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Effective study skills and habits are the key to achieving and maintaining a high GPA. Even more importantly, with effective study habits you will store what you learn in long-term memory, allowing you to use the learned information in a novel setting. Learning to apply the following rules for studying will aid you in earning excellent marks in school.

How to study

Do:

Study Tip #1. Keep the area around your desk neat and tidy. If possible, the study area should also be quiet. If you are having trouble finding a quiet place to study, try the local library or park. The library is a perfect place to have peace and quiet. The park may not be as quiet, but the fresh air can make studying less nerve-racking. If these options are unavailable, then try listening to some music while studying.

Study Tip #2. Have a scheduled study time for each school day. Remember that one classroom hour should be reinforced by two hours of studying at home.

Study Tip #3. Sit down for 45 minute intervals, followed by 15 minute breaks. Having an easily attainable goal, like studying for set duration of time, is effective for increasing motivation.

Study Tip #4. Reward yourself if and only if you have met your goal for that study session. For example, if you plan to study one chapter and succeed, then you may reward yourself by doing something pleasurable. Examples of positive reinforcement are: food, exercise, videogames, etc.

Study Tip #5. Make correspondences between your class notes and your textbook. This will help you to fill in any background information not covered in class.

Study Tip #6. Prepare questions about the chapter that will be discussed in the following class. This will help you identify areas that you do not understand.

Study Tip #7. Put any new words or concepts to use. The more you use the learned information, the more likely you will be to remember it. This is especially true for language classes.

Study Tip #8. Finally, review what you have studied just before you go to bed. You will find that you will remember the words very strongly the next morning.

How not to study

Do not:

1. Procrastinate. Cramming is not beneficial for producing long term memory.

2. Highlight. Highlighting is a form of procrastination, because you are saving note taking for later. This means you must use the book twice instead of once. Instead, make careful notes to compliment your classroom notes, along with page numbers so that you can refer back to the book if necessary.

3. Study on the computer. You are bound to be tempted to check your email or surf the net.

4. Leave your cell phone on during study time. No matter who is calling or texting you, usually it can wait 45 minutes. Having your cell phone on during study time can be a major distraction and is not conducive to learning.

5. Study just after you have eaten. Studies have shown that thinking is slower after having a meal.

6. Space out. When you feel your mind begin to wander, remind yourself to concentrate. If you are reading, using your finger is a good way to keep your mind on track. The movement of your finger on the page forces you to pay attention to what you are doing.

Souce : http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/Study.html

10 Things to Remember on the Day of your Exam

1. Arrive early. Make sure you know the location and time of your exam. Get there early to give yourself enough time to settle down before the exam starts.
2. Be awake for the test. Ideally, getting a good night’s rest is always encouraged before an exam; however, realistically, we all know that can’t always happen. Other options are to shower in the morning, chew gum, to have a caffeinated drink. Always be cautious when consuming caffeinated drinks, you don’t want to be jittery for the test.
3. Eat a small breakfast. You’ll want to minimize any possible distractions during the test. It’ll be more difficult to concentrate if you’re hungry. Don’t eat anything that may upset your stomach.
4. Bring extra writing utensils. You never know when your pencil’s going to break or run out of lead or your pen’s going to run out of ink.
5. Bring all essential test materials. There’s nothing worse than forgetting to bring a calculator or notes to an exam. Professors usually won’t have extras or allow you to share with another classmate.
6. Go to the bathroom. Self-explanatory. This is another precaution to minimize distractions during the test.
7. Wear comfortable clothes. You’ll want to be comfortable taking the test. Popular choices are sweatpants and hoodies.
8. Bring any necessities. Bring a water bottle, tissues, cough drops, etc.
9. Look over your notes. Review important information again before the test to refresh your memory.
10. It’s just a test. Remember that you studied hard and have confidence in yourself.

Source : http://www.collegetips.com/college-classes/exam-tips.php

Tips on Studying at College & How to Improve Study Skills

These college study tips are to help students learn how and when to study, and tips and tricks you can use to get ahead. Studying for college is no fun, but if you plan your time correctly and get your work done, you will have more time for fun such as college parties.

