5 answers
Madi
Student
Raleigh, North Carolina
1
Question
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What are good tips regarding balancing schoolwork and social life during freshman year of college?
I am a twelfth grader attending college in the fall. I plan to pursue communications/journalism as my major.
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5 answers
Barbara Thompson Byrne
Communications
2
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Barbara’s Answer
Hi Madi! Congrats on getting into college! College is an exciting time for so many reasons. It’s an opportunity to learn academically but also a chance for you to grow personally and socially. I would treat school like you have a job. There are things that are expected of you while you’re there. To show up, learn, engage. But it’s also a time where you’ll learn a lot about yourself, develop relationships, boundaries, and build a lot memories. You can achieve both as long as you remember to show up when you need to.
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
854
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
This is a great question! When you enter the workforce, you have certain hours I’ll be dedicated to your job. I would treat school the same way and block time on your calendar to do your job. Part of the balance in that is also having time for fun and social engagement. Many people find jobs through the connections they have and people they know. If you lean too much into one or the other, you could be cheating yourself.
I found it necessary to study in a library in a corner away from technology and distractions. Whatever it is for you, make sure you put yourself into good positions.
I found it necessary to study in a library in a corner away from technology and distractions. Whatever it is for you, make sure you put yourself into good positions.
Mary Ann Faue
Communications, Training, and People Development
71
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
Hi Madi,
Congrats on getting into college. This is an exciting time. Balancing schoolwork and social time in college is not all that different from balancing schoolwork and social time in high school. How do you do that today? Whatever you do today, use that as your starting point. The following advice is based on the assumption that your schoolwork is your priority.
When you get to college, the first session of each class, the instructor will provide you a syllabus for the course and that lets you know what's expected of you during the quarter or semester. It usually outlines any tests and papers that are due for the course. Once you get this information for each course, take a look at what's required for each course and how the work for all of your courses fit together. Regardless of the course, there will likely be a lot of reading for each course. You'll need to plan for that.
Next thing to consider is how you learn. Do you learn by reading, doing, talking about concepts with other people? Also, you know whether you do better with short stints for studying or set blocks of time for studying. You are in the driver's seat when it comes to setting up a study schedule. Set up a schedule that supports your learning goals.
All that being said, social time is important too. All work and no play makes for a dull and somewhat stressful life. College is a good time to start setting the pattern for a balanced life where there's room for work and play. And, keep in mind, "a balanced life" doesn't necessarily mean a 50/50 time split. It just needs to be a balance that works for you. Maybe that's 60% schoolwork and 40% social time. Or something else. It just needs to fit for you. Think about some activities that you really enjoy. Maybe you like to run everyday. Find a running partner and that makes that time a little social. Maybe you like to go to the movies. Make every Thursday night pizza and movie night with some friends. When I was in college, part of my weekly schedule was playing volleyball on the beach all day on Sunday (I went to college in Long Beach, California). There were some other things as well. But volleyball on Sunday was a constant. And, if you're planning on living in a dorm where meals are served in a dining hall, you'll likely develop a practice of your dorm mates all going to dinner at the same time. At one point in college, we would all meet in the TV room of our dorm to watch a TV show together. When the show was over, we walked to the dining hall to have dinner. It was a nice way to decompress from the day and have some social time that didn't cost anything.
So, when you start college, give yourself a chance to adjust to your new lifestyle. You'll notice that a routine will emerge. And remember, you get to choose how you spend your time. Know your values. Know your priorities. And make choices consistent with your values and priorities. You'll naturally find people with similar values and priorities. These people will be come your tribe. And, if it all works out, you'll find yourself many years later, connected to the same people celebrating weddings, kids, etc. together.
Good luck! (not that you need it. you've got this)
Congrats on getting into college. This is an exciting time. Balancing schoolwork and social time in college is not all that different from balancing schoolwork and social time in high school. How do you do that today? Whatever you do today, use that as your starting point. The following advice is based on the assumption that your schoolwork is your priority.
