Surviving College In Ten Tips

In the past few weeks I have struggled to update my blog. This is not because I've struggled with ideas or because I don't want to, it is purely due to the fact that I have a lot of college work piling up. I may only be in my first year but one of the A-Levels I am taking is an AS so half of my work is to be completed this year. I also have quite a lot of work to do for the other two subjects that I take.

A-Levels are quite difficult and stressful. I knew that I may struggle, but I didn't quite realise just how difficult they would be. 

So, for my first blog post in a while I thought that I might give you a few tips to help you survive A-Levels. I know that I have covered this a few times and a few of these tips may be similar (or the same as) previous tips or those recommended while I was doing my GCSEs, but as I am over half way through my first year of college I thought that I now have a better perspective on A-Levels.

Some of these will also help if you are applying to Universities in September like I will be. 

• Stay organised- Write down your schedules, appointments, exam date and any other important dates and information in a diary or note book. It helps to remember exactly what you have to do and when.

• Revise- If you haven't already started revising then now would be a good time to start. Even if this years exams are only mocks, it still helps to highlight, summarise and create sources to revise from. 

• Find the best way for you to revise- Don't just write notes or highlight things because it is recommended or you're told to, find a way that your notes will be easier to remember.

• Remember that this is the year to make a few mistakes- Try not to get everything wrong, but you can learn from your mistakes.

• Keep all your notes- Whether its hand outs given to you by teachers or scruffy notes made in class that you've later written up, keep everything. They will always be helpful. You can revise from the older notes if you misplace the rewritten ones, or you can read one set and then read the next later on.

• Use folders- File everything. Keep a folder for each subject to keep all the notes you make in class. This prevents you from losing your notes or them getting damaged. Also file any notes you make on University.

• Use colours- Using a variety of coloured pens and highlighters to revise and make notes is more likely to attract your attention than they would be written in black ink. It also may help you remember easier.

• Listen carefully- Make notes on everything that you need to know and ask for an expansion on the explanation if you don't understand something. You're teacher may not cover the topic again and even if they do, they may not go over it in much detail.

• Think about what you want to do after college- Your teachers are going to cover this topic a lot, too many times to count, but it is important. Two years fly by and you need to know what you will be doing after you finish your course- whether that is A-Levels or a BTEC. Look at Universities, apprenticeships and always consider your back up options 

• Give yourself a break- Your A-Levels (or other courses) are important, but so is your sanity. You are going to struggle if you spend all your time revising and stressing about your grades. Take some time to watch your favourite TV series, or go out with your friends- what ever it is, give yourself some time.

Love You All xoxo