Actionable College Survival Tips

College: It’s a whole new world. And despite what some people say, it IS the real world. As much as some kids want to think that campus is a protective bubble, you’ll possibly deal with plenty of adult problems in school, including health crises, crime, money problems, and more. See the college survival tips so that dropping out isn’t an option.

Keep House

• Keep up with your laundry. Take this first step towards becoming a grown-up and you’ll demonstrate independence from your parents, impress your roommates, and save money (because you won’t have to buy new clothes when everything’s dirty).
• Find a safe place to keep your valuables. You might invest in a small safe or fireproof box to keep under your bed.
• Please do change your sheets every couple of weeks.

Help Your Health

• Sleep as much as you can.
• Don’t hesitate to take advantage of your campus health center and psychological services when necessary.
• Use the university fitness center.
• Don’t skip meals.
• Avoid vending machine drinks and snacks. Visit the machines for “emergencies” only.
• Find your favorite ways to beat stress: yoga, movies, prayer or meditation…
• Wear sunblock.

Stay Safe

• Never leave a party alone late at night.
• Don’t ride with anyone who’s been drinking; take a bus or taxi instead.
• Make sure your phone is fully charged when you go out.
• Carry pepper spray and/or a whistle with you.
• Don’t have unprotected sex with anyone who hasn’t been tested for STDs.
• Use birth control. There are plenty of options today.
• Keep a first aid kit in your room if there isn’t one available on your hall or in your building.
• Familiarize yourself with all exits and fire alarm and extinguisher locations in your residence.
• Do not be overly trusting. Keep your purse or wallet with you. Do not accept rides from strangers. Don’t go off alone with a romantic interest you don’t know very well or have just met.

Find Friends

• Study outdoors or at the library, or join a group for a specific class, discipline, or major.
• Be sure to schedule fun time into your day or week.
• Get your nose out of the books and attend a school event once in a while.
• Keep in touch with old high school chums if you have them.
• Don’t be afraid to talk to townies or students from a neighboring college or university.
• Communicate openly with roommates about problems instead of being passive–aggressive or ignoring matters.

Manage Your Money

• Make a budget. It doesn’t have to be obsessive, but try to allot a certain amount of money for each of the following categories:
  • Communications
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Health and medical
  • Grooming
  • Clothing
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • Housing
  • Miscellaneous
• If you’ve paid for dining hall access, use it as much as possible.
• Resist recreational shopping. Only buy what you really need.
• Swap clothes with roommates and friends. Or hit up local consignment shops and thrift stores. Check out eBay for fashions, too.
• Take as many classes as you can handle to maximize your tuition payment.
• Go to class; after all, somebody (likely you or your parents) is paying good money for the information you might be missing!
• See if you can find a part-time campus or local job. Just make sure it won’t interfere with studying, which should be your top priority.
• Buy (or rent) used textbooks whenever possible. And sell them when class is over.
• Don’t take a car to school. Walk, ride a bike, or use the transit system.
• Visit your campus career center frequently for personality and vocational assessments, general writing and resume writing pointers, job resources, and much more.

Welcome to the real world! It starts now — not after graduation. Use this time to learn how to get organized, build good credit, and manage all areas of your life. When it’s time to find a job and a place to live, you’ll be grateful that you’ve already gotten a solid start in adulthood.