College is a new and exciting stepping stone for greater heights, but it doesn’t mean that the adventure is easy. If you’re a freshman who wants the best college experience one could ever have, be sure to quit these 7 bad habits before the first day of class. 

Missing the first day of school
While attendance is more lenient in college than in high school, skipping the first day of class is a no-no. The first day of class is arguably the most important day of school as this is the time when your professors give their SOPs and requirements for their class and when you’re given the chance to make friends with your classmates. Always attend your first classes and make it a habit to be punctual. Not only does this boost your grade, but it also helps you develop important interpersonal skills for the future.

Joining too many extra-curricular activities 
Joining extra-curricular activities such as clubs and organization are one of the amazing perks of college life, so the temptation of joining as many organizations may be tempting. However, joining too many extra-curricular may take the time allotted for your rest and academics. Be sure to assess on what’s on your plate before taking in extra-curricular. Your first and main priority should always be your studies.

Copying notes per verbatim
Studies have shown that copying notes per verbatim doesn’t help you learn at all. Copying notes per verbatim don’t allow your brain to absorb and process the information as much as paraphrasing and summarizing does. You might even skip the most important parts in your professor’s lecture because you’re too busy taking down his powerpoints! Always actively listen to your professor and learn to distinguish essential information from non-essential information.

Forgetting your reading
Reading might be a chore, but it is a must to understand your lessons. Most classes in college expect you to read the assigned readings so that you will be prepared for in-depth discussions and analysis about it. Compared to high school, your college professors won’t spoonfeed you and expect you to take initiative. Make it a habit to read your readings before class and highlight important concepts on your readings.

Cramming and Procrastinating
You might have heard stories from college students who pulled all-nighters to finish their projects due tomorrow, but those are one of the things that you shouldn’t emulate. Procrastination wastes a large amount of time that you could’ve allotted to polish your papers or study for your lessons. This habit leads you to cram, which does not do wonders for your GPA.

Eating Unhealthy Meals
Most college students skip breakfast and drink loads of coffee to get an energy boost for the day. This habit does great damage to your body. Heavy loads of coffee can harm your nervous system, leading to palpitations and anxiety. A healthy breakfast is a better alternative and gives you more energy than coffee.  

References: 

http://study.com/articles/20_Bad_Habits_That_Dont_Belong_in_College.html
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/seven-bad-habits-college-students
http://www.npr.org/2016/04/17/474525392/attention-students-put-your-laptops-away

Contributed by: Allison Julianne Macasaet
She is a freelance writer on the side, a student of international relations on the other. Interests include fantasy books, international relations, and lifestyle.