Congratulations. You’ve just been accepted into a university of your choice. College will be one of the most exciting and influential times of your life. What you do now will have a huge impact on your career and financial well being. So, how do you make the most of this opportunity?
There is no concrete answer, but there are many proven techniques that help people succeed in school. First and foremost, maintaining a healthy balance between your social and school life is key. While your high school friends are important, many of your best friends will come from college. That said, remember that you are at school to learn and enhance your future. Meet people. Go out. Have fun. But don’t forget your primary goal.
Studying. There will be lots of it in store for you if you’d like to succeed in school. And, most likely you’ll need to study much harder than you had to in high school. College is much like a professional competitive sport. After leaving high school you’ll be surrounded by the best and brightest from every other high school. You’ll be up against much stiffer competition, so your level of effort must increase. It is important that you get together a game plan for studying. Decide weather you will study in a group or by yourself. Think about how much time you have to devote to study every day of the week and put study blocks in your schedule.
This next step seems like a no-brainer. Go to class. That’s right, just go. For some, the freedom of college is overwhelming. Nobody will be looking after you to make sure you show up to school. But think about it. You are paying to go class. Do the math. Figure out how much each lecture is costing you and your family and odds are you wont ever feel like skipping class.
While you are at class, pay attention and take good notes. Think about note taking strategies that work best for you. You’ll need your notes later when it comes time to study for tests. Make sure you write clearly, and take note of anything that you don’t understand so you can ask your professor or TA later.
Just when you’re starting to get used to college life, you’re going to get hit with your first round of exams. Don’t panic. Use your study skills, develop a plan, and execute. Make sure you know when and where your exams are. Go to the room your exam will be held in. The last thing you want is to be running around lost before an exam. After you finish your first round of exams, celebrate, and get ready to do it all over again. (more...)
