Everyone is excited about going to college. It’s an opportunity for them to create a fresh start and begin taking full control of their lifestyle. It’s filled with exposure to new groups of people with different perspectives, and the chance to really figure out what you believe in and what gets you excited. Here are a few suggestions to maximize your college experience.
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Establish Good Habits and Master Your Health
Once you’re living on your own, nobody but you decide what kind of food you eat and what sort of lifestyle you lead. According to Medical Daily, 59% of college students are clinically malnourished, which makes developing healthy eating habits (even on a budget) and a focus on healthy nutrition more important than ever. It takes a lot of willpower to go for a salad or a healthy fish entree over pizza, but learning self control and focusing on improving your health while you are young will pay dividends.
Part of building good habits is learning how to enjoy yourself responsibly. With distracted driving accidents sharply on the rise and the staggering statistics on the number of students seriously injured in drinking-related accidents, it’s important to be thoughtful and make responsible decisions.
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Learn New Skills
College is a great opportunity for you to learn new skills, both inside and outside the classroom. Learning how to code is one of the highest-return skills you can learn while you’re in college; fortunately, it’s possible now to access online bootcamps for mobile app development as well as application development.
Eventually you’ll be preparing to start your career, and it’s no secret that math and science skills will help you get a higher paying job. Fortunately, sharpening up your chops doesn’t require textbooks or tedious in-class lectures; you can find enriching online courses to brush up on everyday math skills as well as through high quality educational series like Nova and Cosmos.
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Getting Involved in the Community
Volunteering is a great way to get more connected with the local community. Consider using your college’s semester study abroad programs to explore a new country and learn a new language, or summer programs to volunteer abroad in Nepal, or even get involved with the local Ronald McDonald House or other local philanthropic causes.
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Budgeting to Spend Less and Do More
It’s important to stay within your monthly budget allowance. Doing some basic budget planning when you’re in college goes a long way in preparing you for managing your money once you graduate. While at most colleges you’ll pay for food inside a meal plan, extracurricular expenses like eating out and the bar tab can chip away at your bank reserves pretty quickly. We all need to splurge on ourselves sometimes, whether it’s on the latest styles or fashionable jewelry for ladies, or expensive gadgets or nutritional supplements for men, it’s important to be mindful of how this impacts the remainder of your budget
Article Submitted By Community Writer