College Study Tips

Create Mnemonics

Mnemonics are devices that can help you memorize formulas, key concepts, definitions, etc. A really basic example of a mnemonic is “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally” which stands for parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.

Make a Study Guide

Whether or not your professor gives you a study guide for an exam, making a study guide is very helpful when studying for tests. Go through the textbook, notes, and any other material and write down any information that you think may be on the test such as important concepts, definitions, and formulas. Reading and writing the information will help you memorize it faster. If your professor gives you a study guide, make sure to cover all the points listed.

Make Flash Cards

Making flash cards can be a bit time consuming, but flash cards are helpful tools in remembering vocabulary, formulas, and key concepts. They are also easy to carry around with you so you can review them anytime.

Quiz Yourself

To ensure that you are prepared for your test, make a mock quiz to test how well you know the material. Write down a list of keywords or questions and make sure to leave room underneath each one. Then, pretend that you’re taking the test and write down as much as you can.

Set Time Goals

Setting time goals for yourself will help make sure that you stay on track especially when you have time constraints. You’re more likely to be productive if you have goals to achieve.

Remember to Take Breaks

Studying is hard stuff. You need to take short breaks to allow your brain to process and retain the information. Otherwise, you may confuse yourself or forget something you have already studied. Be sure to take only a short break, otherwise, it may be hard to go back to studying. When you begin studying again, review the material you have already studied, then, move on to something new.

Don’t Study Alone

Studying with other people is always easier, because you are all there and you know nothing else is going on. If possible convince your college friends to meet at the library at a specific time on a regular basis. If you and your friends have different schedules, do your best to find time when at least two of you are able to meet. This will also help you and your friends develop good study skills, keep tabs on your friends, and make sure they will be with you on graduation day.

Study During the Week

For those college students who like to party, studying during the week is the way to go. Typically studying Monday through Thursday is the way to go. When it’s not football season, Sunday could also be a good day, but never count on it. If you have time between or after classes while you are still on campus, that is the best time to pop into the library for a quick hour of studying. This will allow you to enjoy your nights without worrying about studying later. Thursdays are notorious for being college party nights, so dont plan on studying late that night. College students that are big partiers will be hungover Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so the week is usually the best time. Having self control and studying hard all week should allow students have the weekends free.

Schedule Time for Studying

College students who regularly have gaps in their class schedule should mark off those hours as study time. By making it part the routine, students should get into the habit after a few weeks, and not even think about it. The key is to start right away and try not to cheat. College students who do not have gaps in their schedule should plan for times before or after class, or schedule time at night.

Get lots of sleep

College Students who get a full night of sleep are usually more alert, more focused and learn things easier than those who are sleep deprived. Try to keep your sleep schedule as consistent as possible. On the weekends avoid sleeping in too late, because it will make it harder to wake up for your first class.

Avoid Studying on Coffee, Ritalin and Adderall

Since studying is no fun, students look for ways to enhance their ability to study an stay focused. Coffee has been used by college students to pull “all-nighters” or just to prevent falling asleep in an open book. If you choose to use coffee as a study aid, monitor your sleep patterns and how you feel throughout the day before making it a regular habit. Ritalin and Adderall are prescription drugs used to treat ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder). These drugs are hard to predict because they are made for students with ADD/ADHD. Students without either disorder are advised not to take these if not prescribed, but there are always college students who choose to sell some or all of their prescribed medication. If you choose to go that route and try it (not recommended), be sure to try small doses at first (5 mg or 10 mg) so you can see its effects. As always, students should only take things from those who are trusted.

Source : http://www.collegetips.com/college-classes/study-tips.php

Congratulations to those of you who are attending college. A world of opportunities lies before you. But it won’t last forever. Chances are you’ll only be in college for four or five short years.

So do yourself a favor and take advantage of every moment you have in the next few years. At most colleges you have a plethora of resources there to help you grow into a successful person, if you simply know where to look and are willing to take advantage of them. We’ve left no stone unturned in collecting the following 88 tips to help you make the most this time.

