More than 60% of students from a Harvard study reported overwhelming anxiety while attending college. If you are heading into your first year, this statistic can seem overwhelming in itself. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can get through college and make the most of your time and money. Continue reading to discover some of the best college tips and tricks for getting through your first year! 

Sit at the front of the Classroom

Did you know that studies have proven that the spot where you sit in a lecture hall can determine how poorly a student does on exams? 

Students have below-average scores when they sit further from the front of the classroom. If you want to do good in college and get on the right track, try sitting in the first few rows of the class. This will help you pay attention and not be afraid to ask questions. 

Sitting near other people in the front can also help you concentrate because they are more likely to be focused as well. Students in the back tend to talk a little and get sidetracked with computers when they can’t hear the lesson. 

Get Textbook Rentals

Costs for science textbooks can become high, but you can save some money with the help of textbook rentals.

Saving money is important while in college, so make sure you don’t miss out on any opportunities. By getting textbook rentals, you can save hundreds of dollars a semester on your books. 

The best part about rental is that you don’t have to keep all of your core class books even after you graduate. This will allow you to pick and choose which books you want to purchase and keep. 

One of the best tips for college freshmen is to look at different volumes of textbooks. Often, a professor will assign a book for a class that is the newest edition. The changes from old editions tend to be minor though and can easily be followed! 

Join Clubs 

If you want to make the most out of your first year in college, you should join a club! 

Colleges and universities tend to have hundreds of clubs to join because they only take 3 people to make one! This means that you can find a club for most of your hobbies and interests. One of the most interesting clubs that exist is squirrel clubs and Nerf clubs where they go around having Nerf gun wars. 

You can also find clubs for your area of interest in your area of study or even join a sorority or fraternity. Clubs will help you make friends and bond with those that have the same interests as you. 

Prioritize Studying 

College is full of many fun years and with the lack of supervision, it can be easy to put studying to the side.

Do your best to prioritize studying each day. Make it a point to spend a certain amount of time on each class every day to ensure that you don’t miss any topics. Studying for small amounts consistently can help improve test scores and understanding. 

Don’t wait until the day before an exam to start studying. This will make you second guess yourself when it comes time to choosing answers and isn’t effective. 

Head to the campus library or spend time with a study group to get the most out of your education. 

Take Time to Relax

Not only is college full of fun times and stressful exams, but it is also a time to relax.

Don’t feel guilty about taking a nap in the middle of the day between classes. This can help you stay sharp and avoid getting burnt out from information overload. Take time every day to relax so that you can rest easy at night. This will improve your mood and overall attitude towards school. 

Neglecting to take care of yourself in college can lead to depression, anxiety, and isolation. If you feel that you are in a funk, be sure to reach out to someone for help. 

Don’t Skip Classes

The worst thing you can do to yourself is skipping the classes you are paying to attend.

At the end of the day, you are there for yourself, and skipping is only cheating you out of your education. One of the best college tips and tricks to follow is to attend class regularly. Teachers want to be there and do their job to create aspiring professionals in their field. 

Take classes seriously and always attend them. You never know if you will miss an extra-credit opportunity or chance to learn something new. This is your money that is going towards school, make the most out of it. 

Read Your Textbooks

Much like skipping classes, not reading your textbooks will only harm yourself and your education.

Why bother buying the books if they are just going to sit and collect dust. When your professor assigns you a section to read, make sure that you do. Many exams are based on textbooks and the professors are trying to spoon-feed you the answers. 

Don’t overlook them, especially the question and exam parts in the book. These can be directly pulled to an exam and you could have been prepared by simply reading. 

College Tips and Tricks to Follow

By utilizing this guide of college tips and tricks, you can ace your first semester in every way possible. 

By joining clubs and attending study groups, you can find others with similar interests and make friends. It is also important to save money by renting your textbooks, rather than buying them. 

Ultimately, it is up to you to read textbooks and go to class, so don’t sit at the back and get cheated out of an education. 

Be sure to check out our textbook selection to help you save money and make the most of your first year of college!