Starting college can be stressful for many students. During your first two years of college, you’ll likely be in a whole new environment, surrounded by all new people, and maybe even living on your own for the first time. For many students, the first two years of college can be a huge adjustment period!
If you’re worried about starting college, it helps to know what you can expect. We’ll also get advice from a current college sophomore.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know to start college, including essentials like:
- How general education requirements work
- How to explore college majors
- Tips for student housing and living on your own
- How college semesters work
- … and more!
Before we dive in, remember that StudyLab provides everything you need to start college off strong, including college search tools, a scholarship finder, a college checklist, and more.
What are general education classes?
General education classes, also known as “gen ed” classes, are required courses that give students a well-rounded education by exposing them to the arts, humanities, social, and natural sciences.
While these courses are often seen as unrelated to students’ majors, learning about several different subjects can help you eventually decide on a major. They cover a wide variety of subjects—some of which you may not personally enjoy. However, taking general education courses can help ensure you have a well-rounded education.
Some common general education requirements include:
- Humanities: Humanities courses provide insight into human culture as it’s presented through the arts, literature, and philosophy.
- Social Sciences: When trying to understand who we are as humans, we need to understand human behavior. These classes help students by teaching them psychology, sociology, and history.
- Natural Science: It has never been more important for the everyday person to understand the world. What better way to do that than by studying courses like biology, chemistry, and physics?
- Mathematics: The study of math is really the study of logic, which is at the core of everything. Whether it’s algebra, geometry, or statistics—these classes are very important.
- English: This course will make you a better speaker, writer, critical thinker, listener, and communicator. No matter what major or career field you choose, you’ll use these skills.
Overall all GE courses are critical to a healthy education and help students have a wider more meaningful perspective on life.
Why are gen ed classes important?
Gen ed classes are important because they give students a wide array of skills and make them more well-rounded. According to Dr. Priscilla Hobbs and Anthony Siciliano from Southern New Hampshire University, these courses enhance critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
A recent study found that roughly 52% of college graduates are working in jobs that do not require their college degrees. Becoming well-rounded makes you more suited for a variety of career fields; Gen Ed classes are a fundamental part of that. Without these courses, many students would stick to whatever subject they like the most, without actually challenging themselves. The challenges posed by General Education courses promote personal growth and a well-rounded education, making them extremely important for students.
Our general education advice:
General education courses are often seen as an inconvenience. However, they are incredibly beneficial because they give a broad foundation of knowledge that is essential for personal and professional growth. These courses expose you to a variety of subjects and help students develop critical thinking skills.
All students have to take general education courses, and sometimes they might not be the most interesting. But how do we get through them?
“If the class is one that you really don’t like, then you need to just put your head down and tell yourself that it is worth doing for what comes after,” said one college sophomore.
Our best tip: Go to office hours. Office hours are a time when you can go to your professor’s office and ask questions. If you need help with a general education course, seek help during office hours and make the most of that limited 1:1 time with your professor.
How to choose a college major
It is not a secret that many young people don’t know what degree they want to major in. You may not know exactly what you want to do in the future, and that’s ok! During the first two years of college, you have some time to explore different options prior to choosing one.
This is another reason to approach General Education classes seriously, since you might find different interests as you go through college and get different experiences. A general education course may even make you want to change your major!
But, what is the best way to choose a college major? And, what should you consider?
It’s important to find a subject that you enjoy and are passionate about. But, that does not mean you should just choose a subject that you always find fun or easy. The fact is, you need to pursue something that you have a deep attachment to. You don’t need to decide right away! But down the road, you’ll be glad you took the time to consider your options.
We recommend that you:
- Assess your strengths and weaknesses by taking personality quizzes, taking free career tests, and reviewing your academic performance and test scores.
- Identify your career goals and consider what major you’ll need to achieve them.
- Explore career fields by researching salary potential, applying for internship opportunities, and looking at the job demand and outlook for that field.
- Consult your academic advisor, as they can provide tailored advice that can help you choose your college major.
Our tips for choosing a college major:
When choosing a major, consider what you want to do. What job do you want to have when you get out of college? What kind of life do you want to be able to live? All of these should be questions that you are asking yourself.
