TOP TEN WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY ADJUST TO COLLEGE LIFE

1. Get involved. Involvement with others and campus activities is healthy. Involvement can breed positive thoughts and feelings and is related to good self-esteem and academic success.
2. Stay positive. Work toward maintaining an optimistic attitude and interacting with others in productive ways. Be accepting and tolerant of yourself and others.
3. Go to class. Attendance in class ought to be one of your top priorities. Your academic success and successful stress management is dependent upon good attendance.
4. Party smart. If you choose to drink alcohol and enjoy partying, be responsible. Don't harm to yourself or someone else by making poor choices. Remember, irresponsible partying will result in poor academic performance. Do everything in moderation.
5. Stay on campus when you can. The college years are a time to develop independence and autonomy. This occurs when you become your own person and develop new relationships in your new community.
6. Eat and sleep well. You will not be a successful student if you do not take care of yourself. We function at our best when we are healthy. Eat right, and get plenty of sleep.
7. Practice good stress management. While some stress is inevitable, there are things we can do to prevent or reduce stress. Seek out and learn these methods. Help is available at your Counseling Center.
8. Communicate productively. Respect other people, but don't expect them to read your mind. Your professors don't know what's going on in your life unless you tell them. Be willing to initiate conversations with others, including your professors. In order for people to know what you need, you have to tell them!
9. Maintain healthy relationships. Healthy communication is a necessity for maintaining a any relationship. Make sure you set healthy boundaries, and put some effort into relationships that are important to you. Also, put effort into resolving conflicts in ways that honor yourself and others. Stay in touch with those who support you.
10. Stay focused. Academic life requires students to focus and concentrate. Work to avoid or reduce things that interfere with your concentration.