Ten Unbreakable Rules for Academic Success in College

Most college freshmen are surprised by both the length of their out of class assignments and the quality of work they are expected to produce. In fact, most freshmen will tell you that the adjustment to college academics is significantly more difficult than the social adjustment.

To shorten the adjustment period and earn the best possible grades during your first semester, try these suggestions.

1. Do not cut class. Cutting is the quickest way to dig an academic hole for yourself.

2. There are no days off. Don't get behind. Don't procrastinate. Never. Catching up in high school may be fairly easy; that's not so in college.

3. When in class, listen actively to your instructor and take good notes. Highlight points of emphasis and subject matter most likely to appear on exams.

4. Got a question? Confused about a concept? Get the answer you need as soon as possible. Ask your instructor, a classmate, or a tutor in the learning center. The longer you wait, the more you put yourself at risk.

5. Put together a semester long calendar which lists the dates your papers are due and the dates on which your examinations are scheduled to take place. Then, pencil in the dates on which you will review for exams and prepare your papers, while not giving you too much to do during any one week. Careful planning can really help take the pressure off.

6. Never do a reading assignment without having a highlighter handy. The better you highlight when reading, the more efficiently and quickly you will be able to review later.

7. Keep and file all of your exams. Review them for patterns.

8. Talk to students who have taken courses with your instructors. They can often provide valuable insight. I'll never forget how much I was helped by a student a year ahead of me who told me that my Western Civilization professor asked at least one question about the church on every exam and often focused on Popes and timelines.

9. Study groups can help motivate you, discipline you, and expose you to the insights of others. If you work well as part of a team, consider them seriously, especially in courses in which you think you might struggle.

10. Think before you speak or (especially) write. College faculty love to challenge students. Don't be afraid, just be prepared.

Expect to have classes which vary in difficulty and instructors with different levels of commitment and teaching ability. Regardless of those and other factors which may be beyond your ability to control, if you work diligently, manage your time well, and stick with the ten basics above, you should do just fine.

Article Source: http://mylilpeanut.com

Daniel Z. Kane is a university dean with websites on scholarships, college admission, financial aid, online degrees, and online colleges.
This and other unique content education articles are available with free reprint rights.

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