College Success

One of the most annoying things about career advice is how vague it is. People always say “just network” like that clears everything up. Like networking is a button you press and suddenly you have internship offers. What they don’t say is what networking is supposed to look like when you are a normal college student with zero connections, a busy schedule, and no clue what to say without sounding weird. Most advice stops at the word itself. Network. Connect. Reach out. Okay, but to who? About what? How long? What am I even asking for? And if someone doesn’t respond, am I supposed to follow up or just disappear? Nobody explains that part, and that is the part that makes students avoid it. The truth is most students aren’t scared of “networking.” They’re scared of sounding dumb, annoying, or desperate. They don’t want to message someone and look like they are begging for a job. So instead they do nothing and tell themselves they will do it later. Then later turns into graduation. Netw...

Budgeting is one of those words that instantly makes people tune out. It sounds like you are about to download an app, track every penny, and feel guilty for buying coffee. Most college students don’t avoid budgeting because they are irresponsible. They avoid it because it feels like extra work on top of everything else. For me, the biggest issue has always been not knowing where the money went. Like I know I am not doing anything crazy, but somehow my account is lower than I expected. That is usually not a math problem. It is just not paying attention. I found a short budgeting guide that explains it in a normal way. It is not trying to hype you up or sell you anything. It just lays out what budgeting actually is and how to start without making it a big dramatic lifestyle change. Here is the link: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/budgeting-how-to-create-a-budget-and-stick-with-it/ The part I like is how basic it keeps everything. It basically says: figure out what money i...

 I used to think Google Calendar was just for adults with meetings. Then I hit one of those weeks where everything was due at the same time. A quiz, a discussion post, a paper, and something random I forgot existed until Canvas reminded me at the worst time. That is when I started using Google Calendar like a normal person. The main reason it works is because it stops the guessing. When deadlines live in Canvas, your syllabus, your email, and your head, you end up checking everything over and over because you are not sure you remembered right. That is stressful. And it wastes time. With Google Calendar, I can open it and instantly see what the week looks like. I can see the days that are packed and the days that are lighter. That changes how you plan. It makes you more realistic. The best part is reminders. I set reminders for anything that would hurt if I forgot it. Like quizzes and papers. Usually one reminder the day before. Sometimes two days before if it is something bigge...

College gets chaotic when everything stacks up. One class adds a quiz. Another drops a paper. Then there is a discussion post, a group message, and something you forgot was even due. Most of the time, you are not behind because you are lazy. You are behind because everything is scattered. Deadlines are in different places and tasks feel too big in your head. When that happens, you end up wasting time trying to figure out what to do instead of doing anything. These are ten small moves that make college easier to manage. None of them are complicated. They just make things clearer. Put every deadline in one place. One calendar. One list. Whatever you use, it has to be one place. Do a weekly reset. Look at what is due this week and write it down. Fifteen minutes is more than enough. Stop writing “study.” Write the real task. “Review chapter 4 notes” is a real task. “Study” is not. Pick three priorities for the day. If you try to do ten things, you will do none of them well. ...

  College success is often viewed simply as intelligence, talent, and grades, but in reality, it is so much more than that. The habits that we have play a much larger role than we give them credit for. The habits that we form in college have a major impact on the success that we see in our academics, social lives, and eventually our future careers. Understanding success habits and why they are so important is the first step towards success in college and beyond.  To begin, time management is one of the most basic, yet one of the most important college success habits students should adopt. As a student you are responsible for more as each year passes, and this includes things like classes, potentially a job, networking, internships, and so much more. With all of this on our plates it is important to have time management skills and to adopt it as a success habit. With proper time management students  are more likely to meet deadlines for assignments, have a healthy balance ...

 As a college student, I often found myself having an inconsistent schedule and not getting things done on a consistent basis. Now, at a glance, this seems like a minor problem, but college is a defining part of your life where the habits you develop matter. Grades can begin to slip, relationships can start to fade, and you are putting your future at risk in more ways than one. What I found to solve this issue was building a productive college routine. This provided me stability, consistency, and increased productivity. Below, I am going to explain the steps I took to build a routine that made me more productive in college. Step 1: Identify Your Priorities As a college student, the most important things are your grades, your finances, setting up your future career, and the relationships you have with people around you. These alone are easy to manage, but when you combine them all for a young and inexperienced individual it can become overwhelming. It is important to identify these ...

Hello, my name is Michael Brown, and this is College Success. This blog is to help college students navigate some of the toughest aspects of college life. As a college student myself, I have experienced a variety of unique situations where guidance or advice would have been very appreciated, and I want to provide that to others. At times trying to balance things like finding an internship, future jobs, managing your finances, and more can be very overwhelming. This blog’s purpose is to be a resource for all college students who are looking to be more productive, confident in their finances, and more prepared for their professional careers. Productivity, time management, and good financial habits are not things that are often taught in the classroom, yet they are some of the most important areas young people need to learn about before they enter the world. Furthermore, things like building a proper resume, how to write a cover letter, and many other necessary skills to transition into l...