If you are reading this article, you must be a student who was hardworking as well as lucky enough to get admission to an under-graduate course and college of your choice. You deserve a pat on your back and a college-survival kit!


The final cut-off lists for most universities would be out by now and your fates for the next 3/4/5 years must have been decided. The celebratory parties must be over by now, most of you would have acquired a whole new wardrobe and all would be eagerly if not a bit impatiently waiting for college to begin.


The transition from school to college can be so over-whelming for many students that by the time they get used to it/know their way around, college years are already over! Many of us rue over not having utilized those days or having enjoyed college life to the maximum.
This is a guide to help you make the most out of college life, to enable you experience the best days of your life without missing out on fun and/or studies!


1. Prepare for New Beginnings: College provides you with the opportunity to start things on a clean slate. You might have been the school topper or the shy one in class. All that does not matter now as you enter college. If you are feeling overwhelmed, know that there are others who are feeling the same way. Grab this opportunity and give your best shot at everything you do.

“You can start by visiting the campus, checking out the course you will be doing, meeting some of the professors and teaching faculty and seniors if possible to reassure yourself that the environment you are entering is both challenging and comfortable. If you want to make the most of your college years – a real pity if you miss out on this experience- be prepared to use this time fruitfully not only to study with a focused goal, but to grow mentally, emotionally and socially”, advises Usha Albuquerque, career counsellor and Director of Careers Smart & also an expert on the "Ask & Answer" section of Campuswalkin.

2. Organise Yourself: There would not be any school teacher after your life for attendance and assignments. College professors tend to put up assignments for the next class or maybe even the entire semester. There won’t be any reminders. You are expected to be prepared for tests. The boon (and sometimes the bane) of college life is that you won’t be forced to do anything. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Well I’ll ask you the same question on the eve of an exam! Buy yourself an organizer or post-it notes or a wall calendar to keep a tab on important dates and deadlines for tests and assignments.

“You should look to learn from peers, seniors, teachers etc while in college and interact with a diverse set of people, rather than remaining insular”, advises Sidharth Balakrishna, best-selling author, counsellor and management school faculty.

“The biggest challenge for anyone coming from school into a college is to understand that your teacher may not give you any notes, and memorization will not help. In college you need to understand what you’re being taught, and start thinking conceptually and creatively, so that you can apply that knowledge in the real world. So take your studies seriously and keep pace with the course structure”, adds Usha.
3. Get comfortable: Most of you might be going away to another city or state for your higher studies. Moving away from home and parents would make you appreciate and miss the comforts you were enjoying all this while. Get to know and make friends with your hostel room-mates. They are going to be your family and safety-net for next few years. Try to get a class-mate for a room-mate. This will help both (or more) of you to keep a tab and remind each other about classes, study together etc. The best way to handle home-sickness is to stay on campus as much as you can, so that you get used to it and start enjoying it.
However, do not limit your friends’ circle to just college/hostel friends. Interact with students from other courses and colleges as well. Every college has its own atmosphere which shapes your personality. So try and imbibe as varied environments as you can. You will learn the “Art of Adjusting” which will always come in handy in life. Also having a network across different colleges always has its advantages. You can exchange study notes, get help while organising your college fest etc.
4. Strive to be an “All-Rounder “ : Extra-curricular activities (ECA) are an inherent part of college life. Don’t end up spending all your time with your nose buried in books. Every college has some clubs or groups. Join some. It can be a trekking club or a photography club or a sports team or a music society or a debating club. Just don’t go overboard and join everything. You will be left with no time for studies! Getting involved in such groups will help you make new friends, feel more attached to your alma mater, get over homesickness and also help you develop/ discover your social skills. If you have apprehensions about joining any talent based society, because you assume you don’t have any; worry not! Join a social service society if you have an inclination towards social issues. If your college does not have one, take initiatives to start one. Also try and participate in inter-college events. Keep a look-out for talks by eminent personalities, lectures or even fests happening in other colleges and try and attend them. You never know where learning comes from. There is something new to be learnt at every event, yes even a rock music event! This is also a great way to make friends across different college and who does not like being popular?

“Participating in extra and co-curricular activities goes a long way in ensuring the holistic development of an individual. Such activities allow for creative expression of talents and allow an individual to discover his/ her potential outside the academic world”, says Sidharth.

Also try and do something extra and something not related to college. You could join an NGO like Khushi, Swecha, Dhriti, Music Basti etc. as a part-time volunteer or volunteer with organizations like AISEC or take up a part-time job with a profile that involves your interests. For example: newspapers like Campuswalkin always welcome students in colleges to write for them as “Campus Journalists”. So if you have an interest in writing or reporting, this could be an opportunity. Your college years are the best time to take out time for your hobbies or to even take up a new hobby. Do not let go of this chance! Do I need to mention that when companies come visiting for placements, having a diverse resume will give you a definite edge over other students.
“Good communication skills, teamwork, as well as decision making and problem solving skills are possibly the most sought after qualities that an employer looks for. These skills will serve you well no matter what degree course you have taken or the position or career field you seek. So it is important to participate in and try out as many extracurricular activities and sports that interest you”, says Usha.

5. Eat and Live Healthy: This is important especially if you’re staying away from home. You don’t have your parents around to serve you a balanced meal. Have fun, eat out, party hard alright, but do not make a habit out of late-nights and junk food. Strike a balance or you won’t last even a semester! Burnouts are common among college students. Eat right, sleep well and don’t gorge on fried food.

6. Have Fun!: This isn’t really something that needs to be told. The concept of “work hard, party harder” should be followed diligently in college. You learn more this way!

7. Don’t forget to Study: Remember this is what you’re in college for! Meet up with your professors at the start of your session. It always helps to get familiar and establish a rapport with them. Find yourself a good place and time to study. Establish a routine and stick to it as much as you can. If procrastination is a problem, get rid of it! Last-minute preparations always give shoddy results. Utilise your college study resources to the fullest. If your college has a good library, make use of it. If studying alone is not your thing, form study groups and help each other stick to deadlines. Approaching your college faculty might seem a daunting task in the initial days, but they’re usually nice people! Most of them usually reside in the campus areas, so don’t hesitate to approach them with doubts, ideas & problems!

There are two types of students- those who sleep-walk through college trying to graduate with a decent grade and those who create beautiful memories, experience the highs and lows of life and learn valuable lessons (inside and outside lecture halls) and walk out of college as confident and worldly-wise individuals. You could be in the second group, if you consider some of these tips!

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