Seize the Day

1. Take responsibility for your own learning. You’re not in high school anymore. Everyone in college is there to learn because they want to, not just to pass because they have to. There are a lot of opportunities for learning in college, often times outside the classroom. Take advantage of every opportunity you can.
2. Appreciate your time in college. You’ll never again have so many opportunities with so few responsibilities.
3. Take risks. College isn’t just about getting good grades. It is a time to learn more about the world and yourself. Branch out and take risks. Try something new. Meet new friends.
4. Expand your horizons. Classes do not have to only focus on your major or what is best for your future career. Try taking some elective classes in other subjects.
5. Set goals. Every term, reset your goals to keep you motivated and give you something to work toward.
6. Consider your personal interests when choosing your major. Don’t just choose a major because of what the current job market is like or because it’s what your friends or family members are doing. Choose a program that interests you and that you will enjoy studying.
7. Take some major courses as early as you can. If you can take a course within your major your freshman year, do so. You may learn that you want to switch majors. It’s best to learn this as soon as you can.
8. Go abroad. Most colleges offer some type of study abroad program. You may be able to attend classes for a semester or year in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, or South America. Get to know the requirements for these programs early on so you can plan accordingly. Check out studyabroad.com.

Class and Note Taking

1. Prepare for each class as though there would be a pop quiz. The benefit of this is two-fold: firstly, you’ll be more able to participate in class; secondly, you’ll be prepared if there actually is a pop quiz.
2. Read the syllabus for each of your courses. Understand how many exams and homework assignments there will be. Know how much each assignment is worth. Know what the professor expects of you.
3. Be on time for each class. Better yet, come early. Sit down and get relaxed before class begins. Professors like students who are always present and never late. Moreover, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by knowing exactly what material was covered each day. If you have trouble actually getting up early and going to class, consider taking an online class. More universities are beginning to make this an option.
4. Be attentive and stay focused. Avoid distractions such as instant messaging or crossword puzzles. Treat class as though it were an important business meeting. Your professor will appreciate it and you will learn more.
5. Ask questions. If the professor ever says something that you do not understand, never be afraid to ask for clarification. Chances are there are other students in class that also didn’t understand.



6. Do not write down everything. Write in outline form so your notes will be easy to skim and review. Be sure to take clear, concise notes every class.
7. Use separate notebooks for each class. Or use subject dividers to separate your notes. Try to avoid taking notes for your psychology class in your math notebook. Doing so will make exam preparation much more difficult than it has to be.
8. Use a loose leaf notebook instead of a spiral bound notebook. Loose leaf notebooks are easier to organize, as they allow you to move your notes around or add handouts where necessary.
9. Try to make a friend in each class. If you have to miss a class, you can call your classmate and get the lowdown on what you may have missed. Also, often times partner projects are assigned and it is awkward to have to work with a stranger. If you already know someone in the class, it relieves any tension there may otherwise be.

Studying

1. Find a good place to study. Dorm rooms are often littered with distractions — television, video games, loud music, your roommate’s girlfriend, etc. Find a quiet place that will work for you, whether it be a study lounge down the hall from your room or the library across campus. Treat studying like you’re going to work each day.
2. Establish a routine study time. Getting into a rhythm at the beginning of every term will help you stay focused and disciplined. Lacking a routine may lead to bad habits or apathy.
3. Take breaks while studying. If you have several hours of studying to do the day before a big exam, break up your studying routine into 50-minute sessions, followed by five- or 10-minute breaks. Studying for several hours nonstop will not be very helpful.
4. Stay on top of your reading. Almost every college class will require reading. A lot of reading. Don’t fall behind or it will cost you.
5. Prepare a list of questions to ask. As you’re reading, you may come across some things that you don’t fully understand. Write down these questions to ask your professor when you’re in class the next day.
6. Use a highlighter. Highlight passages that are particularly important and that you should review further. Avoid highlighting entire pages.
7. Use a pencil. Write in the margins any notes you may want to make while you’re reading. Then when you re-read the material a few weeks later for the final exam, you should just be able to go over these margin notes.
8. Use a dictionary. Improve your vocabulary by looking up any unfamiliar words you may come across as you’re reading.
9. Find a study partner or two. Study partners can help you stay focused and can point out some things that you may have overlooked.
10. Get notes for any classes you may have missed. Never assume that you know what was covered in classes that you may have missed. Get notes from a classmate for that day. Or consider using a note sharing service like stu.dicio.us or mynoteIT.

