Hey there, pal! Without a doubt, you have many questions about college life! It reminds you of an ocean full of unknown and probably dangerous species. But no worries, cuz Nerdify is here to help!

Making it through your freshman year at college is like stepping on a way of the warrior – the secret is to learn how to fight for your rights as you learn, analyze, interact, become organized, and start to think strategically. No, the real trick is to have fun no matter what! Here are some helpful tips to guide you through the first year of college life without too much trouble, stress, and anxiety.  

Getting Organized Is the Key!

You have read it right – you have to become organized no matter what as it is one of the most important skills that you should have in order to survive through college. It does not matter what your strong and weak sides are because you have to work on other issues. They are time management, learning all the due dates for important diverse events, keeping track of available funds, and so on. We have it summed up for you, so you know what parts of your life have to be under control:

1. Use organizers, smartphone applications or a big calendar on your wall to keep track of all the critical deadlines. It should not only be about college but about anything that is important in your life. Even birthdays, invitations, financial matters, family gatherings, and scheduled meetings with college professors.

2. Organize each task from the urgent to less urgent and less difficult to most difficult assignments. This allows you to manage your time and physical strength by starting with the most important tasks first while knowing what tasks can be easily completed to help you feel satisfied.

3. Create a budget for yourself, consult with your friends and family, so you can get a word of advice and see how you can feel financially secure.

Become a Jedi of Social Interaction.

You have to work really hard on your personality and place in the society as you enter college. It is not really difficult to become a Jedi of social interaction! No matter how complicated your studies may be, your strong social skills, charisma, warm smile or a friendly pat on the back will always do much more than you can imagine! So, what exactly has to be done?  Okay, just follow this list:

1. Do not miss meetings with your professors. There are special scheduled hours that all professors have, so take advantage of each opportunity and speak of what makes you feel concerned.  

2. Meet your academic adviser. This person is really important for your success and college progress, so getting to know him or her and becoming friends is critical. In case something does not work, remember that you can always ask for another academic adviser.

3. As a part of social interaction, get involved in all things campus: student organizations, clubs, voluntary work, all kinds of fraternities, if you would like. Start a band or become a part of a college sports team. You will not only make new friends and learn some amazing skills but will eventually feel connected and at home.

4. Build a network of friends, meet new people, and do not be afraid of taking mentoring roles to support and help other people.

Building a Bridge Between Studies and Times of Leisure.

One of the worst challenges a college warrior faces is fighting for the girl or a guy he or she has a crush on. No, seriously, it is quite an issue! Just be yourself and speak of your feelings! Unfortunately, romance is not the only problem you will face at college.

Okay, now another challenge is finding a right balance between the studies and times of leisure. Out of all things, find a cozy and calm place where you can study and concentrate. Next, study course syllabus more than twice and see when and what are your due dates, so you can plan that party without damaging your academic progress. College life is always balancing between your social life and study-related events, so the best thing you can do is make it 50/50. You have to study hard, so you can party hard!

As you strive for good grades, do not forget to use all the available study resources on campus. If there are learning labs and tutors, make sure that you use their help even if you think that you do not need it. After all, they have a purpose to be here… and that purpose is YOU! Still, if you do not think that it is an option, try to become a part of study groups, so you and your friends can schedule the same time for studies and leisure. This way you can find some peace and stop feeling like letting someone down!

Battle of Priorities

We are sure that you have heard it all before, but we will say it again that college life, especially the freshman year, is a battle of priorities where important things should come first. Okay, but what is important and how to understand what is really important? Yes, studying is necessary, but unlike most guides, we want to tell you that taking some time for yourself is just as important as academia! If you feel totally stressed, no high grades will be of any good. Even if it is your favorite television show, writing a journal, playing guitar or just riding a bicycle through the park, it is just as important!

All you have to do is to take full responsibility for what you choose and work on your priorities. Try to take one step at a time as you study and make a list of what tasks are closer to the deadline, what college assignments should be done as soon as possible to stop making your life a mess. Yet, at the same time, always ask yourself about what will make you feel best of all even in the middle of a Jedi battle with another complex subject!  

Just remember that even if doing things the last minute before the lessons start could work in high school, it may not work in college. So, it is much safer to stick to deadlines and prioritize your time and resources. In other words, do not take shortcuts and do not cut corners as you progress. Do not cheat because it is your life. It surely deserves the best you can give!