You should also know the cost of your chosen career path. This does not mean just the financial cost; also consider the cost of your time and the stress of that career field. You need to evaluate how committed you are to the major you choose.
If you’re not sure what you want to do, choose a major that will allow you to go into a few different fields. For example, a business degree can be used in a variety of fields.
College Life and Student Housing: Tips and Tricks
Succeeding in college is about more than just good grades; it involves developing new skills, independent living, and a social component. College life is an exciting time for students! It brings many different opportunities, challenges, and new experiences.
One of those experiences is living on campus. For many students, this can be their first time living away from home. Let’s explore all the things that college life and student housing have to offer!
Student Housing
Let’s talk about the different kinds of housing that students can choose from.
On-Campus Housing: Dormitories
First, there are the dormitories, known as “dorms” for short. Living in a college dorm often comes with some pros and cons. One of the positive aspects of dorm life is that you are usually much closer to your classes than off-campus housing. Living in dorms also provides an already-existing social network and easy access to on-campus utilities like dining halls.
But, living in dorms can also come with some challenges. The cons are that you have less privacy. For example, you’ll most likely have to share a bathroom with other students.
Off-Campus Housing
Living off campus can have its pros and cons as well. It can be nice to avoid living in an overcrowded dorm, and you just get more privacy. The downside can be that you end up not getting to know as many other students.
You might not have a meal plan if you live off-campus, so what you eat will be up to you. Making easy, simple meals will save you time and money, especially compared to going out to eat.
Since you will also be responsible for your own rent and any utilities that you need, this provides a great time to practice budgeting. It is also going to be up to you to keep your place in order, teaching you valuable housekeeping skills.
Making the Most of Campus Life
Going to college is a great time to make friends, challenge ideas, and find out the kind of person that you want to be. Finding your own community to help you do this is vital—not just to have fun with, but to grow with.
Part of having a good college experience is balancing work and social life. If you don’t have enough social time then you might burn out. And, if you don’t work and gain new skills you will be wasting your money. It is important to keep all of this in mind.
Our advice for living on your own:
Living on your own can seem both exciting and intimidating. It is a time when you can learn how to become your own, independent person. To make the most of it, you should watch your budget and use it wisely.
Third, make sure you are organized. It is easy to let things get out of control when you live alone, but you don’t want to let that happen. Instead, manage your own space and work with your roommates to make sure your place stays clean and organized.
How do college semesters work?
Getting to know how your college works is important. Most colleges have a semester system. According to The Edvocate, semesters provide more in-depth opportunities for students to learn and develop strong relationships with their professors.
The semester calendar usually entails two semesters per year of college, which are about 15-18 weeks long. The first semester usually starts in August or September and goes to sometime in December or January, and the second semester goes from January or February to May or June. These semesters included exams, breaks, and study periods as you work your way through them. There are usually final exams at the very end of each semester.
Our tips for surviving college structure
When you are working your way through college, you should set a goal that is important enough to you that you are willing to take years out to accomplish it. For example, keeping in mind your future career goal can keep you motivated through challenging semesters.
Having a positive attitude is essential for when you don’t have motivation. Motivation will come and go, but a positive outlook will always help you get through. It can sometimes be useful to take things one week at a time. It’s important to plan for the future, but make sure that the task right in front of you is done well. Completing your assignments well each week will ensure you have a great semester and a great year.
Starting College Checklist
If you’re finding the idea of starting college overwhelming, don’t worry! We’re here to help you navigate these changes. Here are some of our best tips:
- When taking general education classes, keep your eyes on the finish line! Having a future outlook can motivate you to do the daily work to get your assignments done.
- When choosing a major, keep an open mind! If you want to change your major, that’s ok! You have some time to figure it out.
- If your professors have office hours, it’s always worth going to ask questions.
- Living in off-campus housing can be a great way to become more independent, but the dorms can help you meet a variety of new students. Think about what matters most to you!
As you move through college, StudyLab is here to help! With information about colleges, scholarships, free textbooks, and more resources, it’s worth exploring everything StudyLab has to offer. Sign up for free at www.StudyLab.me.
