Anteater baseball players Jacob King and  Thomas McCaffrey have endured many obstacles as any UC Irvine student has over the past few years in both academic and athletic sides. King, a fourth-year pitcher, has earned three Dean's List distinctions as well as Big West Spring All-Academic, Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll, and UC Irvine Scholar Athlete status as an education major. McCaffrey, a third-year catcher, has collected the same academic accolades as King while the two have teamed up on the field as well as a pitcher-catcher battery multiple times. With Welcome Week underway and classes beginning this week, the duo teamed up once again to provide tips on how to be successful on campus and in the classroom going into the 2022-23 academic year.

1. "Introduce yourself to others all the time." - Thomas McCaffrey
Especially if you're a newcomer, you are most likely going to be surrounded by other incoming students who are not complete settled in and are looking for friends. By asking questions or introducing yourself to other classmates, you are giving yourself a great opportunity to create a friendship with someone new. In my opinion, you can never start your college life with too many friends, so try to be nice and bond with your classmates and fellow neighbors."

2. "Ask for help when you need it." - Jacob King
There are many resources available to students, so take advantage of them! Whenever you are confused about something, ask your professor or go to office hours. These are some valuable resources that can help a lot.

3. "Create a class schedule that allows for a day off." - Thomas McCaffrey
College is hard, and giving yourself a day off from homework or class can be huge for your mental health. Getting stuck in the same school routine can be draining, and ultimately make the college experience dreadful. Whether you're creating a class schedule with no classes on a certain day of the week, or just knocking out all your homework a day early, you are giving your brain some time to rest from work, and allowing yourself to do something that makes you happy.

4. "Don't procrastinate." - Jacob King
Procrastinating has put me in some very tough situations and is a very bad habit. Instead of procrastinating, start studying or working on your project well before the due date. This will help alleviate some stress and allow you to refine your work.

5. "Use a planner." - Thomas McCaffrey
Whether it's buying a planner or using an app on your phone, laying out all of your activities and work in one place will make you the most effective student. Knowing when every class, assignment, test, and non-school related activities are, it is much easier to manage your time and balance school and extra curricular. I recommend taking 10-20 minutes from your Sunday night and writing out your tasks for the week so you can give yourself some free time.

6. "Make sure to take notes!" - Jacob King
Taking notes will help you with many things - retaining information, remembering due dates, and giving study material. I have found that I am able to remember more when taking handwritten notes rather than typing them out.

7. "Drink a lot of water." - Thomas McCaffrey
In this case, the more the merrier. Your body is mostly made of water, so keeping your body hydrated can help increase energy levels and brain function. In my life as a student-athlete, when I do not drink enough water throughout the day, I get bad headaches and cramps and cannot perform in the classroom or on the field. By drinking a lot of water, you are fueling your body with energy and brain support to help you succeed in the college life.

8. "Add your class calendar to your phone calendar." - Jacob King
I find that looking at several different calendars for class schedules, homework, and practice has proven to be quite difficult. I decided to add all of my important due dates and classes to my phone calendar using eee.uci.edu. I am able to easily find homework assignments and class dates without confusion.

9. "Get 8 hours of sleep." - Thomas McCaffrey
With college schedules that are much different than previous high school schedules, sometimes the workload and social life can be overwhelming. You may notice that your always need to grab a coffee or energy drink before you start your day because you are exhausted from the previous day. In my opinion and through my experiences, sleep is the most underutilized tool for recovery, and by prioritizing a good sleep schedule, you will have more energy throughout the day and become a much more focused student in the classroom.

10. "Remember to study." - Jacob King
No matter how easy the class is, you should remember to study. Studying will make you much more successful in your classes. Find a nice quiet place to study or creat a group with your classmates and study together. I believe that both of these study techniques have greatly helped me.