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Thinking about getting a career-oriented education at a Community College when high school is over? Or perhaps you're already enrolled, and are leaving soon. Either way, it will be a challenge, albeit a rewarding one, and you need to be ready. There's a lot of advice on how to prepare floating around the 'net, but I'm going to keep it simple, and base it on my own experiences navigating the college world. Decide right now if you're working or not
This is an important decision to make, because it will shape your time and money situation for the rest of the year. There's ups and downs to both approaches: If you work, you'll have money in your pocket to survive on, and further life experience, but if you don't, you can focus on your studies. I'm personally in the camp of working, but only modestly, and in a position where you can reduce hours when midterms or finals rear their head. Know where your money is, and budget
Job or no job, you'll need to be more aware of your finances in college than ever before, in an environment where spending is sometimes necessary, and often encouraged. If you don't already, place your money in a single account or two you can keep tabs on, and monitor it. Know how much you have, how much you're going to have, what you can spend, and stick to a budget. You're still at a point in your life where you can afford to figure out how to manage your money, so now's the ideal time to do so. Put your classes first
Never forget that's why you're there. After all, that's why your tuition is being spent. Socialize, live, be independent, but always make it to class on time. After all, you need a career when this is all over. Make a schedule
Speaking of making it to class, you'll need to budget your time as well as your money. There's more to this than simply printing your timetable and knowing when your class time is, though. You'll need to figure out when to finish homework, when to study, and yes, even when to socialize and participate in clubs. As an aside to that, don't take on more clubs and social activities then you can handle. Create or decide on a study space
You're going to need a place to get your work done, a place where you can focus and not be bothered, and you should figure out where that is earlier rather than later. Your home or dorm room may seem to be the answer, but sometimes the creature comforts within don't really help you finish your work, and a school study space, such as a library may be the answer Never be without a notebook.
This is a simple but helpful piece of advice, and I'm not talking about a laptop. A physical book with pages on it can help you in ways a computer never can, from jotting down notes, reminders, and phone numbers, to serving as a backup when you don't have your computer, or its batteries die. It's only a few dollars, and is one of the most solid investments you can make in college, aside from college itself.
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