Test Taking

1. Begin studying at least three days before an exam. Study for about two or three hours per day if you have to. But don’t wait until the day before your exam to cram for eight hours. You won’t remember much and you’ll be worn out come test time.
2. Go to bed early the night before an exam. Getting plenty of rest the day before the exam will keep your mind sharp. You don’t want to be feeling sleepy during an exam.
3. Arrive early on exam day. Take a seat five or 10 minutes before the exam starts to allow you time to relax and get your mind prepared for the challenge ahead.
4. Read the instructions of the test very carefully. You may know the material inside and out but that won’t make one bit of difference if you can’t obey simple instructions.
5. Review the entire test before you answer any questions. Plan ahead. If your exam period is 90 minutes long, don’t spend an hour on the first part only to find out that there are still two equally challenging parts to go. Spend the first minute of the exam planning how much time you think you will need to spend on each question or section. Answer what you know first and then come back to more difficult questions.
6. Check the back of every page. Nothing feels worse than getting a test back and realizing you only answered half of the questions.
7. Be sure to answer the question in full. Read each essay question carefully, then read it again and again until you have a firm grasp on exactly how to answer it. You may have a terrific answer to give, but if you only answer half the question, that won’t make for a very good grade.

Writing Papers

1. Start early on those long term papers. Especially when a lot of research is involved, beginning the planning and outlining stages of a term paper weeks ahead of the due date will benefit you greatly. Be certain you can get all of the research materials you need before you begin writing.
2. Prepare an outline before you start writing. Never write a long paper from start to finish without taking a look at the big picture first. Outlining the entire paper before you begin will help you develop and convey your ideas better.
3. Use the writing center. Most colleges offer a writing center with assistants that will teach you how to become a better writer. Turn in your first drafts here and they will point out your writing flaws so you can improve. Often times, just one visit to the writing center could improve your paper a full letter grade.
4. Beware plagiarism. Taking credit for another person’s thoughts or words by plagiarizing or cheating is grounds for expulsion at most colleges. Know how to cite your sources within your papers and do so consistently.
5. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. The Internet is a powerful learning and research tool. While there are a lot of credible sources available online, be aware that anyone nowadays can set up a Web page. Just because it’s online doesn’t make it fact.

College Resources

1. Seek counseling if you’re lonely or depressed. Most college campuses offer a counseling center to offer aid to troubled students. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of this resource if you need to.
2. Find a tutor if you need help. Your student peers or teaching assistants often serve as tutors in subjects that are giving you struggles. Seek them out and let them help you understand what the professor cannot. Often times, it’s easier to learn from someone similar in age to you.
3. Take advantage of the library. It may not be as easy as doing a Google search, but the quality of the sources in a university library is second to none. You’ll be able to research centuries-old articles from newspapers or read an entry from a scientific journal. Those are just two examples of things a university library can offer you that the World Wide Web cannot.
4. Find out who your advisor is and visit regularly, at least once per term. This will help keep you on track for graduation. Your advisor can also help you choose a major or give you recommendations on which classes you should take.
5. Get to know your professors. It is pretty easy to coast through college without ever getting to know your professors. It will take a bit of effort to get many of them to even learn your name. But doing so could really pay off when you need a letter of recommendation or if you plan on doing an independent study.
6. Know when your professors’ office hours are. Try to visit each professor at least once per term. And never be afraid to go into office hours needing extra help or ask a question or two. Remember your professors are there to help you learn. Take advantage of that.

