How to Succeed Your First Semester in College

Are you the kind of person who dreads trying new things because you worry that you won’t know what’s going on, you’ll get lost, and you’ll have to eat lunch alone? When I first started my college career, I was older than most students and had worked in industry for a few years after graduating high school (kindly (?) referred to as a “non-traditional student,” lol). I obsessively worried that I’d be the oldest person in my classes, that I’d forgotten everything I learned in high school, that I’d somehow be exposed as a fraud (“So you thought you were smart? Bahahahaha,” the evil voices in my head said!).

I worried for nothing! Granted, there were some awkward moments here and there, and I was challenged at times to recall things that I learned once-upon-a-time, but overall, I did just fine. In fact, I excelled. I didn’t feel out of place, I wasn’t the oldest person in class, and I loved stretching my brain. It gave me a new lease on life. It changed my life profoundly. Going back to school was by far the best decision I ever made for my future and for my children’s future. I’ve met people in college who are now life-long friends. I’ve forged professional relationships that have helped me find and get jobs. (I used to scoff at the term “networking” until I saw it play out successfully over and over in my life!)

I’ve put together my top 10 tips and strategies that will help others who are thinking about enrolling or already enrolled in college classes. (I’m not going to get into things like the FAFSA or admissions processes here, but if you want info about that stuff, contact me through my website.) I am so excited about what going to college can do for you that I want you to have the best advantage possible to ensure your success! If you like what you see here, subscribe to receive more tips and advice by email.

1. Read everything your professors send you by email or post on course websites. This is a hard lesson to learn. Professors will not go over everything they have put in writing and made available to you. They assume you have done the reading and that you are keeping pace….because you are an adult. Most professors will not remind you about deadlines or make sure you read that obscure (to you) line about those two weekly required posts to the course website. So, check your campus email often and read everything.

2. Know where you are going. There’s nothing worse than realizing you don’t really know where you are going. In an age where we have information at our fingertips, there is no excuse for not being prepared! So, look on the college/university’s website for campus maps, study the layout (are there parking facilities near your classes? Which buildings are your classes in? If you will be taking a bus, where will it let you off in relation to your classes? How much time will it take? Using a service like Google maps is another great way to see where you are going, especially if you use satellite mode. That way, you will be on time to your classes and to meet study groups, and you will know where precious resources (like the book store or library) are near you.

3. Don’t miss class. This is not rocket science, people. Just simply being in class will help you understand assignments and directions and develop skills you will use in graded assignments. As an instructor, I’ve seen the same scenario unfold countless times: once a student starts missing class, it is really difficult for them to keep up with the work. It actually becomes easier for them to miss class and to fall further behind on the work when they don’t see their professors regularly. It seems to make them feel less invested in the course.

4. If you think you need more time for an assignment, ask the professor for an extension. Or if you can show the professor a draft of your work before the final is due, do so. S/he will give you valuable feedback, and you will get a better grade! Don’t lose points unnecessarily. Give each assignment your best effort and try to turn it

in on time, but if you need more time, you’d be surprised at how willing many professors are to offer you extra tutoring and even extra time. Of course, you’ve got to have a good reason (not just that you didn’t start it soon enough). Professors WANT you to be successful. Their job is to make sure you are successful, so ask for extra time and help if you need it. (The worst thing that can happen is s/he says no, right?) To be fair, you’ve got to be doing your part before a professor will consider giving you an extra anything. So, don’t start your work the night before it is due, and whenever possible, work ahead on the syllabus so that if things come up you still have enough time to get extra help and complete your assignments.

5. Go to the student learning center or library if you are having trouble with an assignment or would like extra feedback on your writing. Most campuses have a student learning center or library research center that provides free help and other invaluable resource. Go get help at any point in writing essays or researching. And you don’t have to be in English class to be expected to have good writing skills. All writing should demonstrate the appropriate academic style and be grammatically correct.

6. See the instructor after class or during office hours to talk about your work. I love it when students schedule time with me. Of course I’m busy, but it’s my job to ensure that you are learning what you are supposed to be learning. It’s your professors’ job to provide you with support and guidance if you need it. So, don’t feel like you are a bother, and don’t feel like you can just figure things out on your own if you are obviously struggling. Ask us. We want to help.

7. Exchange contact information with someone in each of your classes. That way, if you are absent or if you flaked out during an important announcement, you can contact this person for information and clarification about assignments. Of course, you can contact your professor, but sometimes it is good to have another student with whom to talk things through.

8. Form a study group. No matter what your age or background, you will benefit from the social interactions with other students as well as the sharing of ideas and information. There’s no need to feel like you are on an island by yourself! Find 2-3 likeminded people and meet once every week or two (in the campus library, coffee shop, under a tree on the quad, or wherever you can get things done).

9. Participate in class discussions and group work. I know, this sounds like such a drag, but if you demonstrate that you are an active learner in class discussions, it will go a long way in convincing your professor that you are a committed student. You don’t necessarily have to say something profound, but professors love it when people volunteer their thoughts and move discussions forward.

10. Enjoy yourself. No, I don’t mean party hard and goof off (although you might manage to find time to do that). I mean that you should remember that everything doesn’t have to be so serious (mainly, you don’t have to always be so serious). Practice being in the moment, relish learning about new things, expanding your mind, your worldview, your future. You’ll be surprised at how much you don’t know and that whole worlds of information will unfold for you. What a precious opportunity you have! Occasionally, whisper “thank you” to the universe for the amazing opportunities you have taken to learn and grow.

I wish you all the best in your educational endeavors. Please let me know if I can be of help.

Cheers,

Christine at http://girlwiththepinkleopardbag.com

http://girlwiththepinkleopardbag.com