Get to Know Your Professors. They Are Your Best Sources of Support

20 Student Success Tips

Whether you are just out of high school or back in school after a long break, the secret to success in college is establishing good success habits. Following are 20 tips for being more successful in college.

Attend class regularly.Be disciplined. Go to class – even when you don’t feel like it – and study regularly.

Get to know your professors. They are your best sources of support.

Make sure the faculty knows you. Sit in the front of the classroom. Participate in class discussions. Consult with your teachers during office hours.

Learn about all the resources on campus for students: the library, The Learning Center, computer labs, counseling, etc.

Create your own support network. Get to know other students, and share phone numbers and e-mails, especially in your classes.

Prioritize your responsibilities and goals to help you stay focused.Manage your time. Remember, we all have the same 168 hours a week, but some use them better than others.

Join study groups. If you cannot find one, get some classmates together and start one.

Keep all your class materials in a 3-ring binder, including syllabi, notes, papers, exams, and homework in a 3-ring binder.

Check your e-mail frequently, read Campus Cruiser announcements, and look at bulletin boards so you are aware of and can attend on-campus events.

Study every day. Don’t just cram at the last minute or the day before a test.

Set realistic, positive, measurable goals. Having goals to worktowards provides motivation and enhances your success.

Use a different notebook for each class and review your notes at the end of each day.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Professors, advisors, and other faculty and staff members are here to help you.

Take care of you health. Get enough sleep. Eat well-balanced meals. Exercise regularly. Make informed and mature decisions.

Get involved in campus activities. It will help you learn valuable skills, expand your social network, and enhance your self-confidence.

Keep your eyes on the prize.Revisit your goals and know why you are in college in the first place. Continually visualize your success.

Use calendars and appointment books. Daily, weekly, and semester calendars help keep track of appointments andassignments.Effective time managers do not rely on their memories to hold important dates and times - they write them down! This clears their brains for more important tasks like thinking.

Establish a regular study routine. Studying during daylight hours is preferred.

Review your lecture and reading notes within 24 hours after you take them.We tend to forget about 80% of what we read or hear within the first 24 hours. Thisfirst review is vital to retention. It also helps you to build upon theknowledge that you already have.

Begin preparing for exams from the first day of class.Make everything you do taking notes, doing homework, writing papers, taking quizzesand exam preparation strategy. Watch and listen for potential exam questions. Then, usethe week before the exam to review not to learn.