College Courses

College education is a major step above high school, and can usually catch students unawares with its rigorous demands on their time. Regular, extensive homework, regular tests and an expectation of high standards are all factors that students learn to cope with during high school, but in college courses take on a whole different dimension and more often that not, students are left playing catch-up.

To avoid the panic and stress of misjudging and mishandling college courses, don’t just read the following tips; act on them.

What college courses need from you

It always helps to look at a certain problem from several different angles to get a better idea of how to solve it. In this case, instead of focusing on how you will ace (or survive) the next course, try to think about what college courses demand from you and everybody else. I’m sure you’re aware of the 2:1 rule – for each hour that you spend in class you should spend two hours on that subject outside class. Note that this is a minimum requirement; i.e. you should spend at least two hours on that subject outside class. For more difficult courses, or for subjects that you have a hard time in understanding, you may need to put in 3 or even 4 hours.

A lot of this outside time focuses on preparing for class lectures, doing the homework / assignments and preparing for tests. To succeed in college courses you have to spend the necessary time to understand and master the course material – brilliance and intelligence does not play a part when you don’t know what you’re supposed to be writing in the test. Considering that grades and tests at the college level tend to evaluate your performance and direct knowledge of the course, the best way to succeed is to put in the time.

The essence of time management

For this, the primary skill required is time management. Considering that in a regular 15-hour credit week you might have to put in a minimum of 30 hours (2:1 rule) of outside studying, overall in a week you’ll have to spend 45 hours on your college courses. Add to that the fact that to be effective, this time must be spread out over the week and not crammed together near the end (or beginning), and suddenly, you find out that excellent time management skills can help you to study as well as stay away from stress (which you will be under if you tend to study only near the end of the term or only at the last moment).

Staying motivated

A second factor is motivation. If you don’t have the right attitude towards studying, no amount of time in the world can help you study. In fact, the most common problem with students in being properly motivated is their attitude towards the college courses themselves. Instead of studying to get a grade, you should study in order to learn the course content. This slight shift in perception will work towards removing any subconscious barriers that you might have towards studying and help you in using your time more effectively.

Your time at college is precious. Considering that the four years we spend in undergraduate education is meant to prepare us for the practical world, the skills we develop and the knowledge we gain directly affect the rewards that we take out of our college education. And by focusing on your approach towards college courses, you will be better prepared to truly benefit from the college experience.

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