How to Make the Most of Your Second Semester
By: That College Life
Tags: Student Life, College Tips, College Life, College, Education

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The second semester of your college year is a new start. Whether you struggled or thrived in the first half of the year, all new classes and new roommates will give you a chance to start over. It’s another chance to succeed.

We’ve broken down how to best approach this next semester depending on whether you feel like you’ve struggled or succeeded in your classes this last semester. This new college semester can be your best one yet if you follow these tips for college success.

If You’ve Done Well

If you got good grades in your last semester, you probably want to emulate what you have done. But there is always room for improvement. If you succeeded in the academics of college, you probably want to make room for your personal life as well. Here are three ways you can balance school and personal life.

One. Make Time for Friendships

The friends you make in college will likely be friends for life. Setting a proper school-life balance will give you time to nurture fulfilling relationships. You don’t want to graduate and then realize you missed out on building important social connections. Making friends will build your support system too, they can help you when you are struggling and you can offer the same help to them. If you have the grades part of college down, work on being a good friend.

Two. Do Something You Love

It can be difficult to carve time out of your day to engage in a hobby or activity you enjoy, especially when you’re a busy college student. But that is exactly why you should. You are not just a student, you’re a well-rounded human being who needs personal fulfillment to feel happiness. Whether it’s baking, sewing, reading, music, or any other type of passion, make time for it. You’ll feel less stressed and happier if you do.

Three. Take Care of Your Health

When you’re so focused on school, it can be easy to ignore your health. When you’re a young college student, you can even feel relatively good when you are working with less sleep and not eating a balanced diet. Imagine how much better you’d feel if you did those things. Sleeping 7–8 hours a night will help you retain information when you study. Also, exercising and eating healthy will help regulate your emotions while giving you energy. Don’t ignore your health for school.

If You’ve Struggled

If you feel like you didn’t do well last semester, you have a chance to start over and have a successful second semester. Don’t be discouraged because you have the power to change your habits. Follow these 3 tips to improve your grades and experience.

One. Avoid Perfectionism

One reason a student can get overwhelmed is that they feel like they cannot achieve perfect grades or do their work perfectly. The truth is, no professor expects their students to be perfect. It is not a realistic standard. Instead, strive to be a high achiever. A high achiever sets high, achievable standards. They view mistakes as opportunities to learn, and they appreciate the process, not just the end result.

Two. Set a Weekly Schedule

Attend all your classes, and then set time aside to study. Map out your schedule ahead of time so you will be less tempted to procrastinate or forget your homework and assignments. Lots of students use a physical planner, but phone apps are becoming a more popular way to organize calendars. When you organize your time, you can prioritize schoolwork and then take breaks and schedule in rewards.

Three. Ask for Help

If you find yourself falling behind or letting your grades slip, don’t be ashamed to reach out for help. Campuses often have tutors, help centers, and you can even talk to your professors during their office hours. The best students often attend tutoring from the start of the semester. Faculty members are the most underutilized resource for students, they want you to be successful. Taking initiative will often get you noticed.

Getting a fresh start in the second semester is beneficial whether you feel like you did well, or you struggled in the first semester.

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