As summer begins to wane and the start of fall approaches, so too does another school year.
With an influx of new students arriving on the college campuses there is always a heightened feeling of excitement and promise.
There are also feelings of fear, uncertainty, and doubt, and that is okay. Whether it’s your first time, or you’ve been to college before, it can be a daunting experience. School brings with it new challenges, especially for those trying to balance family, work, and life.
During your orientation to Vancouver Career College, we will be providing you with tips and advice to help you succeed throughout the school year and hopefully make your time in college as stress free as possible.
Here are our top 5 tips for success:
Time Management
Managing your time is essential to success at school. Life finds a way. It can side track you, steal your time, and make it easy to procrastinate. Sometimes it can feel like your education is in a place to take a backburner to other things. The important thing is to know when.
Ensure you provide yourself with adequate time each week to complete your coursework. For some this might mean building structure into your week so you have time mapped out for when you get to your homework. However you do it, don’t let things pile up because they can quickly overwhelm you.
Find a Space
Time and space often go hand in hand. In addition to creating yourself the time to do your work, make sure your space is adequate for working in.
Some people work better with distractions, others don’t. Make sure you give yourself a space to study that works for you. It might be a quiet nook on campus, or maybe your den or living room; perhaps you have a favourite coffee shop. As long as it has the tools you need to complete, your studies and you won’t be interrupted.
Ask for Help
Never be afraid to ask for help.
If you find yourself in trouble, your instructors are your top resource. They’ve worked in the industry; they’re instructors because they’re experts in their field. Don’t be afraid to ask should you run into trouble.
Get to know your classmates and form study groups. If you find yourself struggling they may be able to help you work through a problem, or maybe you can find the answer together. Everyone learns in a different way. Who knows you may be able to return the favour later in the semester?
Go to Class
It might seem like a no brainer, but it’s easier to skip a class than you might think.
With pressure and stress mounting, cutting class may seem like a great way to get caught up on your non-school life. Don’t do it. It can develop into a pattern that can jeopardize your grades, cost you your program, and ultimately impact your long term goals.
If you do find yourself struggling with keeping your life and school in order don’t be afraid to let your instructors, staff, or peers know. You’re not the first to have problems and Vancouver Career College can help you develop strategies to keep your life in balance.
Don’t Procrastinate
In fact, do the opposite!
Work, life, and school have a way of piling up. When you are assigned homework get to it as soon as possible. It may seem easy enough to say you’ll get to it later, but it’s a habit that can come back to haunt you.
All it takes is a little procrastination combined with an important event somewhere else in your life and suddenly you can find yourself lagging behind your studies. Stay on top of things.
If you find you have a little extra time it can even be beneficial to work ahead in your course work. It will help you be better prepared and can make your studies smooth.
Have Fun
Most importantly have fun. Going back to school may be a lot of work and it can be stressful, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun doing it.
Take study breaks with your peers, go for coffee, and make new friends. Many of our students end up making long-term friends over the course of their programs. Not only can they help you with your studies, but they also know what you’re going through.
Going to Vancouver Career College is an exciting time for new students. It’s part of your career goals. Your instructors and staff want to see you wearing the cap and gown as you receive your diploma at the end of the program.
Your success is our success. Welcome to the Vancouver Career College Community.