When you get to college, the first session of each class, the instructor will provide you a syllabus for the course and that lets you know what's expected of you during the quarter or semester. It usually outlines any tests and papers that are due for the course. Once you get this information for each course, take a look at what's required for each course and how the work for all of your courses fit together. Regardless of the course, there will likely be a lot of reading for each course. You'll need to plan for that.
Next thing to consider is how you learn. Do you learn by reading, doing, talking about concepts with other people? Also, you know whether you do better with short stints for studying or set blocks of time for studying. You are in the driver's seat when it comes to setting up a study schedule. Set up a schedule that supports your learning goals.
All that being said, social time is important too. All work and no play makes for a dull and somewhat stressful life. College is a good time to start setting the pattern for a balanced life where there's room for work and play. And, keep in mind, "a balanced life" doesn't necessarily mean a 50/50 time split. It just needs to be a balance that works for you. Maybe that's 60% schoolwork and 40% social time. Or something else. It just needs to fit for you. Think about some activities that you really enjoy. Maybe you like to run everyday. Find a running partner and that makes that time a little social. Maybe you like to go to the movies. Make every Thursday night pizza and movie night with some friends. When I was in college, part of my weekly schedule was playing volleyball on the beach all day on Sunday (I went to college in Long Beach, California). There were some other things as well. But volleyball on Sunday was a constant. And, if you're planning on living in a dorm where meals are served in a dining hall, you'll likely develop a practice of your dorm mates all going to dinner at the same time. At one point in college, we would all meet in the TV room of our dorm to watch a TV show together. When the show was over, we walked to the dining hall to have dinner. It was a nice way to decompress from the day and have some social time that didn't cost anything.
So, when you start college, give yourself a chance to adjust to your new lifestyle. You'll notice that a routine will emerge. And remember, you get to choose how you spend your time. Know your values. Know your priorities. And make choices consistent with your values and priorities. You'll naturally find people with similar values and priorities. These people will be come your tribe. And, if it all works out, you'll find yourself many years later, connected to the same people celebrating weddings, kids, etc. together.
Good luck! (not that you need it. you've got this)
Michele Enhaynes
Communications lead
4
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Michele’s Answer
Congratulations on your admission! Freshman year is a learning unto itself - new schedule, independence, new friendships, new courses - so embrace what it has to offer. In addition to academics, you will learn to build new relationships and balance your priorities and time management.
Be kind and true to yourself and what you can handle. It's ok to set your personal boundaries and not say yes to everything (even though you will be tempted).
Set breaks or time blocks so that you're dedicating time to different priorities. As with anything in life, you can't go full tilt in just one area. This will make you more adaptable and agile which is necessary for any career.
When you get to campus, scope out different places to study. If you find you get distracted by friends or even people in your program or dorm, sometimes changing the scenery helps you focus.
You may find you have more time than you're used to in high school because of how classes are scheduled so it will be important for your to plan out a schedule that will help you stay on track. You know yourself and your learning style so carve out the time that you need while also having fun!
Be kind and true to yourself and what you can handle. It's ok to set your personal boundaries and not say yes to everything (even though you will be tempted).
Set breaks or time blocks so that you're dedicating time to different priorities. As with anything in life, you can't go full tilt in just one area. This will make you more adaptable and agile which is necessary for any career.
When you get to campus, scope out different places to study. If you find you get distracted by friends or even people in your program or dorm, sometimes changing the scenery helps you focus.
You may find you have more time than you're used to in high school because of how classes are scheduled so it will be important for your to plan out a schedule that will help you stay on track. You know yourself and your learning style so carve out the time that you need while also having fun!
Joseph Ford
240
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
None, lol. Freshman year your drawn into it. Eventually you become more mature and smarter while you pull away from the people that are party and the people that are career driven. Be smart and make smart decisions.