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Student Success Strategies: Final Words of Wisdom
Real study strategies from real students -- final words of wisdom for academic success.
Don't ever be afraid to seek help when you truly need it. We don't enter college as geniuses, and we don't leave college as geniuses. We leave as learners, who are determined to succeed.
--Ben M.
Find a strategy that works for you and stick with it! Everyone is different.
--Emily B.
Make sure you do the homework that is assigned. I always thought that homework was busy work, but it not only helps your grade, you will actually learn the material better and it will help you to get a better grade on the exam.
--Nicole Z.
Academic success comes from reoccurring exposure to the material.Go to class. Take notes. Read notes after class. Rewrite notes. Create study sheets for tests. Study at least one day before the test. Review notes and study sheet the night before the test.
--Amber J.
Don't be a perfectionist. Just do the best you can with the amount of time you have.
--Erin L.
Don't procrastinate! Use your time wisely and make sure the work you need to do is done before you go do something with your friends. Don't forget that the main reason you are in college is to get an education and better yourself, so make that your top priority.To avoid getting burned out, I make sure that I make time for things that I enjoy doing so that I do not end up spending all my time doing homework. For example one semester I took a dance class which was a nice way to break up my day of classes and was something that I thought was fun. I also try to set smaller goals for myself when working on long assignments. For example, if I have a huge project due I'll break it down into sections and set a goal each day to get one of the sections done. When I'm working for hours at a time, I'll take a break and play with my dog for a few minutes so that I'll feel more focused when I get back to work.
--Cayla C.
College will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. Be sure to get the best of both worlds and find the healthy balance between the studying and the partying.
--Megan M.
Final words of wisdom: Go to class, make friends with people in class just in case you're absent, and remember that you should want to learn.
--Heather A.
Don't mess up your first semester, it's hard to recover from a low GPA. You can still have fun and explore your new freedoms but make sure you leave plenty of time to study. First year classes the 101's are difficult on purpose. Don't be fooled by it being a beginner course. College is different from high school its not as easy to talk your professor into bumping your grade up. A large part of succeeding in your classes is figuring out the professor and his/her expectations. Some are more demanding than others and those courses that have demanding professors will usually take up more of your time so make sure you leave room in your life to dedicate your time to it. Also be smart about how yo select your courses. Don't take too many tough courses in one semester if you think ahead you can create a decent schedule every semester where only one or two classes are very challenging and the rest will be average. Also try to take a full course load (15 credits) your first semester or else you will have to load up another semester.
--Jessica H.
The two keys to success in college are balancing and planning. There is so much to do in college between social events, school events, tests and papers and they all can't be done. The rule I lived by was plan your month, schedule your week, and prioritize your day.
--Micaela H.
I usually get very upset and immediately wonder how I did so poorly. But, I figure out where I went wrong and how I can correct it for the next test or paper. I usually try to figure it out on my own and go to the teacher to make sure that I figured it out correctly or to help me if I am unable to figure it out on my own.
--Amber J.
A big thing that not many will say is to ask for help if you needed it. Its not a bad thing to not understand, it's a bad thing if you don't do anything about it. Plan you time out so you are completing everything that needs to get done and leave time to double check. Write things down and have good time management skills. Ask for help is probably the biggest thing I can say though. If you don't understand, go to office hours or find a classmate that does understand and is willing to help you. If you try hard, it will come to you. I find myself thinking that I would have to try harder to fail than I try to succeed. It is something that is within me to succeed. If that is not whoyou are, then hopefully things that I have done can show you that success is something that is amazing to find! Good luck!
--Laura B.
Go to every class. I think if you just show up every class, it will make a big difference in your grades and performance. That is half the battle and is what I try to do every semester. Also, go to review sessions and tutors whenever they are available! This also shows the professor that your making an effort and trying your best in the course when you show up everyday and devote extra time.
--Sarina O.
Buy a planner! It'll be the best way for you to manage your time -- and the best way to get good grades is to learn how to manage your time. Also, try different ways of studying and completing projects your freshman year -- one method won't ever work for everyone, so you have to find what you feel comfortable with and the methods that help you retain the most information. There's no right or wrong way to learn information, you just have to find the way that's right for you, and stick with it!I really think the best way to stay motivated is to find SOMETHING you connect with in the class. If a subject material bores you, try to relate it to something else that excites you. If you find something interesting about the subject matter, it will be much easier to retain information.
