I have officially finished my first semester of college, so what did I learn?
1.) College is what you make of it
Going to college just to go is not an experience. The fun you will remember is from the effort you make putting yourself out there for the world to see. Make friends, join clubs, attend campus events. But, whatever you do, just do something.
Goal for next semester: Attend more club events and talk to mentors more.
2.) Change up your study spot
Studying outside of your living space will help alleviate distractions. I study at the Iowa Memorial Union because of its proximity to me and because I can change up my study spot a lot within one building just by going to a different room.
Goal for next semester: Try studying somewhere new every week.
3.) Find friends that will hold you accountable
Friends will help keep you going in a social or school setting. Having friends that know you well enough to study, attend meetings, or work out with you will help in motivation and sticking to a schedule.
Goal for next semester: Branch out and find more people I have things in common with.
4.) Stay organized
College will keep you busy. Between classes, work, studying, eating, workouts, and meetings, you may not have much time for yourself. Keep an updated schedule and a clean room. This will allow you to know what you are doing, when, and where your stuff is.
Goal for next semester: Clean out my desk drawers and keep them clean!
5.) Set goals
Goals will keep you motivated with what you want the most. Be brave, daring, and work towards self-improvement. Setting an “outrageous” goal isn’t scary if you break it down step by step, so shoot for the stars.
Goal for next semester: Keep an updated goal sheet on my desk.
Finals are stressful, but a lot of stress can be alleviated with self care. Are you taking care of yourself during this time?
Here are some things to keep in mind with finals approaching:
Take a break
You deserve it. You have made it through an entire semester during a pandemic. Don’t stress out studying now.
Watch some TV, go out to eat, hang out with some friends, or something else just get your mind off of school for awhile.
Treat yourself
Yes you need a break, but make your breaks beneficial for your health, too.
Take a long shower, use a face mask, or eat some junk food. The point is to do something nice for yourself that you don’t get to do often. Use this as a motivator during this stressful time.
Study
Of course you can’t prepare for finals without studying, but study with purpose.
Put your phone and any other distractions away.
Study for short periods of time with plenty of breaks, because the last thing you want to do is try and cram in information just to forget it by tomorrow.
Change up your scenery. Study somewhere where you feel comfortable, but try and get out this week to a spot where you know when you are there, you are there to study.
Sleep
Do not stay up late studying. You are going to want to be well rested for all of those tests you are preparing for.
Losing sleep means losing information. It will take longer to focus the more tired you become, so pick up the books when you are more well rested tomorrow, because they will still be there.
Stay healthy
If you go out in public to study, keep your mask on and wash your hands often.
Don’t forget to eat your meals and drink lots of water. I find myself lost in my studies and missing meal times, don’t let this happen to you during finals because you need all of the energy you can get.
Keep up your basic hygiene. Save time for the daily things: shower, brush your teeth, and comb your hair. The more you make this week normal, the easier it will seem.
Take off some steam at the gym. Even if it is just a short workout, it will get you up and moving out of your study spot for a while.
Take it one day at a time
I get that you are stressed and have a lot to do, but take a second to make a list of things that have to be done, and divide it into a daily agenda. This will help you stay task oriented.
Have confidence in yourself.
Stay positive, you just have a little bit of the semester left to go. Go Hawks!
Time management is essential in college. You need to be productive, but you also need to have time for yourself, so what should you be doing in that awkward hour-or-so break between your classes?
Depending on how long your break is, here are some ideas:
Are you just exhausted from the week? Grab some coffee, a smoothie, a snack, or even an early meal before your next class. It is important for your body to get the energy it needs to get you through the rest of the day-needless to say your next class. At the University of Iowa, Dunkin Donuts is my go-to coffee spot and it is just right across the street from the Pentacrest.
Get some exercise by taking the long way to your next class. This way you can explore your surroundings and visit a part of campus that you may never go by. I had some extra time between my classes recently, so I grabbed some coffee and took the long way to class. I ended up walking by the back side of the Pentacrest, which was decorated for Veteran’s Day. I never really have to take a route to class that passes this area of campus, so I got to see something new I would have otherwise not been able to experience.
