Good morning, friends! Today I write to you from
Joe, the wonder-coffee shop I mentioned in my last post. It’s well lit and
right across the street from Barnard, and generally manages to make
8 AM studying somewhat more palatable.
I suppose that
it is somewhat ironic that I am writing about how to manage the demands of a
Barnard schedule when, today particularly, I am struggling a little in that
regard. But what better way to give you a taste of the excitement and
challenges of a difficult course load than to write about it on the day (hehe,
one of the days) I’m wrestling with it?
Barnard and
Columbia students are known for pushing themselves. This is most likely a large
part of why they are here (and why you will soon be here too!), and let me
reassure you: they keep it up upon arrival. Though 4-5 courses is more or less
considered average, many students take as many as six academic courses along
with one or two fun classes (dance, P.E., etc.). That kind of a work load,
especially when combined with involvement in clubs, student groups, work and
internships, can make life here…exciting.
It really is
exciting in a good way: it feels good to learn! However, it also comes
hand-in-hand with a certain degree of stress, and it is imperative that you
figure out how much of it you can handle and how you can keep your net stress
level below that. Fortunately, Barnard will help you do that!
 |
| Well Woman: a great resource to help stay balanced! |
To begin, there
are a variety of services to help you out. There are tutors, help rooms, office hours, and Writing Fellows to help you feel more
confident if your concerns are strictly academic. If you wrestle more with the
emotional side of it (and don’t we all sometimes?), Well Woman runs an office on campus
where you can talk to counselors and trained peer advisers about your situation.
From their website: “Stop by our office to talk to a staff member during the
day or a peer educator in the evening about anything related to health and
wellness, to browse our library, ask questions, or just relax and have a cup of
tea. Be well!” And, they host weekly runs in Riverside Park (exercise is
the single greatest stress-reliever ever) and a Knitting Club. This kind of
support can make all the difference in how you feel about your courses, and our
school is here to help us out.
But you can
also make some wise choices when you are selecting courses that can save you from a
lot of grief later in the semester. This is on the brain recently, as we are in
the middle of course registration (“program filing”) now, so here are my top
two tips:
- Try not to spread yourself too thin. I know that the courses are incredible here, but you have four years here, so pace yourself. You will enjoy each course much more (and get more out of it, and have better grades to show for it) if you have the time to give each course the attention it deserves. Also, college courses expect more of you, so don’t worry if four sounds like a light load compared to high school!
- Think about how to balance reading-intensive, writing-intensive, and problem set-intensive courses. Even if you spend the same amount of time on work, it will feel a lot less daunting if you can mix it up. I have had more than one semester where it feels like all I ever do it read, and—weirdly—throwing a Calculus class into the mix can feel good. Keep that brain moving in multiple directions!
Alright,
guys, I’m out. But, as usual, leave me your comments, questions, and concerns;
I have fun responding :). And don’t be daunted by this:
college is going to be challenging, but it’s also incredibly exciting,
motivating, and sometimes downright mind-blowing!
Chloe
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