College is scary and unless you know someone who has gone through the process, it can take a lot of time to get into the swing of things as well as figure out what works and what doesn’t for you. 

That is why the crew at AtHomeDaily, more specifically our college student intern, has come up with a “College Survival Guide,” to help those entering this new stage of life.

Tip #1: Go to your first office hours of the semester. 

• Intern: “Most classes are super large and it becomes nearly impossible to get that one on one time with professors. I highly recommend going to the first office hours of the semester and introducing yourself to the professor. Even if they don’t remember your name, amongst the 500 others in the lecture hall, at the very least, they will recognize your face. Keep going to those office hours, you will get more information on course work as well as study tips for how to prepare for an upcoming exam. Eventually, your professor will get to know you and may come in handy in the future when needing letters of recommendation.” 

Tip #2: Create a budget spreadsheet. 

• Intern: “It is super important to manage your budget. One thing that I have found useful is making a spreadsheet on excel for each month. Here is a template on Pinterest that helped me make my own. I also add dates I make a purchase, the amount I spend and my remaining balance after the expense. Doing this monthly, helps me put money towards groceries, utilities and leisurely expenses such as going to dinner with friends. It is important to allocate your money to essentials and nonessentials.”

Tip #3: Manage your time wisely. 

• Intern: “I cannot stress the importance of this enough. One thing that helps me manage my time is by utilizing a planner. Some people like to bullet journal or create a Google Calendar to get alerts on their phones or computers. Personally, I like bullet journaling. You can customize it however you want and depending on your handwriting (LOL), it is visually appealing. You can find a lot of ideas on Pinterest. Overall, I advise you to write all the work you need to complete for the week in a planner on the designated due dates. Once you get your course syllabus, mark due dates as well as exam dates in it right away. Daily to-do lists are also super helpful.” 

Tip #4: Study somewhere other than where you sleep. 

• Intern: “Think of your bed/bedroom as a sacred place. It is your space to get some much needed sleep and enjoy activities such as watching TV or reading a book. So, in my opinion, I would not tarnish that area with the stress or anxiety that might come from schoolwork. Go to the on-campus library or a nearby coffee shop. In those places, you will be forced to work, because there is nowhere else to go to lay down or kick back.” 

Tip #5: Meal prep. 

• Intern: “As a college student I am super busy in between classes, clubs and internships. Unfortunately, I rarely have time to make full meals for myself at home. One thing I like to do to save time, eat healthy and be efficient, is to prepare meals in advance.” Check out our article on Meal Prepping to learn how to. 

Tip #6: Self-Care.

• Intern: “Out of all the tips, this is the most important. Always put your mental health and overall well being above anything else - that includes nights out with friends. Listen to your body and mind. If you are overworked or feeling off, take a break. Even if it is just for an hour, do something for yourself. Watch your favorite TV show, get outside and go on a walk, or my personal favorite, listen to a true crime podcast. Mindless activities can be very healing and easy to turn to in times of stress. Importantly, make sure you are getting 8-hours of sleep. Sleep is so important and should be prioritized. Additionally, if your mental health is declining, go to your university's counseling center. College is a confusing time and there are a lot of positive or negative experiences to go through. When it gets to be too much, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone and there are many people on that campus who are having the same feelings you are.”   

Our intern is a rising senior at The University of Texas at Austin studying journalism and Spanish.