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After being a college student for three years, I have learned to break through the barriers that have blocked my path to a successful academic journey.
To make your first weeks or semesters at Cal State Long Beach easier, I will share with you five things you should know before starting college.
Tip No. 1: Do not be intimidated by teachers or their reputations.
On the first day of class, a professor I had two years ago said, "This class is tough in the beginning. And it's going to keep getting harder as the semester goes on. There are easier chemistry classes. Take them."
I decided to give the class a few weeks. I failed the first few quizzes.
But I stuck with the class and adapted to the 20 hours of studying a week I spent on that class alone. Eventually, I earned a "B" in the class.
From this experience, my advice to you is this: Give a class at least two weeks before dropping it.
Tip No. 2: Do not set yourself up for failure.
Last semester, I studied about 18 hours a week for a linguistics class worth 3 units, and I spent about seven hours a week on a Spanish class worth 4 units.
The lesson here? Do not assume the number of units a class is worth indicates the number of hours the class will require.
According the CSULB Catalog, students should spend about six hours a week on homework for a 3-unit class. But do not use the catalog's calculation. Use your own.
On the first week of class, after getting a syllabus for all your classes, figure out how many hours a week you will spend studying for each class.
Tip No. 3: Manage your time.
Make a tentative schedule of how you will use each hour of the week. Set aside time for studying, TV shows you usually watch and other activities of yours.
Tip No. 4: Try studying different subjects at different times.
After about 9 p.m., I cannot attentively read about history or biology. I read a paragraph and cannot remember what I read.
Maybe you can study a particular subject better at a certain time. Try studying different subjects at different times.
Tip No. 5: Become familiar with the campus.
One day, explore the entire campus. Get a campus map and ride a bike around CSULB for a few hours.
Find out where all the vending machines, stores, concession stands, bathrooms and phones are on campus. So if one day you are late for a class or in a hurry to leave campus, you can go to these places without hunting for them.
See how long it takes you to walk from one place to the next. This will prevent you from being late to a class, especially if you are coming from another class on the other side of campus.
But the most compelling reason for acquainting yourself with the campus is the sense of familiarity you will feel. While on campus, you will have the same confidence and certainty you feel when sitting outside your own house.
Everything will be familar to you. And you will enjoy your new surrounding, instead of being wary of them.
Matthew Green is a journalism student at CSULB.