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Transitioning to a College Schedule

One thing that I had to get used to in college was how different every day would be. In high school, I had my routine; it would be the same classes, people, and timing each day. But in college, you have free rein to do whatever you want between classes. Every day can be different. My class schedule stays consistent, but other than that, nothing is set in stone.

Another thing I didn’t realize would be more difficult was early mornings. I’m a night owl to begin with, but I figured if I could get to school at 8 am in high school, then I can handle an 8 am course now. With a heavier workload and even longer nights, getting up early is truly the most challenging part of my day. Luckily, I enjoy the classes that I am in, and once I get past my morning sleepiness, I’m ready to take on my day!

My Day

My busiest day is Wednesday. I don’t have my 8 am that day, but I still get up early for my 9 am lecture. My first class is MATH 1920, which is Multivariable Calculus for Engineers. After 50 minutes of furiously taking notes on the daily class material, I rush to my next class. I arrive at Rockefeller Hall right on time for Chinese. We usually spend the entire class reviewing the textbook and covering the exercises for the unit. After this class, is when I have a gap in my schedule. I usually head right next door to the (PSB) to get lunch. PSB is my favorite place to work. There’s an area of large round tables, and there are always other students studying there. The atrium is tall and open; sunlight pours in, making it a very natural environment to hang out. Right next to this area is , my favorite cafe on campus. I usually get a BLT, sit down, and review for my next class, CS1110 (Intro to Computing).

My computer science class on Wednesday is a discussion, which means we do in-class exercises to practice our coding skills. I sit next to my friend, neither of us has past coding experience, but with our combined effort, we generally figure everything out. Most days, I have an opening in my schedule after this class. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to go back to my dorm to take a nap, so I just find a place to study before my English class. Sometimes it’s the library, sometimes it’s another cafe, and sometimes I go back to PSB. I do whatever work I need to and then head to my 2:55 pm class. Freshmen need to take a first-year writing seminar; this semester, mine is . Today we discussed and dissected our current reading about AI and illnesses related to technological development. There are many small group activities, and it’s interesting.  

Winding Down

By the end of my day, I’m ready to head back to my dorm. The last few hours of my day are spent eating dinner, napping, studying, hanging out with friends in our lounges, or calling hometown friends. I prefer a quiet night after running around all day from class to class. Each day is different, but I’ve found a routine that works for me. Although my schedule was an adjustment process from high school to college, I enjoy the variety of my days and classes. I like having freedom, and I’m glad I’m able to balance life and school how I want!