Surviving College/ University: A Guide to Navigating the Journey with Balance and Smarts.

A study program, whether it's your undergrad, master's, or PhD requires a serious time commitment. College will throw assignments and exams your way at the most inconvenient times. You might even face personal challenges like health issues or career changes during your studies. So be realistic, be serious and join undergraduate/post-graduate programs to seriously study. Not because somebody asked you to.

Here are some tips and tricks I have used during my time in College/ University. I had to dig years into my journals and really see what I had done during my time. I hope you find this article helpful. If it does, please share it 😸

1. Plan for the Next 3-4 Years

If you’re serious about your academic journey, be prepared to make it your top priority. College will demand a significant portion of your time and mental energy. The reality is, humans aren’t designed to multitask, especially when you’re balancing a degree program with a startup or any other major side projects. Set yourself up with a grand, long-term plan that allows you to prioritize your studies. Whether it’s a work schedule, a life schedule, or both, give your academics the space they need to thrive.

2. Amp Up Your Writing and Presentation Skills

Let’s face it, more than half of your grades will depend on how well you can articulate your thoughts. The other half? It’s all about your study habits, critical thinking, and planning skills. You might be a great storyteller, but that’s not the kind of writing required in college unless you’re in a creative writing program. College essays typically range from 500 to 2000 words. Personally, I found the shorter assignments harder to manage than the lengthy ones.

Writing Better Essays

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to use fancy words or fill your essay with thesaurus-level vocabulary to get good grades. Academic writing is all about clarity. Keep it concise, stay focused, and back up your thoughts with proper citations. Never, ever write your own opinion without a citation to support it. Unless it is a reflective writing. Academic writing with proper references is a skill you’ll build over time, and it’s something that improves with practice. I found that saving drafts and final submissions from each module helped me track my progress and stay motivated.

Improve Your Presentation and Group Work Skills

Group work. Ugh. I hated it. There was always that one person who did the bare minimum, leaving me to pick up the slack. But here’s the truth: group work and presentations are part of the package deal. And much like in the corporate world, sometimes you’ll need to carry the team. So, be proactive schedule meetings, set agendas, and push your teammates to stay on track.

When it comes to presentations, practice is key. Run through your presentation multiple times, and here’s a little pro tip: whenever you feel nervous, think of it as excitement. And if the examiners look intimidating, imagine them as penguins. Yes, penguins or anything silly. Trust me, it works.

3. Read Coursework Questions Carefully

Academic questions often come with keywords that tell you exactly how to approach the task. Misunderstanding these keywords can lead to a low grade, so pay close attention. For example, “compare” means you should focus on similarities, while “contrast” requires you to highlight differences. Knowing the difference between words like “analyse,” “evaluate,” “distinguish,” and “critically evaluate” is essential for tackling your assignments the right way.

4. Use the Marking Guide and Reading Lists

You need to be crystal clear on your module’s learning outcomes and the key topics covered in your assessments. This ensures you’re not off-topic or wasting time on irrelevant theories. Many universities provide a marking guide that outlines exactly what your lecturers are looking for. Use it to plan your writing and ensure you’re hitting all the right notes. The reading lists provided by your module leaders are goldmines for understanding your study material and crafting a strong, well-supported argument in your assessments.

5. Enhance Your Writing with Better Academic Phrases

You can have a perfect essay, but if it lacks flair, it won’t stand out. Imagine your lecturers reading 30 essays back-to-back about the same topic. That would drive me insane. Academic writing needs more than just the basics, it needs academic phrases, linking words, and varied vocabulary. These tools help your work, flow better and sound more professional. For example, instead of simply stating “This is important,” you might say, “X is a major area of interest within the field of…” or “Central to the entire discipline of X is the concept of….”

Check out the University of Manchester’s Academic Phrase bank for a list of useful phrases you can incorporate into your writing. It’s a great resource to help elevate your academic essays.

6. Avoid Plagiarism and Strengthen Your Citations

Plagiarism can happen to anyone, but it’s easily avoidable. One of the best ways to steer clear of plagiarism is to rephrase every reference you come across the first time. Doing this reduces the risk of accidental plagiarism when you sit down to write. Also, using multiple sources to back up the same point strengthens your argument. However, don’t go overboard. Multiple references are useful, but too many can overwhelm your essay.

Also, when citing, always try to use the most recent articles. Ideally, your sources should be from the last five years, with the current year being the most reliable. Make sure the study sample sizes are relevant and credible for your essay.

7. Edit, Edit, Edit—and Use Text-to-Speech Programs

Once you’ve written your first draft, take a break and return to it later with fresh eyes. You’ll be surprised by how many mistakes you might overlook when you’ve been staring at the same text for hours. Text-to-speech programs are a great way to catch errors. Hearing your work read aloud helps you spot awkward phrasing and grammatical mistakes you might have missed.

Aim to finish your first draft at least 2-3 days before the deadline. I did this while pregnant and working full-time, so I know it’s possible. Giving yourself that extra time for editing and refinement can make a world of difference in the quality of your work.

8. Maintain a Healthy Balance

I worked full-time throughout my degree, and while I did see daylight, I’m sure I would’ve become a hermit if I hadn’t. It’s crucial to have something outside of your coursework to keep you grounded. A hobby, a job, a circle of friends, something to take your mind off your studies and reduce stress. Personally, I found planning my days around prayer times, fun activities, and study sessions helped me stay balanced.

Before diving into your study sessions, jot down everything on your mind, from worries to chores. This clears your head and frees you up to focus. And don’t forget to take breaks whether it’s for a quick walk or doing something that relaxes you. Cleaning was therapeutic for me, but you might find other ways to unwind.

College will push you to your limits, but with the right strategies, you can not only survive you can thrive. Keep a clear head, stay organized, and don’t forget to balance hard work with moments of joy. You’ve got this!

Let me know if you find this article interesting and if you wish to see more content such as this in the future.

للَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْـتَنِي وَ عَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي 

Allahumma infa’ani bima alamtuni wa a’limni ma yenfaa’ni 

Oh Allah! Make useful for me what you have taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me. 

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي 

Rabbi ishrah li sadri wa yassirli amri wah lul uqdatan min lisaani, yaf kahu kauli 

My Lord! Open my heart, and make my task easy for me, loosen the knot in my tongue so that they may understand my speech