Speak Up! How to Survive Class as a First-Time College Student

Taking college courses for the first time can be nerve-wracking and is often an adjustment for many people. If you’re like many other students, it’s been awhile since you’ve been in a classroom and you may find it difficult to speak up in class. Don’t feel bad – you will be able to overcome this.

Participating in class is important because it truly enhances your overall learning experience and can help increase your overall GPA, as many grades are often weighted on participation. Here are some helpful tips on getting over the fear of speaking up:

1. Try taking a class with someone you feel comfortable with.

If you do this, it will make the atmosphere a little more comfortable and you can also feed off each other in discussion. When it comes to online classes, write discussion posts then have a friend or family member review it and see if they find it interesting or intriguing. If they do, chances are someone studying the same course will.

 

2. Remember: You're all in it together.

It’s important to remember you are all in the classroom for the same reason: to better your future.

No one is in class to judge you or think your opinion is invalid. The more you tell yourself this, the better you will feel. Also, as many instructors say, chances are if you have a question about something so does someone else in the room.

The same goes for online students. Even if someone does not respond to a discussion post at least you were able to put your thoughts out there. There is no one sitting in front of the computer laughing at the screen because you do not have any responses.

 

3. Be as prepared as possible.

The more prepared for class you are, the more comfortable you will feel with speaking up.

It is easy to put off readings and not dust off your book (or turn on your e-Book) until the week of an exam. However, if you look over the chapters and keep up with the readings (even if you just skim them), you will have a better understanding of what is going to be discussed in class ahead of time. In addition, it will help you brainstorm questions and provide answers in class.

If you are more of an introvert – someone who needs time to let the information sink in and develop questions later – preparing before class will help you participate in class and allow you to think of your questions and answers in a timelier manner.

Participating in these three suggestions are three realistic ways to make your involvement in class more comfortable, and can help you achieve a higher grade.

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8 Steps to Strong Time Management for College Students

Within the first few days of starting college, many students quickly learn that managing their time is one of the most challenging -- and difficult -- aspects of being in school. With so much to do and keep track of, strong time management skills can make all the difference.

1. Get and use a calendar. It can be a paper calendar. It can be your cell phone. It can be a PDA. No matter what kind it is, though, make sure you have one.

2. Write down everything. Write down everything in one place. (Having multiple calendars just gives you more to do amidst an already tight schedule.) Schedule when you plan to sleep, when you are going to do your laundry, when you're going to call your parents. The crazier your schedule gets, the more important this becomes.

3. Schedule time to relax. Don't forget to schedule in time to relax and breathe. Just because your calendar goes from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. doesn't mean you can.

4. Keep trying new systems. If your cell phone calendar isn't big enough, buy a paper one. If your paper one keeps getting torn, try a PDA. If you have too many things written down each day, try color-coding to help simplify. Very few college students make it through their programs without some kind of calendaring system; keep trying until you find one that works for you.

5. Allow for flexibility. Things inevitably come up that you weren't expecting. You may not have known that your roommate's birthday is this week, and you certainly don't want to miss the celebrations! Leave room in your calendar so that you can move things around a little when needed.

6. Plan ahead. Do you have a large research paper due the last week of the semester? Work backward in your calendar and figure out how much time you need to write it, how much time you'll need to research it, and how much time you'll need to pick your topic. If you think you'll need six weeks for the entire project, work backward from the due date and schedule the time into your calendar before it's too late.

7. Plan for the unexpected. Sure, you just might be able to pull off two papers and a presentation during midterms week. But what happens if you catch the flu the night you're supposed to be pulling the all-nighter? Expect the unexpected so you don't have to spend more unplanned time trying to fix your mistakes.

8. Schedule rewards in. Your midterms week is a nightmare, but it will all be over Friday by 2:30. Schedule a fun afternoon and a nice dinner out with some friends; your brain will need it, and you can relax knowing that you're not supposed to be doing anything else.

 

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