Eight elements of a successful college career

Eight elements of a successful college career

by: Ethan Brisby

@ethanbrisby

The purpose of this article is to introduce some ideas about making college a productive experience.

My first go round at college was in 2001. I enrolled at the University of Houston right after high school and boy was I unprepared. I am the first born, and first in my immediate family to experience college. I had no focus and no formal guidance. It did not help that I lived a somewhat harbored life, and the new freedom was far too much for me to handle. Ultimately, everything went out the window for me during a freshman English class when I saw a girl leave before class was over! Let's just say I followed her example many times over. The U of H experiment lasted one semester. Thankfully God sustained my drive to gain knowledge, and I returned to college much more mature in 2007 and eventually completed a B.A. program in Urban Studies in 2010.

As I write this article I am thinking about those students that may think college is about fun and games just as I did. I write to help you alleviate the pain and loss that comes along with the failure that awaits you if you think you can just cadillac through college and still earn the prize. Below I have outlined eight elements of a successful college career. This is to get you thinking about what strategies you can adopt for yourself as you begin or continue your quest for knowledge at an institute of higher learning. You do not have to do like I did. You can get it right the first time. Use this list as a foundation to build upon and then go and accomplish what you may.

 1. Join student organizations

On the surface this is a good way to make friends with similar interest as well as pad your resume with leadership activities. When you take a closer look, joining an organization puts you in a position to create your legacy at your college. Each year an organization is only as productive as its leadership. Select your organization(s) based on your major, personal interest, and networking opportunities. Be careful about taking on too many organizational roles. The key here is to be well balanced in your approach to campus involvement.   

2. Get internships

Internships are priceless when it comes to adding practical skills to your classroom knowledge. Visit your school's career center, get to know your professors (9 times out of 10 they can point you in the direction of an internship), and ask to be put on list servs that post internship opportunities. These are ways to know what is available to you. But just like G.I. Joe says, "knowing is half the battle." You must act. Take time to apply to two to three internships per semester. With persistence and people willing to say positive things about you, you will land an internship no problem. Many are paid and this means money in your pocket. However, you may also consider non-paid internships to gain experience and leverage future opportunities with a company or professional organization. 

3. Meet as many decision makers as possible

By decision makers I mean people that are capable of making a phone call or sending an e-mail or writing a letter on your behalf that will place you where you want to be. This can be people with access to money, jobs, grades, etc. In the professional world, having these people in your corner is like gold. They allow you to by-pass unnecessary paper work, get scholarships, and can get you hired on a job in minutes. I will never forget sitting in a certain decision makers office needing money for my final semester of undergraduate studies hearing him utter the words, "it's done." The way you get to know these kinds of people is to go where they go, network, ask, be honest, show respect, and above all show an interest in them. 

4. Spend some time on the weekend letting your hair down

For my book worms, not everyday of your college career can be spent studying. Spend some time getting acquainted with your new city. Also, use your down time to truly get to know your new friends. It is a good idea to be in various settings with your friends that way you can see how they will react in certain situation. That way you can cut ties if needed. That's a worse case scenario, but truly explore during this time you will have in college. Once you make it to commencement, the only question that is going to matter is "what are you going to do now?" So while you can, enjoy the joys of college, freedom, and trial and error. To my party goers I have one word for you; moderation.

5. Be sure to go to church on the regular

Going to church is what kept me even keel. We are spiritual beings and there is a constant need to feed your spirit with fruits such as joy, peace, and happiness. You can find these at many local churches. More importantly, you need to hear the word of God to keep you balanced. College will introduce you to some down right evil things, so keep your heart set on things that are above. The last thing you want to do is go into the deal expecting scholarly knowledge only to become consumed by a sinful nature that keeps you in bondage against your will. Keep in mind the sign you see posted outside of so many churches, "Enter to worship and depart to serve."

6. A strong inner circle

No matter how many unique people you meet, chances are there will be but one or two that show themselves as true blue friends. I was once told that people we meet are like trees. Some come and go, changing with the seasons like leaves. Others stay around longer, but when things get really heavy they fall and wither away like branches. Then there are those few people that help to sustain you for a lifetime. These are your roots. If you find just two of these while in college count it a blessing. Your college inner circle may consist of someone with a car, someone with access to food, and someone that is abnormally smart. Obviously this is not what everyone's inner-circle will look like for reasons I described above, but it sure will be helpful to have people that bring something to the table. Life is of course about give and take. 

7. Respect the basics (Go to class, eat well, read, turn in your work)

My theory on education has always been that you can not fail a class if you turn in all your assignments. Its just not possible. What I am saying is remember why you are in college in the first place. You are there to gain knowledge, so attend class regularly. More than attending class feed your brain by being well read. There is a reason your professors will assign readings and it has everything to do with you learning the material. Like I said above, if you complete your assignments you simply can not fail. So then, challenge yourself to truly become a master of your class material rather than someone simply seeking to reach a performance letter grade. Lastly, you will want to make sure you are taking in enough of the right foods to maintain a high academic performance level. Do not fall into the cheap fast food trap just because you may be short on cash. Economics is about making the best use of the resources you have. Keep your health in mind as you distribute your resources.

8. Like where you live

Next to the classroom and the library you will spend most of your time wherever you live. Be sure you actually like where you are living; if at all possible. While I understand finances may require you to live a certain way while you push forward, but at least make your living quarters feel like home. There is nothing worse that hating your dorm life, roommates, or off campus neighborhood. Being able to have peace at your home is vital to your ability to keep your eyes on the prize. This impacts your ability to focus. 

There you have it, eight elements of a successful college career. Take time to speak with other people who have successfully navigated their way through college. Find more elements from them. Everyone will have a different experience, so you will want to take in a good deal of useful information and then use it to formalize your strategies for success. Above all, seek wise council and welcome constructive criticism, so you may gain an understanding as you embark on your quest for knowledge. 

Ethan Brisby is a Blogger and Business/Educational Consultant based in Austin, Texas. He is also the author of "5 Proven Strategies on How to Pay for College" Follow him everywhere @ethanbrisby