College Back to School Success Tips
High Performance, Low Stress Strategies for Today's Student
Sep 22, 2008
College can and should be one of the most exciting periods in your life. It can also be one of the most challenging and stressful periods of your life. You can help guarantee your success as a student by following some simple, straightforward principles and strategies. These college back to school success tips are designed to help you reduce your stress, while increasing your performance.
Take Personal Responsibility
The days of bringing a parent note to your teacher are over. Not only that, but some of the accommodations offered in high school (while you were still a minor) may not be available in college. University and college life is more "sink or swim" than high school. It's therefore time to step up to the plate and give it your all.
Don't make excuses. Learn from your setbacks. Adjust your work habits. Improve your study skills. Do what you need to do to make yourself the very best student possible.
Set College and Career Goals
Talk to your parents. Sit down with your academic advisor. With her input, write out a draft "Business Plan" for your life. What are your general career options? These should influence your choice of a college major and your selection of classes.
It's important that you study the economy and the marketplace, and position yourself accordingly. Don't just take classes based on your interests. Think in terms of supply and demand. What does the marketplace want and need? Based on that, narrow down your choices.
You may not know exactly what you want to do, but you should have a pretty good idea what you don't want to do. Based on your general direction, you can identify many of the core classes (prerequisites) that you'll need to take. Write those down, and work out a timetable for when you want to finish them.
Include internships, finances, living arrangements, and other factors in your planning. As Zig Ziglar has famously and often said: "Don't be a wandering generality. Be a meaningful specific."
Work out a Schedule System
You need a planner and/or a calendar. Some students hang a large wall calendar in the dorm room. Others carry a planner, like a DayTimer or DayRunner. Today, most students use a PDA of some kind. Pick the system that you're most comfortable with, and stick to it.
Incorporate all your class times into your planner, PDA, or calendar. And keep it updated regularly, with all your appointments (social, study groups, etc.) and assignments.
Be Disciplined and Punctual
With your planning system in place, keep your appointments and assignments. Be on time. Don't skip class. Do your homework. Study for your tests. Don't fall behind, and don't get in the habit of missing class and study sessions. It will only hurt you in the end.
Participate Actively in Class and Study Groups
Make sure you faithfully attend class as well as any study groups in which you are a part. If you're not in a study group, join one or start one.
Don't be a silent, passive participant in class or in your study groups. Sit up straight. Stay awake and focused. Ask questions. Offer input, when appropriate. Be involved. Be committed.
Learn to Manage Your Feelings
Don't let yourself be overcome by stress, emotion, etc. Instead, apply yourself as best you can, and realize that you can't control everything. You can only do what you can do. There's no point in worrying about that which is outside of your control or influence.
Even in those areas that you can control, worry and stress will not help you at all. Worry is not a tool for success. It's an enemy of success. Make your feelings follow and work for you, and not the other way around.
Deserve Your College Success
During the American Revolution, John Adams famously said: "We cannot guarantee success, but we can deserve it." College is much the same way. While you can't control all of the mitigating factors, you can set yourself on the road to success by following the above guidelines.
Take responsibility. Set goals. Work out a schedule system. Commit to your schedule with discipline and punctuality. Participate actively in class and in your study groups. Manage your feelings. These are the keys to your success in college. Good luck!
