Succeed in College
How not to take eight years to graduate!
Make a Goal
The first thing you should do is decide what you want to get out of college. Most of the time it is to get an education so you can receive your degree and make a living.
It is up to you what career choice you will make, but you must be trained for it first. If you want to be rich or just get buy – it will all depend upon your choices, or in some cases, luck! What you study may or may not get the job you want.
Some colleges have academic advisors who can help you map out your plan. They have years of experience and can guide you towards the major that will be best for you.
If you want to graduate by a certain time, write it down. Make a map for the next four years or you can do it sooner if you are motivated.
Organize your time
After finding out your scheduled class times, figure out how much time you will need to study for each class. That usually depends on how many credits you take and then times it by two.
Get a planner and fill it in with all the classes, study time and work schedule.
Make sure that you have enough time to sleep, eat and take care of personal hygiene. This organization is the most important thing to do at the beginning of each semester. Without it, you may miss important lectures, group discussions, assemblies, meetings, and study groups.
Make wise health decisions
The worst habit to have when you go to college is to sleep in or stay up late. If you get up early and get yourself ready for school, the day will go much smoother. With enough rest, you are less likely to get sick and more likely to succeed in your classes.
Eating healthy food and taking vitamin supplements can keep your immune system at peak performance. Skipping meals and not getting enough rest or exercise can jeopardize your education.
Get to know the teachers
Each professor has a different teaching style. Once you have figured out what each teacher expects, you can allot the correct amount of time and effort to jumping thru the correct hoops.
The class syllabus will usually spell out what is expected so you can make sure you have the correct textbook and tools to get the job done in a timely manner.
Take time for yourself
If you let yourself get stressed out, you may not succeed in your goal to complete college. Meditating, exercising, singing, playing, and just enjoying your friends can go a long way in keeping the stress level down. The trick is to keep a balance. You can go too much the other way too, surfing or playing around while your grades decline.
I finally graduated from college, and these are the things I wish I had done from the beginning. It would have gone much smoother and been less stressful if I had.
Justin gave some great advise, also.
Mainly, keep focused on your goal and if you have a problem with a teacher, go talk to them. Most professors are understanding when there is an illness, family issue, or stress-related issues. There are counselors also at the college who are there to help you. Address problems before they become too big to handle.
Here is another take by a Business Major on how to succeed in college.
