What doesn’t work

To be a successful student you need to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Throughout this blog I have been outlining things to do while in college to help you be the best you can be. The purpose of this post is to show you not what to do.

• Multitasking – Multitasking will increase the time it takes you to complete tasks. Successful students will complete tasks in an efficient manor by focusing on one task at a time. Don’t start something until you finish the prior task.

• All-Nighters – Staying up all night lowers the focus level of the brain and decreases the brains ability to retain information. You might stay up for 36 hours studying for your test but when you finally fall asleep and wake up you might find yourself

• Cramming – Retention does not come from cramming. Steady and constant studying is how you truly learn the material. Cram for your test and you will probably pass but if you were to take that test 3 days later you might fail.

• Procrastinating – I have written a whole post about procrastinating. Simply put, it is one of the worst habits you can get into and it is one of the hardest to change.

• Partying Hard – Everyone loves to party in college but you have to know when it’s appropriate. You might party tonight because you have nothing to do. When you wake up with a hangover and have a presentation in an hour, you will probably wish you didn’t go out.

• Cheating – Don’t cheat! Nothing good comes from cheating. Would you have wanted your heart surgeon to have cheated his way through school? Didn’t think so.

• Skipping Class – This is the easiest way to fail classes. Attending class is the easiest way to pass a class. Quit being lazy and go to class.

Location, location, location

Location is very important when it comes to learning. There are certain environments that are great for some people and terrible for others when it comes to studying. No two people are exactly the same, and no two people learn exactly the same way.

• Find your study place – You can study nearly anywhere. Go to the library, computer labs, empty class rooms, outside in the grass, on a bench, at home, coffee shop, or anywhere. Just find a place that keeps you focus and limits distractions.

• Quiet vs. noisy – I am a person who needs complete silence to retain focus on my studying. People are very different. I know people that read books while listening to loud music. If I were to listen to music, I would focus on the lyrics rather than the words I’m reading. Either way, you need to determine what kind of noise environment you need to stay focused.

• Solo study or with a group – Some people learn well in groups. Some people are only productive when they are alone. I like to do a majority of my studying alone and once I feel that I have learned the material I will join a study group. This puts me in a position to help out the other people in the group and teach them the material. It also provides a review of the things that you already know.

How to master the material

To make A’s in all of your classes you need to master the material. How do you do this? Simple. Follow these steps.

• Attend all of your classes – We have covered this topic in prior posts but once again this is the foundation to succeeding in college.

• Read every chapter being covered – The topic of this post is “mastering the material” and there is no way to be proficient in what your learning if you do not read the book.

• Do all of your homework – Duh! But, not only do you need to do all of your homework, you also need to do the homework that isn't required. Complete all work that is assigned by the teacher, whether it is for a grade or not.

• Study daily – Studies show that if you review you notes within 24 hours that you retain 80% of the information. So constantly review your notes and stay up to date with what you are learning.

• Teach another classmate – You truly know the material when you can teach it to someone else. Create a study group and help you other classmates. You will feel so confident during your test if you have taught someone else how to do the work. You will feel like an expert.

• DO NOT CRAM – This is one of the worst things you can do. You will never retain the information by spending 24 solid hours on a subject. You might know it that day but if you do not review the information you will forget it.

Time management

Time management is something that every college student needs to work on. In high school everything is very structured but in college it is easy to let time slip away. Organize yourself and get your priorities straight with these tips for time management.

• Make a to-do list every day – Every day has its challenges and certain things that need to be done. Figure these out first thing in the morning and try to complete you tasks as soon as possible.

• Keep your work with you – If you find yourself with extra time take out your book and finish that chapter. If you get an idea for a paper your writing, write it down.

• Don’t be afraid to say no – In college you will always have people trying to get you to go out to a movie, party, lunch, or whatever. Learn to tell your friends no. You have work to do.

• Find your productive time – Are you an owl or a rooster? Determine when you are at your best. If you are more focused in the morning then try to complete all you work in the morning. If you are an owl then focus on completing all of your work at night.

