10 Simple Ways to do Better in College
College is challenging in more ways than one. Not only are you expected to perform at a high level academically, but you are also expected to achieve an ideal balance across all aspects of your life. The increased independence leads to higher expectations of time management, organization, prioritization, and decision-making. Not to mention, it is entirely up to you to set aside time for the other important things in your life, like socializing, relaxing, eating, exercising, and even sleeping. It is no surprise that so many college students struggle to strike the right balance.
At College Success Plan, our coaches pride themselves on supporting our students to achieve growth, balance, and college fulfillment. This looks different for every student, but our coaches have shared their top 10 tried and true suggestions that can help all students have a more successful college experience:
First thing first, attend class!!! Even though some professors do not require or check attendance, it is a proven fact that students who attend class perform better than those who don’t. Trying to teach yourself or read a lecture PowerPoint from a slide are much less effective ways of learning important course material.
Get sleep! A rested brain is full of potential, whereas an exhausted mind is severely limited. Lack of sleep has been shown to cause problems with attention, memory, and problem-solving for college students.
Make a friend in each of your classes. Exchanging information early on with a classmate will set you up for success for the rest of the semester. Having someone to email or text about a confusing assignment, to ask for notes after a missed class, or to make a study guide with is invaluable. Maybe you two will have another class together down the road!
Find your own strategies for dealing with stress. Not surprisingly, stress is the number one cause of academic difficulty among college students. Understanding the symptoms, triggers, and causes of your stress can help you avoid a breakdown. Communicating regularly with family, friends, and professors about stress can also help you feel less alone. If you notice stress is leading to anxiety and depression and is significantly impacting your overall happiness, seek out help immediately.
Make sure your professor knows your name. Offer a quick introduction, say thank you for a lecture, or follow up in person after sending an email.
Go to office hours in each of your classes AT LEAST ONCE. Your professor or TA will appreciate the effort, you will have an opportunity to introduce yourself, and you can figure out whether or not these would be a good use of your time moving forward.
Attend study sessions whenever offered. Consider it low-effort studying and take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions and benefit from other students’ questions you might not even have considered.
Take advantage of free tutoring resources on campus. Most colleges have a free writing center and free subject-based tutoring. Look into your school’s offerings and try each out at least once.
Look for extra credit opportunities. Don’t wait to ask for extra credit until the end of the semester. Many professors offer extra credit early on or provide semester-long opportunities. Extra credit assignments have been known to dramatically improve a student’s grade!
Identify ONE thing each week you could do to improve your performance the following week. For example, set a goal to meet with a professor, study in the library, or to fit in more time to exercise for stress release.
College success often boils down more to good habits than it does overall IQ. Even the smartest student will still struggle without effective executive function skills. College Success Plan coaches are experts in supporting executive function growth, from time management to organization to prioritization to decision-making. We get to know our students’ strengths, struggles, and goals and create a plan for success. If you or someone you know is struggling with the demands of college, contact us today to learn more about our programs!