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How To Succeed In College From A Dean's List Student
I've been at college for two years now and on Dean's List all four semesters. If you wanna do the same, I have 10 tips that should help. Follow them and you'll be cruising through college with flying colors, without too much added stress.
#1: Go To Class
Yes, this seems obvious and everyone tells you to do this. But guess what! It WORKS.
Going to class is half the battle to getting good grades. Most of the material is covered in class and many professors give tests based off of in-class lectures, including stuff that isn't on the powerpoint or in the textbook. Which means, you need to pay attention.
To pay attention: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. This means: drink water. Eat as well as you can (dining hall food makes this a bit difficult but get some veggies, protein, and fruits in your system). Walk as much as you can (especially to class if your campus isn't gigantic). Get some SLEEP (7-8 hours is a good bare minimum to get. All-nighters are not necessary. I've been at college for two years and have never had to do one, so it's possible).
If you take care of yourself, go to class, pay attention, then you're already on your way to succeeding in college. It's not too difficult, but it must be implemented and repeated to work.
#2: Talk and Make Friends
This has a two big benefits.
One: you make some friends! This can help you be social, which is important and beneficial to your mental health. They can help you stay sane and be there for you during the harder times in the semester as well as being someone you can blow off steam with by doing something fun (but not stupid).
Two: Talking to people, especially in your classes, but just in general at events and around campus can get you connections to people for job opportunities, internships, campus involvement activities and more. They can give you homework advice if they took the class before or know the subject really well, or they know someone else who can help. If anything, maybe they read over your paper to see if it makes sense.
Friends and just some college acquaintances make a huge difference because of their resource potential, but more importantly their friendship. College is a hard time and having someone there for you that you can count on can make all the difference. Plus, it may make rooming in later years easier because you already found some buddies!
#3: Find Something To Make You Happy
This is a biggie. If there isn't something that you do at college that makes you happy, genuinely happy, I guarantee you will be miserable.
This happiness can stem from your major or a hobby outside of your major or maybe in your minor(s). It can be a club, a sport, a hobby, something!! As long as you feel good doing it and like what you're doing.
It's important to note that this "happiness" should not come from another person. There will be times in college and in life when the people you love can't be there all the time when you need a pick-me-up. And if that happens, you should have something to fall back on that brings you joy that you can provide.
Examples: marching band, art, music, sports, president or on E-board of a club that does something you enjoy, reading, crafts, dancing, singing, gymnastics, running, etc.
#4: Use A Calendar
Whether you prefer paper or electronic, use one! Even if you're doing the bare minimum in college, there is still a ton of deadlines and meetings and appointments to keep track of. Keeping a calendar and keeping it updated is an extremely helpful tool.
Personally, I use a planner and google calendar. My planner is for class assignments and sometimes marking down important meetings with professors or other campus staff. I use a planner for more details on class assignments and because most professors don't allow electronics in the classroom and when they give an assignment, I write it down immediately so I don't forget. (This is also helpful and key to most of my success. I can't tell you how many times my classmates have gotten a deadline wrong because they didn't write it down and got major point reductions or had to rush an assignment last minute).
For my google calendar, that's where I keep track of my class schedule, other meetings/appointments I have, and rehearsals for theater as well as my work schedule. It's easy to use and I can just add something in there real quick and I can see visually when I have free time for relaxing or homework or dinner dates with friends.
A calendar gives you structure and using it gives you balance. You don't need to be obsessive about it, but keep it neat and orderly and remember to use it.
#5: Finish Your Homework by 8PM
I lived with people who would get out of class and come and relax and hang out until about 9PM and then start their homework, giving them less time for sleep, a bad schedule, and more stress.
I, on the other hand, would get off class, maybe take a nap or watch one episode, then get started on my homework and I'd usually be done around dinner time. If not, I could finish up after dinner, but still by 8PM most nights. This gives me the night to wind down and relax and go to bed at a reasonable hour with no stress for the next day's assignments that I've already finished.
Yes, there will be times that your workload is enormous and you'll go past 8PM, but try to limit how many times this happens. And if you use Tip #4 and use a calendar, you can plan your homework and deadlines so you know when your workload increases (LOOK AT THE SYLLABUS!) and can plan ahead of time.
Also, there will be a lot of reading in college so try to break up the longer chapters. Furthermore, if you have to read a whole book by a certain date, use this formula:
See how many pages the book is, then decide how many pages you're willing to read every day. Divide the pages in the book by how much you'll read and that is how many days it will take. If you don't have that time, increase your daily page amount and start reading immediately!
College does not have many assignments that are just busy work like in high school so make sure to do them because the professors usually make them to help YOU and don't want to just grade a bunch of stuff for fun, so do it and do it well. (As well as you can. This is college, and you're supposed to learn.)
#6: Write Notes
No, not notes to your buddy next to you. Take notes in class. This does not mean you write down everything the professor says or everything on a powerpoint slide. Usually the teacher will give you the powerpoint slides online to look over anyway.
Taking notes is this: you note important things the professor emphasizes or says will be on the exam, and key information you think is important. If you don't know what that information is yet, write too much and as the semester continues you'll figure out what you do and don't need to know.
Also, if the professor writes something on the board, it's usually important to write down as well otherwise they wouldn't necessarily take the time out to do it. Unless it's a brainstorming activity where the whole class participates, then it's usually not that important to note as the discussion will help you more than taking notes will.