• Create a dedicated study time – Once you have figured out your productive time, schedule that time into your schedule so that you can stay on task.

• Don’t get sidetracked – TV, internet, Facebook, these can distract you and increase the time it takes you to complete a task from 1 hour to a couple hours. Focus on the task at hand and finish it before you start checking status updates.

• Get a good night’s sleep – Not too many college students focus on getting a good night sleep but it is extremely important. A good night sleep helps you focus and retain information.

The Successful Students Pyramid (Part 1)

The Successful Students Pyramid (Part 2)

The Successful Students Pyramid (Part 3)

The Successful Students Pyramid (Part 4)

The Successful Students (Part 5)

Key Steps To Conquering Your Writing Assignment

What is the number one assignment that students hate? Yep, writing assignments. It seems like nobody enjoys writing anymore. Even though we despise writing assignments, they are extremely popular in the college curriculum. These assignments have lasting impacts and can help you later in your career. Check out these tips to completing that writing assignment on time.

• Pay attention to requirements – Without knowing the exact requirements of a writing assignment you cannot produce a quality piece of work. Read the requirements into detail to know exactly what is expected of the assignment.

• Check your rubric – Professors will often give you a grading rubric along with the assignment. Analyze the rubric to know exactly how you will be graded. If content holds the most weight, focus on your research and make sure to have quality sources. If formatting is a large part of the grade then try to fully understand MLA or APA to make sure you structure the paper and all citations correctly.

• Choose a topic, pick a side – Choosing a topic can be one of the more difficult parts of writing a paper. It is always easier to write about something that you already know about or something that you have interest in. Although, this part might be easier if you are assigned a topic to write about. In this case choose a side of the topic that you like and believe in.

• Setting the groundwork – I find the easiest way to begin a paper is to just start researching everything you can about it. Once you have read a lot about the topic and understand it, create an outline of the subject. I like to create a big outline and then just fill in the outline with all of the information. This helps keep your paper organized and on point. Once you have filled in the outline, delete the outline portion and restructure your paper to its final form.

• Plan ahead – Do not waste time. Procrastination can be seen most often in writing assignments. It seems like everyone would rather wait to the last minute to begin writing their paper. Break it into steps. On the first day do a bunch of research and figure out what you want to write about. On the second day begin your research on the topic you have chosen. On the third and fourth day create your outline and begin filling it in with the appropriate information. On the fifth day finish all of your writing and structure the assignment into its final form.

• Proofreading – Proofreading is so important and often goes unused. It is difficult for a person to find mistakes in grammar and structure in their own writing. Try to have at least three other people read your paper before you turn it in. The professor makes a great proofreader. After all, they know what is expected and they will be grading it.

• Don’t cheat! – This should be obvious to everyone. Plagiarism is illegal and can cost you big time. Most colleges scan papers that have been turned in and use a computer program to search the internet and find where information was copied. If you are caught the penalty could be an “F” for the class, and there is the possibility that you could face legal trouble. 

Reading Sucks: Get Over It

If you want to know the information that the class will cover then read the book. All of the information that you will be tested on is covered in the chapters. Professors teachings are based on the information in the book.

• READ THE BOOK! There is almost no chance of getting an A in a class if you do not read the book. Reading the book is essential to understanding the information presented in class.

• Prioritize. At the beginning of the semester you need to figure out which classes are the hardest and easiest. Plan on reading the books for the hardest classes first. Also if you have a test coming up, read for that class first.

• Read actively. It is important to be active while reading. Read to understand, don’t read to just get through the chapter. It helps to highlight and underline vocabulary words and important topics. It is also helpful to write notes while reading and summarize the things that you have covered.

• Try to read ahead. If you do not have a job, try to accomplish all of your readings on the weekend. When you read on the weekends it keeps your brain focused on learning and it will free up your week for homework and projects.

