Research, research, research:

The first and most important step when transitioning from secondary school to college is to ensure you have done your research. Make sure you spend time really focusing on what you want and the best way of getting there. Focus on the course you want to do and examine what exactly you will be eligible to do once it is completed. Reach out to those who have been in your shoes and are now out the other end, people like these will be invaluable in explaining firsthand what the course is truly like.

Students may have misconceptions about what a course entails and be disappointed when they realise what will actually be expected of them. To save yourself from this disappointment, really get to know as much as you can about the course before it begins.

Get organised:

Organisation is the key to success. Being organised and ready to hit the ground running is invaluable when embarking on a big change such as beginning college. Ensure you have everything you need ready to go for the first day and every day after that. Having a practical checklist of everything you need from books, resources and stationery to familiarising yourself with your commute or route are vital steps in helping you feel prepared and ready for the challenge.

Manage your time well:

Learning how to allocate your time appropriately is going to be an incredibly important step in ensuring you are equipped for college. When you are in college, you will have to keep up with assignments and exams. It is so important to plan your time well to ensure you get what needs to be done completed for the deadline. You will get penalised if you submit assignments past the deadline, so this really is a no no.

Have self discipline:

Beginning College and gaining independence is an exciting time in a young person’s life. The strict schedule that is adhered to throughout secondary school is now a thing of the past. In college you will most probably have periods throughout the week free of lectures and classes. However you will have more ‘out of hours’ work such as assignments and reading etc. It is important to have self discipline and make the most of your ‘free’ time. You won’t have anyone telling you that you have to do this at a certain time, but it will need to get done. Being self-disciplined and planning your time well to ensure you get all of this done on time when you can rather than letting it pile up, will make a massive difference to you in the long run.

Plan time out:

It is important to look after yourself as you navigate your way through this new change in your life. It is as important to make time for yourself to wind down and relax as it is to ensure you are up to date with all college work. Eliminating this time for yourself and solely focusing on work is a sure way to burn yourself out. Plan your study schedule to include time for activities you enjoy that help you de-stress such as exercising, meditating or meeting a friend.

Reach out for support/ avail of the services available:

There will be a great support system in place in the college to help students if you may be struggling at any stage. It’s important to seek out these services and make use of then if you are finding anything difficult. As this is such a huge adjustment, it is totally normal to feel overwhelmed or experience negative emotions. Services such as student counselling are there to help you navigate your way through it all, so don’t be afraid to make use of them.

Remember, this time is not going to be smooth, it may feel very overwhelming and intense, but it may also end up being the most incredible time. Just do your best, take every day as it comes and know there is so much support there should you ever need it.