Go to office hours or set up a meeting with an advisor. How long has it been since you checked in with your professors or advisor? Take some time to catch up.
Run some errands that you have been pushing off. Do you need to grab a few things from the store? Or do you have to drop off a few things in a building you don’t normally go to? Take the time now to knock out a few of those errands.
Refresh your memory with a quick study session. Go to class early and study your notes, or sit outside if it is a nice day. There are plenty of beautiful study spots around campus!
Take some time for yourself. College is stressful, so you can’t forget to take care of yourself. Take a nap to catch up on your sleep or relax by watching some TV.
Say hello to your friends. People will not have the same schedule as you, so take advantage of the breaks you have at the same time as your friends.
Check your email. In college, it is important to stay up to date with your email. After all, it is how many of your professors and student organizations will communicate with you.
Do your laundry. Do not wait until Sunday night to do your laundry, the laundry room is just too busy then! Get your laundry done when you get the opportunity.
Update your resume, LinkedIn, work files, and more. It is important to have yourself organized and prepared for applications and interviews. You never know when an opportunity will arise.
How do you stay afloat, updated, and on track? Going to college is a challenge on its own, but to go to college and have no family member to rely on for college experience questions makes it even harder.
I am a first generation college student, and sometimes I feel like I blend in to the crowd, but many times I feel like I am out of the loop. I’m not going to lie, trying to figure out how college works on your own is hard. There are going to be times of shock where you learn something that everyone else just seems to know. But hey, you have to start somewhere.
My advice to you is to get involved and meet with as many advisors and professors as you can.
Getting involved in student organizations, Greek life, or even volunteering will give you a sense of community. Just like Greek life, many student organizations assign newcomers a “big” or a “parent”, which is like a student mentor for the organization itself, but these are also people you will grow close with and be able to ask a variety of questions to.
However, you are not limited to just asking questions to this mentor figure. Joining any community or group on campus of any sort will provide you someone to talk to. Just find someone you bond with. Don’t be afraid to be outgoing, and if needed, start the conversation yourself. “Hi, I’m new here,” is not a bad thing to say, and in fact that’s how I got pointed towards some of the best and most knowledgeable people I have met. It seems like everyone will excitedly talk about themselves and their college experiences, so learn from this. Even if they are a freshman, maybe they know a fun fact about the university, a neat program offered, or a cool study spot that you don’t know about. Take knowledge from anyone.
The University of Iowa offers a Living Learning Community for first generation college students. This means you will live on a residence hall floor with people just like you. You will learn together about the college experience. To learn more about the First Generation LLC, click here.
Also sponsored by the University of Iowa is the Iowa Edge program. This is an orientation to campus and college life.
As for meeting with advisors, this is crucial for first-year college students. Academic advisors will keep you on track to graduate and provide you with various opportunities that you may have never known to exist. This can range from first generation college student support groups, scholarships, or even simply something your advisor believes you may find interesting. Your academic advisor will be your greatest asset to guiding your college experiences. Of course, schedule however many meetings you are required to have, but schedule a few more. Really get to know your advisor so they can help you in the best way they see fit. After all, they are the one person on campus who seems up to date and knowledgeable on everything.
As for other advisors, this can range from professors to program mentors. Really, anyone can be an advising figure, you just have to meet with them regularly and ask them to share their knowledge. I have found going to professor office hours and just having a conversation with them has provided me a lot of knowledge about the university that I would have not otherwise gained, so don’t be afraid just to talk. It doesn’t have to be a formal advisor-advisee format.
Overall, my advice to you as a first generation college student is to be outgoing and meet with as many people as you can. You learn through experience, so don’t let an opportunity pass you by.
If you would like to learn more about being a first generation student at the University of Iowa, click here.