What to do before, during, and after the lecture

To become a successful college student you need to know what to do before, during, and after a lecture. There are a lot of students that simply show up to class to just be present and then head home without absorbing all of the information that was presented. Some students feel that if there are no assignments due or no test that they can skip class. Skipping class should never be an option. Take advantage of your education and the money being spent on it.

Before the Lecture: Prepare for Effective Note-Taking

• Do the assigned reading. The best way to prepare for class is simply reading the chapter that will be covered that day. This makes it easy to understand what the professor is talking about during the lecture.  Reading the assigned chapter beforehand will make the class more of a review session than a lecture.
• Arrive to class 10 minutes early and grab a seat up front. Getting to class early will give you an opportunity to review your notes from the previous class.

During the Lecture: What to Write Down

• Get off the internet!
• Do not focus on writing everything down. If you read the assigned readings, you should be able to differentiate the important points from the fluff.
• If your professor doesn’t mind, record the lectures. This can come in handy if you miss something or cannot write fast enough to keep up.
• Key things to write down:
• Anytime the professor says, “You need to know this,” or “This will be on the test.” Duh.
• Anytime the professor repeats himself.
• Anything the professor writes on the board or includes in a PowerPoint slide.
• Anything the professor repeats very slowly so that it can be taken down word for word.
• If your professor starts talking more quickly, or loudly, or with more emphasis.
• Watch for language that shows relationships between ideas. These sorts of points are often where professors get their exam questions from:
• first, second, third
• especially, most significant, most important
• however, on the other hand
• because, so, therefore, consequently
• Write down any examples or hypotheticals the professor gives during class.
• Take note of any upcoming assignments or dates that the professor mention

After the Lecture: Review, Clarify, and Synthesize

• Review and clarify your notes right after class. Make sure that everything you wrote down makes sense and is relevant.
• Synthesize your notes. This means combine your reading notes, class notes, and other things such as vocabulary into a solid review.

Take Note: Tips To Taking Notes For Academic Success

It is essential to take notes during class and while you are studying. Notes are a great way of reviewing for tests. Notes also provide you with a reference to the material while working on homework assignments.

You should take notes during every class. It doesn’t matter whether you are covering important topics or not. At the very least you should keep track of what the professor covered in class that day and if any important announcements were made.

Here are some tips for taking notes:

If you are using a laptop, use a note-taking program to help you out.

• OneNote: This is the note-taking program that is included in Microsoft office. Very helpful but lacks some of the features that Evernote has.
• Evernote: This is the best note-taking program on the market. I have used it extensively throughout college. It allows you to easily organize all of your notes and automatically syncs them across all of your devices, along with making them available online.

If you prefer pen and paper to take notes:

• Use a notebook for every class. This will help you stay organized and if you happen to lose a notebook you won’t be losing the notes for all of your classes.
• Write clearly. This is very important because the purpose of taking notes is to allow you to review the information. If you can’t read your own handwriting you are not taking good notes.
• After class review and transfer your notes to Evernote. You can type them up and add things to your notes which will help you review the material or you can scan them and upload them.

Quit Procrastinating

Procrastination is a terrible habit that a lot of people struggle with. Procrastinating can be one of the first things that can hinder a college student from being the best that they can be. Create good habits early in your college career so that you can get ahead and stay ahead.

First: Become aware of the things that make you procrastinate.

• Awareness —Reflect on the reasons why you procrastinate, your habits and thoughts that lead to procrastinating. 
• Assess —What feelings lead to procrastinating, and how does it make you feel? Are these positive, productive feelings: do you want to change them?

Second: Create a system of time management.

• Create a schedule — It is important to create a weekly/monthly schedule that includes all of your classes, assignments, activities, and study times.
• Make time to study — If a class syllabus says that you will be covering chapter 4 on a certain day, you need to write that in your calendar along with an appropriate time to read that chapter. When there is a test coming up, it helps to plan to start studying for that test at least 3 days in advance.

Third: GO TO CLASS.

