How to Succeed in College Life
20 Steps to College Success

1. Sign up early for your college courses. You will probably sign up for five classes each semester or quarter. Some classes meet for an hour three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Other classes meet two hours a week, on Tuesday and Thursday. There's a lot of material to learn. You will spend about 15 hours a week in the classroom, but for each hour in class you should plan to spend two additional hours studying. That's 15 hours in class and 30 hours of outside studies. Every day, you will have free time between classes, sometimes an hour or two. Use your free time as a study period.
   
   
2. Talk to the students on campus before you sign up for classes. They will tell you which professors are difficult, demanding, or give low grades. There may be online forums where students discuss their coursework and teachers. You can't believe everything you hear and read, but it helps to know what to expect and improves your chances for success.
   
   
3. If necessary, you can change classes. After classes start, you have about two weeks to change your schedule, to add or drop a class. This interval gives you a chance to decide if the professor and the subject are right for you. Perhaps you'll find out that you do not have the academic prerequisites for the class. You can drop a class during the add/drop period without affecting your grades.
   
   
4. Textbooks are a large expense for students. New textbooks often cost more than $100 each. You can save money if you buy used books that you find online or at the bookstore. Ask other students if they have used textbooks to sell.
   
   
5. Take a guided tour of the library. Notice where the books and journals for your assigned reading are shelved. Check out the resources available online through the college library site. Get to know the college website well.
   
   
6. You can't succeed at college unless you show up for your classes. Professors don't take attendance, but you will miss a lot of material that you'll never make up. Nothing you've got to do is as important as your studies. You don't really want to fail this class, do you?
   
   
7. Get acquainted with your professors. Say hello and goodbye, introduce yourself. I didn't know King Arthur, or deconstructivism, or would be so interesting. or macroeconomics, or genetics, whatever is applicable. Visit your professor during his/her office hours to ask a question or to get an opinion on the topic you've chosen for a paper. You'll benefit ultimately with a better grade and a stronger letter of recommendation when you need one. In a one-to-one talk, college professors will share their interest and enthusiasm for their subject.
   
   
8. Do the assignments and complete the reading list. It's up to you to make the effort and prove yourself. If you are writing a research paper for class, show your rough draft to the professor to see if it meets the requirements for subject and format. Turn in your work on time, even if it isn't perfect.
   
   
9. Your college professors will have different job titles. They will be student teachers, adjunct professors, assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors. Associate professors and full professors hold full-time positions with tenure. Tenure means that they cannot be dismissed by the college without cause. In addition to teaching, they may do research and writing. Assistant professors are on track trying to become full professors.
   
   
10. At many colleges, adjunct professors and teaching assistants teach the majority of the classes. Their position has low pay, with no tenure, no vacation and no medical benefits. But they love teaching their field, so adjunct professors will be some of your best teachers. Get to know your student teachers, too. Student teachers carry a teaching load in addition to their own graduate level studies. They are considered to be in training for an academic career.
    
    
11. As a new student you will be assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor will help you with your class schedule to make sure you fulfill all the course requirements for graduation. When you choose a major, an advisor in your field will be of more help. Tell your advisor what classes you prefer to take, and what was your high school preparation. Advisors make mistakes, too, so confirm your class schedule with the dean's office or the head of the department.
    
    
12. To succeed in college, always attend class, even if the professor has a video available online. Sit near the center and front of the classroom. Take part in discussions. The professor will ask for student questions from time to time. Attend class regularly, show interest, pay attention and take notes. Above all, don't fall asleep.
    
    
13. Now that you are in college, it's up to you to take good care of your health. Eat nutritious food; drink plenty of water; get a good night's sleep; take some exercise each day; and don't party to excess. When you feel healthy and alert, your studies will be easier to master, and you'll enjoy class more. The college student who boasts about "pulling an all-nighter" probably will not perform well on the test. Don't let peer pressure interfere with your college success.
    
    
14. A college student living on campus away from home for the first time might be homesick for a while. As you meet people and get involved in activities, the feeling will vanish. Don't drop out of school impulsively without giving yourself a chance to adjust to college life on your own.
    
    
15. The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a popular style guide to follow when you write papers with citations, endnotes and footnotes in your liberal arts classes. Find out what style guide is preferred at your college. Study the style guidelines before class starts to get a head start on your writing assignments.
    
    
16. Learn how to write better essays. It helps if you express your preliminary thoughts in clear, simple terms. Then, when the first draft is complete, you can rewrite it to improve your style and vocabulary. Use spellcheck and grammar check to keep you on your mark. If your college has a writing center, take your paper there to be reviewed by the staff.
    
    
17. Do not plagiarize the work of others. Professors are diligent about checking the originality of your work online, and have zero tolerance for cheaters.
    
    
18. Set up a schedule of your classes, with time for study and other activities. Plan to read the textbook material before it is covered in class. Stay up-to-date on assignments, and begin your reports as soon as you can. It helps to avoid the last minute homework crunch.
    
    
19. Stress is a big factor in college life. Keep focused on your goal, which is to graduate from college. If you get a low test grade, or the professor seems unfair, try to stay calm. If you are swamped with deadlines, concentrate on one task at a time. In difficult moments, remind yourself often that your goal is to graduate. Only 60% of the Freshmen students will graduate. Succeed at college and be one of them.
    
    
20. Introduce yourself to the other students you meet in your college life. A few pleasant words, a hello and goodbye, will make everyone feel more comfortable. Before long, the strangers on campus won't be strangers any more.