There will be some classes where you will take more notes than others because there will be some subjects that come easier to you than others. Some classes also don't have many note-taking opportunities, but always have something to take notes with because every professor I've had has at some point said: "Write this down."
Furthermore, please take notes by hand! Writing it helps you remember so much more than typing it does. It also is not as "clickety" and distracting. And writing it on paper can help you organize your thoughts better and emphasize certain things faster than on a computer because you don't have to go back and bold or italicize or point to it. Notes by hand is especially helpful in classes with many diagrams and models you need to memorize.
Notes Are Gold!
#7: Create Your Own Study Guide
Some professors are nice and give you a study guide for the exams. Others are not. So don't rely on it.
Even if a professor gives you a study guide or if they don't, still make your own.
If they don't give you one: go over your notes and the materials covered in class and follow the syllabus. Compile these items and create your own study guide, using Quizlet or a Word document, maybe a powerpoint or just a whiteboard. Do something that involves you having to physically go over the material by rewriting it in some way and then having to explain or review it.
If they do give you one: take what they give you and do the same as above by making your own way of studying and reviewing it by physically rewriting the material.
This helps you study immensely and helps your brain remember the material more than just rereading a chapter or looking at the study guide a few times before a big test. I highly recommend Quizlet because of their many helpful studying features and it saves paper by not using real flashcards. But understand Quizlet may not help you study well for every test. Understand the material and how it will be tested to best prepare for the exams.
#8: Read the Book
If the professor says read the book, read it. While you can look up a short synopsis of it, that's fine. But you probably won't do very well on any test questions or essays about the reading. I'm not saying study the reading. But do read it and yes, you can skim over some parts if it gets too boring.
If you don't understand it, THEN read the synopsis of it. If you still don't get it, you'll probably discuss it in class which will help. If you still don't get it, see your professor and talk to them about it and they will help guide you to what they were looking for you to get out of the reading. Normally, you don't need to understand all of it. Just the big picture and some key points.
Now, wait until syllabus week (the first week of classes) for your professors to tell you about the class but most importantly if they textbooks are necessary or not. Some classes, the textbook is mandatory. Others it's suggested. I'm in a rare case where I have 10 books needed for one class, but she provides all of them in a pdf format for us to use for free; she just needed to put the books on the syllabus and we are welcome to buy them if we want. The professors are not out to get your money because they already know we're rather poor college students, but their top priority is to help you learn the material so if the textbook is needed, GET IT. (You can rent it if you don't think you'll ever need it again. But sometimes buying it can be cheaper than renting. Check multiple places that sell the book for the best price).
College is a lot of reading. So be smart about it.
#9: Ask Your Professor
So many students don't like asking teachers for help. In college, if you're really stuck, GO TO THE PROFESSOR. They hold office hours for this very reason and have to have them so you can get the help you deserve. They will never think you're stupid for going to them for help. In fact, they will see you as a smart, responsible student because you sought for some guidance.
Professors will answer any questions you have, will look over papers, will help give you some pointers on how to do well in their class, will help you with recommendation letters, etc. They are a magnificent resource for you to utilize.
Plus, going to a professor's office hours whom you enjoy can help boost your relationship with them, which can lead them to sending more opportunities your way. I've gotten close with professors in my department and they have given me positions on theatrical productions because of my hard work and how they know me. I've had other professors send me scholarship opportunities for me to apply for that have a more limited amount of applicants because it's not as well known and I've won!
Professors are there to help and guide. There are some that may seem cranky and mean, but overall, they are there for YOU to succeed.
#10: Use Your Resources
While I've given you plenty of resources above (friends, professor, textbook, Quizlet, etc.), there are still plenty more.
College is a hubbub of resources made for you to succeed in your learning career. Getting to know those resources can be of great service to you. Knowing where things are around your campus helps you in emergency situations as well as some professional ones if you encounter a job offer/internship with a local company. Know your surroundings. This includes the campus resources.
There are usually tutoring centers and career centers on campuses to help you out, as well as probably a million other titles that fall under student success. They help you but only if you go to them.
Career centers are very helpful with directing you to what jobs you could apply for, helping you interview well, building your resume, and finding opportunities for internships and jobs, as well as just giving advice as to what you else you could be doing to help build your career profile. It's as easy as going to their office and making an appointment! They are there to help you, so let them.
Tutoring centers are not places for people who are academically inferior. They are not getting tutored because they aren't smart enough for college. People who get tutored are usually tutored in subjects they have to take in order to pass general requirements in liberal learning colleges or they need to pass some courses that are in their major that they may not be the best at. The tutoring centers at college are there for you to get academic help on your own time. Tutors help you understand the material when the professors can't. Professors can't hold office hours all the time and tutors usually work with your schedule (as well as theirs) to help you get what you need to understand the subject.
There are a multitude of resources offered by any university you go to. Utilizing them as well as knowing they're there and what they do can greatly effect your success at college.
I hope these tips find you well and you feel better prepared to take on what college has in store.
If you have any other questions about how to succeed in college, use "Chat with Libby" in the right corner. If I'm not online, use "Contact Live Libby" near the bottom of the home page, and I will respond as soon as I can.
Happy Living!