• Don’t be dumb — You are paying a lot of money for college so get your money’s worth and go to class. Attending class is not always a requirement but I can promise you that attending class is the single most important thing you can do to be a successful college student.
• Staying up to date — When you attend class, you not only get a review of the material that you should have read but you also stay up to date on assignment due dates and test dates that often change from the syllabus date.

Fourth: Plan ahead.

• Deadlines & Due Dates — At the beginning of the semester write down everything that is due in every class and when it needs to be completed. This includes tests, quizzes, assignments, and deadlines for things such as scholarships, registration opening, and other important dates.
• Goals —Focus on what you want to do, not what you want to avoid. Think about the productive reasons for doing a task by setting positive, concrete, meaningful learning and achievement goals for yourself. 

Fifth: Find motivation.

• Self-talk —Notice how you are thinking, and talking to yourself. Talk to yourself in ways that remind you of your goals and replace old, counter-productive habits of self-talk. Instead of saying, “I wish I hadn’t…” say, “I will…”
• Outlook —Alter your perspective. Looking at a big task in terms of smaller pieces makes it less intimidating. Look for what’s appealing about or what you want to get out of an assignment beyond just the grade. 

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Tips on Being a Successful Student

6 Things That Separate Top Students From The Rest

It is important to recognize some of the characteristics of successful college students. College is not like high school. College requires effort, and lots of it.

• Top Students Are Dedicated
• Top Students are Confident
• Top Students Keep One Goal in Mind
• Top Students Aren’t Afraid to Ask Questions
• Top Students Aren’t Afraid to Seek Help
•  Top Students Plan Ahead

Make an effort to model yourself with some or all of these qualities and you can be sure to succeed in college.

Figuring Out Where to Live

After you have committed yourself to a particular college the next step is figuring out where to live. This is assuming that the student will be living away from home while at school.

Do some comparisons before randomly selecting a housing option. During campus visits you may only discover and be subjected to a couple of housing options. Do some research about “student living at xyz university” and figure out what you want to gain from your college living experience.

• Some things to consider

• Price: Dorms are usually more expensive than off-campus apartments due to included fees such as a meal plan, cable/internet, and utilities. Apartments generally don’t include these things in the rent. This requires you to acquire and pay for cable, utilities, etc..
• Privacy: In a dorm you have roommates and the living space is usually smaller than apartments. In apartments you have the option of living on your own or choosing your roommates to live with.
• Meeting new people: Dorms provide the perfect environment for meeting new people. It is much harder to meet new people in apartments.
• In my opinion, dorms are better for first year college students. Dorms have many organized activities including: sports, games, movie nights, contests, etc. A meal plan is usually offered by dorms. This means you don’t have to cook or clean and the food is always ready. Dorms are also as close as you can get to campus. There is no need to worry about commuting to and from campus. Dorms increase your campus involvement level by making you close and quickly available for all sorts of meet-ups and events.

If you will continue living at home while in college, your next step is to become acquainted with the campus and discover the best transportation routes from home to campus. 

Choosing a College

The first step to becoming a successful college student is selecting the right college to attend.

First, you have to decide what you want to do in life. As a high school student it can be hard to make a definitive decision about what career path you want to pursue. There are tests that can be taken through career centers and through academic advisers that can address a person's strengths and interests.

Once you have decided on a particular career that you would like to pursue, the next step is researching all of the possible colleges that interest you. When researching different schools it is important to focus on the academic programs they offer and how they rank among other colleges. It is not important to research the party lifestyle that might be well known at that school. Other things to consider are the cost of tuition and living, distance from home, and whether or not you have other friends going there.

If money is part of your definition of a successful career, stick to business and engineering. Good luck!

These are some websites to help you out with your search for great colleges.
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/find-your-best-fit.aspx
http://colleges.findthebest.com/
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/streaming/college-choices/final/college-choices.htm
http://www.collegedata.com/cs/main/main_choose_tmpl.jhtml