Is it possible to go to college and enjoy yourself and have fun, but at the same time really put your best work into your studies? You might not think so – you probably feel it’s one or the other. However, if you think ahead and really understand how to maximize the value of your educational experience, you’ll see that it can be done. Not only that, but it should be done; too much work and no downtime is as detrimental as too much partying and no studying. With that in mind, here are some of the ways to get the most out of your education so you can enjoy yourself and look back on your time at college with fondness.
Find Your Study Space
You might not realize it, but your study space has a huge impact on your ability to work hard. If you’re studying in the middle of a crowded dorm and you prefer peace and quiet, you won’t be able to focus. The same is true if you head to the library but you really need some movement and noise around you – you just won’t do your best work.
Not only is the space in which you study important, but so is the furniture you sit on and at. If your desk is too high or too low, or the chair you use is not comfortable, and perhaps especially if you study on your bed, you need to think about finding the right environment to do your work. This will be different for everyone, but if you search you should be able to find the perfect spot and you’ll realize what a difference it makes and how much more productive you can be.
Know Your Credit Requirements
In order to have the very best chance of a great education and to really make the most of the time you have at college, you need to choose the right school to begin with. When you do that, and when you choose the right course at that school – a course you’ll enjoy and be able to get stuck into and one that will ideally help you in the future as well – your educational experience will be greatly enhanced.
If you’re at a school just because you assumed it was the only one you could get into, but it’s not actually what you want and you don’t enjoy it there, you’re not going to give your education everything you’ve got. You might even just do the bare minimum so you can get out and never look back. This is a shame and a waste of a great opportunity. If you check out the Clemson University acceptance calculator at CampusReel, for example, you’ll have a good idea of which schools you can be accepted into, and make a better choice with more knowledge. At the right school, you’ll work much harder.
Attend Extracurricular Lectures And Seminars
When you get to school, make sure you have a look at noticeboards, read your emails and newsletters, and speak to other students. Doing all of this will give you a chance to explore any extracurricular lectures and seminars that might be taking place in and around your school.
Even if these classes have nothing to do with the course you’re studying, if you’re interested in the subject matter, it’s worth attending. You never know what information you might pick up, and at the very least, you’ll gain more knowledge. In some cases, you might even realize that you want to switch degree courses because you’ve found something you want to take further. These lectures can be both fascinating and life-changing.
