Things You'll Need:
- an organization system
- a Daytimer or other planner or calendar book
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Step 1
Many students come out of college saying, "If I knew THEN what I know NOW...!" They aren't talking about academic knowledge. They are saying that they learned "the ropes" of succeeding in college and understood how things work as they were exiting the school at graduation.
Step #1- Make the commitment to avoid mistakes that are common to freshmen students. Keep reading to know more! -
Step 2
Establish a rapport with the college professor or instructor.
Even if you attend a class in a huge lecture hall, establish yourself as that professor or instructor's student. Introduce yourself- it needn't happen on the first day. Find out his or her office hours and make an appointment to check in with him or her in the first week or so of class. This is important for when you may later need help of one kind or another later on if the professor or instructor recognizes your name or your face. -
Step 3
The course syllabus is your road map. There is no GPS system! Become extremely familiar with each syllabus, refer to it often. You'll be amazed at what critical information can be in there. The professor is assuming that you have read and accepted every item included in the syllabus.
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Step 4
Be there!Attend class.
That seems obvious in some ways, yet a surprising number of students don't attend class if they have another option for getting notes, such as a printed study guide or online communications such as Blackboard and other ways that an outline, notes, and assignments may be posted. That is fine as a supplement- but nothing replaces being there. Avoid the temptation! Upper-classmen may tell you that you don't need to attend the lecture. Go to Class. -
Step 5
Pick out someone in each class and make him or her your friend. The Buddy System is a prime success tool. With a buddy, you can discuss class requirements, assignments, and expectations. The mere "talking about" (and even laughing about!) the lecture reinforces the information in your mind for later retrieval. Having a buddy alleviates some of the stress because you are sharing the load with someone else. It helps. And, of course, when it comes to sitting down to study for an exam or to write a paper, a buddy is an enormous help. Don't forget you are a buddy to your study friend, too.
* This new friend need not be your age and level of coolness. Don't rule out an older (or younger) student or someone who doesn't look or seem like you. You may be amazed at the truth of this tip! -
Step 6
You'll need to get organized-- even if you weren't concerned about organization in high school.Develop an organization system that works for use. File boxes, folders, notebooks, file cards, colored markers, are all good tools to sort out and label all your materials. Keep up the system and use it to be able to put your hands on a particular paper within one minute or less.
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Step 7
Do the readings, even if you did well in high school. This is a whole new world.Stay current with all your classwork. You might think you can catch up on the workload in one swoop of effort later, but it really doesn't work. Put yourself on a schedule that maximizes your priorities and helps you use your time efficiently.
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Step 8
Go over your notes daily. You will need to develop new study habits.This is not like high school when you just do what the teacher assigns. You outside-of-class work will triple.
Go over notes and outlines frequently. Trying to consume something absolutely mammoth in size is much more effective in small bites rather than in one sitting. Draw yourself a web, a diagram, or other graphic organizer that helps you organize the information and to brand that onto your mind. -
Step 9
Having problems? Move on this quickly. Most faculty members who hear from you early enough will be happy to work with you through a difficult time. Waiting until the end of the course to speak up hardly ever works and you will be filled with despair. Heads up! That is what the #1 tip was for. If you established rapport at the start of the class, no obstacle is insurmountable.
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Step 10
Identify your strengths and weaknesses early on. Strengths?Make the most of each one to stay on track in working toward your degree. Weaknesses? Identify a strategy to offset each one so that you can avoid the mistakes you may have made in the past. Have a remedy that will put those shortcomings in balance.
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Step 11
8) Take time for yourself. Manage your time wisely so that you have some time to rest, rejuvenate, and reflect. When you set priorities and manage time, the reward is the time you were able to "find" as a result of economizing earlier on.
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Step 12
Reflect on your strategies and acknowledge for yourself what it is you are doing that works well and what it is you are doing that is counter-productive. Make adjustments based on your reflections and keep on working toward your own personal success. Be vigilant in making good use of your time.