When Things Just Won’t Work…

Trust us, we all have been in situations when things just won’t work and you feel like it is the end of the world! It is perfectly normal because you are in a different environment, you are away from home, so there come anxiety and homesickness among other things. Even if you always wanted to get away from home, college is not always what you have expected. There are three basic rules that you should remember to help you overcome sadness, stress, anxiety, and this feeling when you just do not want to be in college any longer.

1. Stay on campus as much as you can, so the more time you spend on campus, the more you will feel at home and as a part of a community. Join social and cultural events that take place to get your mind away. Try to be creative, have fun, joke around, and inspire people because, trust us, they feel bad too even if they do not show it!

2. Be ready to feel stressed, tired, and overwhelmed. Just know that you are not the only one feeling this way. Do not feel pressured to make hasty decisions about chosen career or a major. Give it some time, try to learn and see what it is. It is not a race that you have to win. Hence, see what you really enjoy, but take time to learn it inside out, talk to professors and other students before you make a turn.

3. Seek professional help when and IF you feel that you need it. It is perfectly normal. The colleges have counseling and health centers, so if you are not feeling well, you should let professionals know. Depression, bullying, feeling isolated, harassment or any conflicts should be reported, as you do not have to face these challenges alone.

We hope that all these little tricks and tips will help you to get through the freshman year at college. Be determined, take advantage of your social network of friends, voluntary work, and the special skills you definitely have. Have fun as you learn, give some time for yourself and remember that it is your life that you can control. You are already a warrior who is winning the first battle because you have what it takes!

Do not forget that you are studying to help yourself feel good about life and do not let any stress ruin it, just contact Nerdify for help any time.

Every time we deal with our customers and co-workers at the Nerdify reviews, we always remind them about business ethics and flexibility before any conversation starts. While it is time-consuming, it helps to set mental borders and avoid inappropriate behaviors. As a rule, when we encounter a narcissistic person, it helps us to notice the red flags and act accordingly. Be it a boss or a college professor, it does not mean that they have a right to act rude or vent one’s anger towards you.

Use these simple seven red flag alerts to keep yourself safe and avoid becoming a victim of a narcissistic person.

1. Lack of empathy and sensitivity to others.
Even if you become a mental slave who follows every rule and order, narcissistic personalities always show a lack of empathy, understanding, or an ability to comfort others. If you notice such a red flag, try to analyze the situation and approach your boss or professor with some challenges. If they will start thinking or discussing the problem with you, it will help you to see their mindset. If they act aggressively, it shows that they are most likely not taught to settle down the problems and offer help or advice.

2. Getting too personal to exploit you as an additional workforce.
Narcissistic people like to exploit you by asking to run personal errands, do additional work just for the sake of it, or using you as a messenger to deliver their thoughts or rumors. As a rule, it will not lead to any compensation or appreciation of your actions. Stay clear and let such a person know that you are not going to be their personal assistant because you have your responsibilities and social rights, which does not grant anyone, regardless of status, a right to exploit you. Simply remind them about the workplace and ethical laws. It always works!

3. Egoistic attitude and setting the statuses.
Our Nerdify reviews team believes that narcissistic personalities are equal to egoists because they only think about their profits or acknowledgment. Such people like to separate themselves and set statuses. A common example is reminding others about their social background or being a newbie or a first-year student. Now they will use their status to act in a rude way and command by overdoing it. As a rule, such personalities will never accept their being wrong or not acting according to their skills, education, or even their age.

4. Always in the spotlight. Now the signs of a narcissistic person also include talking non-stop and trying to pose their opinion as the only that’s right. If you come up with a good idea or an explanation of how something can be improved, such a person will instantly become angry because it is not them who offered an idea. They only like hearing themselves talk and put the others down. The key to such situations is cooperation and learning how to listen with a little twist. Once the person gets tired of talking, talk about your proposal, and use the same mental weapon to let them see how important they are (since you talk to them)!

5. Breaking rules and ethical norms.
Now, this aspect often involves criminal activity and the actions that go against the business and educational norms. Our specialists at Nerdify reviews recommend carrying a digital recorder along or use your smartphone by turning it on once you start an important conversation. Even if a person will not know that they were recorded, it can be used as evidence when you get into legal trouble and have to provide anything to keep yourself safe.

6. Lack of appreciation and giving you some credit for achievements.
As we cooperate with people that come from all kinds of social backgrounds, we often encounter situations when people show no appreciation for any kind of help. It could be explained by their simply being strict, yet there are common rules of appreciation and giving some credit. Our Nerdify reviews team suggests taking the first step and thanking the narcissist before they try to neglect you and ignore your efforts. Let them shine in their light while you will always be one step ahead, knowing that you have done the right thing!

