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So you're enrolling, or have already enrolled in a community college, and have taken the first step towards advancing your career. But it's only the first step. You're at college to gain practical experience, job skills, career connections, and employability. But before you can do that, you need to make sure you can pass your college courses. Here's some tips I picked up from my time at Centennial College. Don't be afraid to talk to your instructors
College instructors are industry professionals, and are there to help you out. Everyone will have office hours where you can stop by to speak to them. If you're unsure of an assignment, or what you should be focusing on in your class, they can help you out, and provide guidance. They can also give you feedback on your performance in your course, letting you nip problems in the bud before they even begin And even if you don't need academic help, getting to know them can be valuable in the long run. As industry professionals, they'll have connections to your desired career field, and can help point you in the right direction post-college to get your career moving. Know your classmates
As the name implies, community college's greatest asset is that you're surrounded by that community. Smaller class sizes are a staple of college, meaning you can get to know most of the people in your program. No one's an island, and your learning experience can be enhanced when you have friends along the way. You can form study groups, share resources, and help each other on assignments. More importantly, as you move into the career field of your choice, you'll wind up having a network of up and coming professionals you can get support from. Use your school's resources
Perhaps the biggest misconception a student can make is that it's them and their friends against the material alone, with nothing else to help them. In reality, a good college will have resources to help a student out. For example, Centennial College has the Student Success Centre, where you can receive educational assistance including tutoring, academic advising, and counseling if you're feeling stressed. The institution is there to help you. All you have to do is make use of it. Treat the due date as a worst-case scenario.
If something's due at the end of the month, common sense says don't leave it until the last day. I'd go even further than that, and say don't leave it until the last week, even. No one works well under pressure, but more importantly, you won't learn anything while you work, which is why you're there to begin with. It's better to get your work or your studying done well in advance of a deadline, if only because even the best schedule could be interrupted by life, emergencies, personal issues, or even a computer crash. And if something proves more challenging than you initially thought, it's better to have weeks to sort it out than a couple of days. Focus on what you learn, not what grade you get
College is about practical, hands-on experience, not about lectures, or exams, or grades. Those exist, but they're hardly the point. Instead, focus on picking up skills you can take with you, not just making the great, or squeaking by in your classes. You won't be helping anyone, even yourself. So get involved, get your hands dirty, and see what you can really get out of your program, instead of the other way around.
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