COLLEGE SUCCESS blue%20pen.jpg

 

  • Study%20Group.jpgColleges offer courses in College Success 101 so you might want to check out your college catalog to see if one is available. It may be a wise investment in time and money to take the class.
  • Take advantage of new student orientations on campus (many Universities require attendance). If you are a transfer student, sometimes transfer orientations are offered.
  • Be safe on campus. Walk with a friend at night. Be aware of your surroundings. Take part in on campus safety workshops and self-defense classes.
  • Making new friends is part of having a good experience on campus, so take part in campus events, activities and programs and volunteer your time to help.
  • Most colleges have a Student Learning Center Lab. This is an excellent free resource for one-on-one tutoring and workshops. They usually also house computers you can utilize to complete your homework. They can also help with study skills, review your homework, and help you with time management and much more.
  • If you are having trouble in any area, seek out help on your campus. You can start with your instructor or check your college's website to see what resources are available.
  • If you feel you have mastered a subject and could pass a mastery test on the subject, check with your Testing Center to see if you can take a College Level Examination Program (CLEP test) or the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP test).
  • Know how you learn best. For example, if you learn by seeing (make note cards, draw pictures, diagrams, charts, maps, flash cards etc.), if you lean by hearing (make tapes), if you learn by doing (do something with your hands, write down information and use examples, role play and/or make a game out it). There are many ways in which you may have discovered that you learn best, this is just a sample. If you are having trouble identifying how you learn best, go to your campus Student Learning Center and ask for some guidance.
  • Don’t study the minimum to get by.
  • Learn it vs memorize it.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute to study or complete assignments.
  • Make an effort to understand your instructor, book, projects, assignments etc.
  • Don’t take too many classes at one time (be realistic based on your outside responsibilities). Full time is 12 hours (usually 4 classes). If you work full-time, don't attempt to do both. Half-time (6 hours) is reasonable. Consider looking for a better job and working less hours if you want to take more classes.
  • Don’t take classes that are similar (Literature and English, Math and Statistics, etc.)
  • Take classes in the correct order and don’t wait a semester before taking the next related class because you may forget what you learned or your recall will be better if you don't take a semester off.
  • Work with your classmates in study groups
  • Seek out tutoring from Student Learning Center on campus
  • Know your instructor and meet with them to discuss assignments and any problems you might be having with class assignments
  • Try and meet with instructors before you register for a class and ask for their syllabus, determine their teaching style (do they lecture, are their class discussions, do they write notes on the board, do they give you hands-on projects, or do they use a combination etc.) and then determine if they match the way you like to learn best.
  • Ask other students who have had teachers specific questions about how they teach the course
  • Take all the right materials for class (books, paper, pen, notebook, equipment, etc.)
  • Sounds simple but just show up for class! If you miss classes, ask professor what you missed and get notes from someone who is a good note taker
  • Follow your syllabus and ask questions if you don't understand the course requirements and expectations
  • Read the chapters before they will be discussed in class
  • Ask appropriate questions and discuss your views in a professional manner.
  • Turn work in on time, accurately and neatly
  • Talk to your professor ASAP if you can’t meet a deadline
  • Act appropriately in the classroom and respect your professor and other students
  • Keep your homework, assignments and graded tests in a folder.  It is best to have dividers in a note book so you can separate work for your different classes.  Or, use a different notebook for each class.
  • Discuss any problems or disagreements with your professor in private.
  • Visit with an academic advisor regarding your course selection, transfer credits, etc.
  • Visit with a campus counselor, if available, to discuss your personal problems or issues.
  • See your campus health center, if available, for check-ups, vaccines, treatment of minor illnesses, health questions or concerns, etc.
  • Get involved in school activities and functions (don’t stretch yourself too thin!)
  • Work on campus vs. working off campus. If you are on Financial Aid, you may be able to get a part-time work study job on campus.
  • Study and complete assignments in a comfortable and quite place. Get out of a noisy dorm room and go the library
  • Set a scheduled time each day to work on your assignments and study
  • Make a “To Do” list each day and prioritize your work
  • Proofread your assignments for grammatical and spelling errors
  • Have someone else read it and/or have it critiqued by someone in the Student Learning Center on campus
  • Take neat and accurate notes and highlight important points in your book
  • Evaluate why you made a bad grade and discuss with the professor how you can do better or what you could do differently. See if there are any extra assignments you can do to make up the grade.
  • Set rewards for yourself when you achieve your goals
  • Don’t procrastinate (see section on Procrastination)
  • Stay motivated (see section on Motivation)
  • Get sleep (8 hours or more per night)
  • Eat right (less sugar and fat, more fruit, vegetables, lean protein and quality carbohydrates, and water)
  • Exercise (don’t over do it!)
  • Allow some time for fun activities
  • Allow time just to relax.
  • Don’t take drugs or drink alcohol. This is a major problem on college campuses, don’t hang with the groups that binge drink. If you have a drug or alcohol problems seek out help. Many campuses have a health center so start there.
  • Get rid of busy work (see Time Management)
  • Ask for help from your family, spouse, children
  • Simplify your life to reduce stress
  • Saying "No" and tell others you have too much on your plate right now
  • Get your family and friends to support and get involved in your efforts to go to college
  • Follow campus and classroom rules
  • Connect spirituality; attend your local church or campus church, campus religious groups or talk to your pastor.