7. Excessive negativity and blaming others for their failures.
This is the most obvious red flag that shows that you are dealing with a narcissistic person. They always start blaming others for doing something wrong and keep every relationship toxic. Unfortunately, it can bring serious damage even if you try to ignore it, therefore, the most important is to learn how to say “no” and remain proactive instead of turning to reactive decisions with even more negativity.

With the spring semester coming to an end, while students deserve a nice break, the nearly three months of summer quickly lose their luster. After a month or so, many students start scratching their heads, wondering what to do with all that extra free time for the next two months. An excellent investment of your time would be to take a few summer courses over the summer. Read below why our Nerdify reviews experts recommend taking summer courses as a great way to get ahead of your studies.

1. They Only Last One Month!
Summer courses are condensed courses that only cover the month of, you guessed it, May. Since the summer sources typically count the same number of credits as a class in a typical semester, you’ll need to complete the same amount of class time in that short period. As an example, suppose a regular semester at your school is 15 weeks, and you take 3-credit classes, spending three hours a week in class. In that case, you’ll have to divide up those 45 hours of class time into four weeks, totaling about 11 hours a week. For that reason, our Nerdify reviews experts recommend you don’t cram too many summer classes at once. Many college-aged Reddit users on their campus subreddits say they take two courses if they want to study full-time, or just one of the Redditors is working during the summer. While it is a lot of work, say Reddit students, those four weeks of class fly by, and when you’re done, you’ll have a few credits under your belt, giving you a leg up for your next semester. Summer classes can get you ahead not only in credits but also in GPA.

2. You Can Take GPA-Boosting Classes

Often during summer, professors offer a mix of challenging and more manageable classes, so if you took a difficult class last semester that brought your GPA down, taking a more accessible class over the summer can help balance out your GPA. Since your GPA is an average of the number of credits you take regardless of their difficulty, the more easy-A courses you’d be able to take, the better. Our Nerdify reviews experts note that you shouldn’t be deceived into thinking that taking a class like drawing is effortless. Those not artistically inclined might be surprised how difficult those classes are work- and grading-wise. For those that have been wanting to take creative electives and don’t usually have time, a summer course is a great option to do so! In addition to taking classes you wouldn’t during the fall or spring, you might also be able to study in locations you might not otherwise travel to.

3. There Are Study Abroad Summer Options

Studying in another country during May is a terrific option for so many reasons. Though there are options to study abroad during the fall and spring semesters, it can be daunting to leave your home country for three or four months at a time. It could be difficult logistically—needing to find a sub-leaser for your apartment, find out what to do with any pets, etc.—but you’ll also miss out on a semester with loved ones and friends. If you studied abroad during summer, you’d only be gone for about a month, which is much easier to organize, and you’re unlikely to get homesick or tired of your host country. You’ll basically be able to take a month-long vacation while also getting some credits out of the way.

4. Get Rid of General Education Classes

Especially if you go to a liberal arts college, you’ll likely have a bunch of courses not related to your major that you’ll need to take. While those classes are enriching and worthwhile for many, they can make scheduling for the fall and spring semesters difficult. Our Nerdify reviews experts note that you can take care of that pesky history, math, or English classes in May that would otherwise weigh down your semester schedules. Even if you don’t currently have a major, the sooner you get rid of your gen ed classes, the sooner you’ll be able to find a field of study you’re passionate about, ensuring you’ll finish your degree on time. Or, maybe even earlier.

5. You Might Be Able To Graduate Early

Suppose you take even two summer classes at three credits each for three summers. In that case, that’s 18 credits right there, three hours over the typical college semester of 15. That means you’d be able to graduate college at least a semester early! This can be great for several reasons. Other than obviously saving four months of your time, you’ll also be likely saving money, depending on how your school calculates tuition costs. If you plan on continuing your education after graduation, you’ll be able to focus on admissions due in January without juggling the start of a new semester, and take even more time perfecting rolling admission applications. Or, you could use those extra months to focus studying on higher education tests, such as the GRE or LSAT. If you’re going to start working right after graduation, by entering the workforce in December, you’ll be competing against fewer applicants for each job, increasing the likelihood that employers pick your resume. Taking summer classes gives you an advantage with your GPA score, study abroad options, and completing credits early, all in about four weeks.