excuse to spend beyond your means.
Start with a line of credit you can handle. If you manage that well, later on you’ll be able to borrow more.
Pay your statement on time and more than the minimum due each month, keep balances low, keep long-standing accounts open, and avoid applying for too many credit cards are huge factors to maintain good credit. Look for a credit card that offers perks like cash back rewards and a low APR.
Remember to check credit history at least once a year. Look for a credit card that offers perks like cash back rewards and a low APR.
- Overdoing It
Encourage your child to register for a standard course load and concentrate on doing well in those courses. Employer won’t be impressed for how many courses were taken at once. When studying a double major be sure they make sense together (business and Mandarin Chinese, physics and mathematics, or social work and psychology, for example), employers won’t be solely fascinated by the grade point averages.
Remember, college is about earning a degree, making lifelong friends and exploring interests; keep this in mind when choosing courses for the semester.
- Cutting classes
Many students think they can multiple lectures and still do well. Lectures are designed to fill gaps in reading and research assignments. The professor also provides vital information, which most times are on final exams. Make sure to attend every lecture and when an absence is unavoidable send the professor an email. Sometime they will provide you with details you may need on the next test.
- Flying Solo
Student tends to shy away from going to see their professor or teaching assistant for multiple reasons. As a result, their grades may suffer, when a couple of minutes with the instructor could easily clarify any confusion.
Remember professors are required to hold twice-weekly office hours and that they would like to help you do well in their course. That’s why they went into teaching, after all.
- Bad Money Management Habits
College is a huge investment; students are responsible for paying tuition, books, and housing. However, many other expenses will incur along the way, from registration fees to lab fees to gas to cell phone bills.
“Setting up a budget is crucial, particularly if your spending money is drawn from a loan or grant,” says John Rasmussen, head of Education Financial Services at Wells Fargo. “You’ll need that money to last if you don’t have another stream of revenue.”
Refrain form bad financial habits now, as do so many college students. Take advantage of free resources, to learn more about banking, building good credit and paying for college.
- Procrastinating
Many students have taken the “wait until the last minute” approach to assignments. Compensate for procrastination include students working all night to complete the assignments on time.
Remember, careful planning and time management are essential to college success, there won’t be anyone there as a constant reminder to take care of important task.
- Lack of Sleep
Between pulling an “all-nighter”, social media overload and socializing, sleep may seem like a nice commodity. However, quality sleep is essential to quality learning. Students, who prefer to stay up all night, should avoid morning classes. Also, avoid procrastination, which can lead to all-nighters.
College only last a few years, but the affects last a lifetime. Be wise in this new found independence by making smart decisions that are good for your future.
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