Still looking for those helpful study tips in college? Look no further! Here is how to stay on top of your classes:
1.) Go to lecture
Even if it is that dreaded 8am lecture, or even if it prerecorded, go to your lecture or watch it on time. You can’t study without knowing what material you need to study. Going to lecture will help with any initial questions you may have with the material you are learning, because you can simply raise your hand, send a quick email to your professor, or ask your teaching assistant or learning assistant to get a better understanding of what is going on.
Rewatching pre-recorded lectures is also a great habit to get into if you are stuck on some of the “basics” of the material you are learning. Sometimes it just takes a time or two hearing things to get material to “click” in your brain.
2.) Take notes in lecture and discussion
Writing helps improve memory on concepts, so write down what you learn. This way you can also refer back to a concept quickly if you forget.
Discussion sessions typically review material, but every once in a while, someone may mention something that is unfamiliar. Write it down! It may come in handy if you get stuck on the concept later on.
3.) Attend Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Supplemental Instruction is a program offered by the University of Iowa that helps you study or review material and become better equipped or prepared for a course. You can attend any supplemental instruction section any time it is offered. You simply come and go as needed.
Currently, to attend supplemental instruction, everything is online. Check out when sessions are here.
4.) Attend Office Hours or Drop-In Hours
Office hours or “drop-in” hours are held by all professors and teaching assistants at the University of Iowa. Attending these are a great resource to not only get to know your professor, but also get your questions answered.
During the pandemic, most of these office hours are held over Zoom. Not many people utilize this resource as much as it is offered, so I’m sure professors would love someone to talk to rather than waiting alone in a Zoom call!
5.) Homework
Yes, college is more studying than tedious and seemingly meaningless homework assignments, but when homework is assigned, do it and take your time!
Homework in college is mostly to review a concept that is commonly struggled with, so utilize the assignment to study the concept itself.
6.) Extra Practice
In addition to homework, extra practice is commonly offered. Extra practice is a great resource to use even if you feel like you understand the material, because it often is a true test of understanding and can predict how well you do on your next exam.
A little extra practice has never hurt anyone, and it is a great topic to bring up during office hours because it shows your professor you are dedicated to learning the material.
7.) Extra material
Sometimes professors offer extra reading material to students. Although it is not material that is graded, it somehow relates to the concept that is being taught. Reading through this material is a great way to study the topic you are learning and getting tested on, because it forces you to expand your view on the focused concept and find overlapping topics with your course.
This is also another great topic to bring up in office hours. Professors would not include extra material if they did not find value in it. Since it is not taught in class, talking about it during office hours generally is something they enjoy because they can expand your knowledge.
8.) Review
Reviewing your own notes consistently helps tremendously. Review what you learned right after you learn it, at the end of the day, and within a week of learning it is a strategy I try to use to make sure I don’t forget material or cram all of my studying into one day.
Reviewing over time also helps when it is time for chapter tests, midterms, or finals, because you don’t have to study as long or cram in much information quickly.
9.) Group Study
Studying with your peers is a great way to find out if you missed out on a concept, and it is also fun!
The University’s campus is equipped with all sorts of group study spots, and my favorites are at the Iowa Memorial Union!
This is also a great opportunity to get to know your classmates by going out to get coffee or food.
10.) Independently study
Studying alone is a great way to stray from distractions. If you want a completely private study spot, click here to reserve a student space.
Have you found your favorite study spot on campus yet? Looking to change things up a bit? Check out some of my favorite study spots below!
Art Building West: A great outdoor study spot is at Art Building West. Sit along the deck above the gorgeous blue water. Definitely one of the most unique study spots on campus.
College of Public Health: This is another great view for those that love sitting by the window to study. On the second floor of the College of Public Health, study while being seated above a walkway and road.
Iowa Memorial Union: Need a spot to study with no distractions? Put in some earbuds and snag a personal study cubical on the ground floor of the IMU.
Iowa Memorial Union:
This is the Hawkeye Room on the ground floor of the IMU. This is always a fun spot to study, and there are even some games in the back.