When you're struggling in a class, of course going to your professor is the first thing you should do. Your professor may be better able to identify what you're struggling with... whether it's writing style, inability to answer multiple choice questions, or studying techniques...and the professor will be able to give you tips
based on what they have personally experienced, and what he or she has seen students do in the past. Another way to stay motivated, particularly in a situation where you're struggling or just lack motivation in general is to find motivation through friends. If my friends and I have big projects or tests in a week or two week span, we'll celebrate at the end of the week by going to dinner or the mall. You can go a step further also and say that you won't do these activities unless you achieve a certain grade. Something I usually do to justify doing some "retail therapy" is that I won't buy something really nice for myself, like a nice dress or something, unless I achieve a certain grade on a project or test. I try to limit those kind of pwhenever I have a reason to celebrate, so it gets me in the mindset that if I did well on something, I'll get something nice in return.
Grades and chances of getting into good graduate schools are usually pretty good motivators, but sometimes you just need an extra little push.
--Jessica W.
Stay motivated! Whenever I'm feeling a little down about school -- maybe it's a lower grade than I expected or dealing with a massive project that is just taking too long to complete -- I splurge on myself. It might be a dinner out with the girls or an afternoon of pampering getting a pedicure and manicure. Getting both physically and mentally away from school kind of recharges my batteries and I'm again good to go for a while.
--Jill S.
Whether you are at a big, or small school, make every effort to be friends with your professors. Get them to know you. Not only will it help you get through class,or make a higher letter grade, but after graduation, they can help you find jobs, give you advice on life, and just be there for you.
--Laura W.
Utilize your resources. A lot of times students aren't aware of the multiple resources on their campus and many times they can help the most. Study with friends, study with classmates, study alone and ask your professor any questions you may have along the way. They are the best resource to go to. Lastly, stay positive. Without a good attitude your head won't be in the right place and you may give up before it actually begins.
--Tracy H.
Time management is the key! Get a planner -- it is the best investment ever.
--Maria F.
Don't procrastinate. Do things early rather than at the last minute, you'll be glad you did. Work hard but don't forget to have fun every once in a while, it'll help lower your stress levels to have a little bit of fun each week. Keep a calendar or planner of when things are due and what you have to do for each class.
--Marissa P.
College is about time management and ones ability to put school before a keg party. Take that night to go and sit in the library, go sit under that tree on a nice day and read ahead for a class. There are ways to study that make it enjoyable... and this is what will get you by.
--Matt G.
Read, read, read everything you are required, and do it on time. Nothing sets you back further and keeps you up later than having to read all the stuff you didn't over the past month.Actively participate in class. Constantly searching for questions to ask the professor is the best way to make sure you are paying attention. Obviously, some classes are more engaging than others, but getting through the hard/slow ones is just as important as doing well in the classes you actually want to take.
Know your priorities and make sure your actions are aligned with them. If you are going to college to learn and do well, your actions should reflect that. If you are going to party, well then your actions almost certainly will reflect that. Understanding what you want to get out of your experience in college will help guide the rest of what you do.
Never be afraid to ask questions, and not just of your teachers. Your peers are theoretically as smart as you are, so be sure to not underestimate them and their ability to help you. Don't be afraid to ask someone if they want to study in a group, if that is how you learn better. Ask questions of the librarians, they can help much more than you might think. Also, be sure to ask questions and listen to your advisor; he/she is there to guide you through your academic career, so make sure they are doing their job!
While studying, make sure you have plenty of small breaks. Get your mind off of the schoolwork even for just five minutes, and going back to it will be easier.
Contrary to the cliche that college students get no sleep, I recommend you get as much as possible. Staying out late during the week may be fun, especially because mom and dad aren't around to yell at you, but it can greatly affect your performance on tests. Sleep, as a professor of mine says, should always be the number one priority.
Finally, better grades almost always come from happier people. Therefore, you need to make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities your school has to offer. Don't be afraid to join clubs, take on new and exciting responsibilities, join a fraternity or sorority, go on excursions, explore the surrounding area, etc. If you make the most out of the free time you do have, you will generally be in a better mood, thus making studying less painful.
--Patrick B.
Time management and organization are critical key factors to success in college. And never be afraid to go ask your teacher for help. They have office hours for a reason, use them!
--Sarah P.
[TV personality] Tim Gunn says a phrase every time in his show, "No one can want you to succeed more than you do." I think this sums up how I feel about academic achievement. You have to want to succeed, because no one else can make you successful. You are the one determining how much you'll achieve.
--Stephanie G.
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