Iowa Memorial Union: If you need a quiet study spot, head to the ground floor of the IMU. In the learning commons quiet room, you will be in one of the most silent spots on campus.
Iowa Memorial Union: On the ground floor of the IMU, you can easily walk by this study spot. It is very open and a little noisy, so if you enjoy being in a busier area while you work this spot is for you.
Iowa Memorial Union: The Hubbard Commons of the Iowa Memorial Union serves as another great spot to study. There is plenty of seating, and even a fireplace to keep warm in the winter!
Iowa Memorial Union: On the second floor of the IMU, this is a quieter more secluded study spot.
Iowa Memorial Union: On the second floor of the IMU, you can sit in the gorgeous large window to study. This is by far one of my favorite study spots, because I love sitting by windows to study!
Iowa Memorial Union: On the second floor of the Iowa Memorial Union is a study spot that has a lot of natural sunlight, which is perfect for keeping your focus!
Iowa Memorial Union: This is the Riverfront Terrace located right behind the IMU. It is a great spot to soak up some sun while hitting the books.
Iowa Memorial Union: Pick any spot on the Riverfront Terrance and enjoy the beautiful view below you of the Iowa River.
Iowa Memorial Union: This is a different view of the IMU, so here you can see the Riverfront Terrace and the grass tiered seating.
Iowa Memorial Union: Studying behind the Iowa Memorial Union provides a great view of the riverfront. Right now, there are circles to ensure social distancing.
Pentacrest: There are plenty of different views from the pentacrest. Choose your favorite, lay down a blanket, and study!
Pentacrest: Walking past the back side of the pentacrest, you can still find great spots to lay down a blanket and study or even hang up a hammock!
Pentacrest: Another great lawn to study on.
Pentacrest: There are plenty of places in and around the heart of campus to study! Sitting on bench in front of the pentacrest is a great spot.
Pentacrest: Lay a blanket down to study and watch the sun set on any lawn of the pentacrest.
Hubbard Park: Hubbard Park is a great place not only to lay a blanket down to study, but also to stay active!
Dorm Lounge: Every residence hall has places to study, this is the basement study of Daum Residence Hall.
Dorm Lounge: This is more of the basement study of Daum Residence Hall.
Dorm Lounge: This is a group study spot on a floor in Daum residence hall. Every residence hall has a lounge, go try yours out if you live in the dorms!
Dorm Lounge: This is a wide view of various seats in the lounge of a residence hall floor.
Dorm Lounge: This is the basement lounge of Daum hall. Located conveniently across from the laundry room, you can study here while washing or drying your clothes. Does your dorm have a basement lounge?
Main Library: The library has a study spot for everyone. This study spot can be found on the first floor. Fun fact: the higher you go up floor-wise in the main library, the quieter you are supposed to be. The first floor allows full conversations and the fifth floor is supposed to be dead silence.
Main Library: There are plenty of group study spots at the main library. At this one on the first floor, you can eat food from the Food for Thought Cafe with your friends while studying.
Main Library: On the main floor there is a variety of seating, and many are shown here.
Main Library: This is one of the group study spots of the main library on the first floor. The screen featured in this picture can project work from a laptop so everyone can see one screen from their own seat!
Main Library: On the first floor the main library, enjoy some modern seating with outlets all around!
Main Library: On the second floor of the main library, snag a table to spread out all those textbooks and study with some friends.
Voxman Music Building: At the Voxman Music Building, you can study in this area. It is very well lit and modern.
Voxman Music Building: Looking for a less chaotic study spot that still has a view? Head to the second floor of the Voxman Music Building. Pick any seat by the window and enjoy an overlooking view of the downtown area.
Science Library: Want a simple study spot? He’d to the science library where you can get more of a vintage study spot. This is the second floor.
Sciences Library: On the second floor of the sciences library, there is a group study spot right by the window. This building definitely has lots of vintage vibes!