Career Planning

1. Get a suit. Wear it to any job interviews. Employers will expect you to dress your best when they first meet you.
2. Work on your resume. A resume isn’t just another homework assignment that takes you 10 minutes to write up really quickly before class. This is a major document that will help you land a job after you graduate. Spend hours on it if you have to. Seek help from a career counselor so you know what you should include and how it should be formatted. Seek additional tips from JobStar.
3. Visit the career center. The guidance counselors are there to help you work on your resume and job interviewing skills. They want to help you. So let them. Schedule appointments and try to attend their sessions at least once each term. Don’t be afraid to see a career counselor even if you’re just a freshman. It’s never too early to start planning your future.
4. Go to career fairs. Most college campuses will have at least one career fair per year. Attend it. You’ll get a chance to mingle with potential employers and find out what careers are available to you after college.
5. Find a summer internship. Don’t blow your summer sitting on the couch in your parents’ house. Do something for your future by securing an internship. You may not get paid much, if anything, but you are very likely to help land yourself a job after graduation.
6. Be on time for job interviews. In your junior and senior years, you may have the opportunity to interview with potential employers. This is your first impression on them. Make it a good one. Click here for more job finding tips.

Money Management

1. Consider every possible source of financial aid. Check with your school’s financial aid and admissions offices, your academic college, your church, clubs or special interest groups to which you or your parents belong, professionals working in your major field, scholarship resource books, and honor societies and fraternities. There is a lot of free scholarship money available out there if you know where to look. Use FinAid! to find scholarships and loans.
2. Don’t give up on your financial aid search. You may not find a lot of education money right away. But stick with it because you could save thousands of dollars.
3. Know the guidelines and due dates of paperwork for your financial aid awards. And be sure to stay on top of this. Nothing could be worse than losing a scholarship or financial aid award because you lost some paperwork or missed a due date. A mistake like this could cost you thousands of dollars.
4. Never buy new textbooks… unless you enjoy improving your college bookstore’s bottom line. Buying new textbooks is for suckers and can put a huge hole in your budget. Always try to buy a used textbook or even check out a copy from your library before you buy a new textbook. You could save a couple hundred bucks each term.
5. Shop early for books. You’ll find the best selection of used materials. If you don’t get to the bookstore until a week or two into the new term, chances are they’ll be out of used materials by then and you might be stuck having to purchase a new textbook at an outrageous price.
6. A credit card is not free money… no matter how often you are bombarded with advertisements that may lead you to believe otherwise. If you do get a credit card, just be sure to pay off the amount in full each month, or you will start to get into deep credit card debt. Deep debt can prevent you from getting a car or a house mortgage later in life. On the positive side, paying your credit card bills in full on time will help establish your personal credit.
7. Set a budget. And stick to it. Figure out how much money you make each month and estimate how much you will spend each month. Never spend more than you earn. Read Bankrate’s 12 money-management tips for college students.
8. Don’t blow all your money. Most college students are on a tight budget. Don’t blow all of your money on alcohol or junk food. Put a little into a savings account each month, even if it’s not that much.
9. Get a part-time job to make some extra cash. If you live on campus, an on-campus job in food services, with a professor, or in one of the college offices might be worth looking into. At some schools, tutoring or working for the school newspaper will pay you, too.
10. Use your meal plan. It’ll save you a lot of money to eat what you’ve already paid for. Also, your dining hall will usually be much healthier than eating from the dollar menu at a fast food restaurant.
11. Watch those cell phone minutes. Running up your cell phone bill is very easy to do, as cell phone service providers charge huge premiums for each minute of overuse. Most plans allow for free nights and weekend minutes. So if you have a call to make that can wait until then, it could save you big bucks.
12. Know off-campus costs. If you want to move off campus, be aware of the additional costs of living.

Time Management

1. Don’t procrastinate. Whatever the assignment may be, if you have some free time, just do it now. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck doing it later. If an assignment takes longer than you had expected, you’ll have wished that you had begun it sooner instead of waiting until the last minute. Read more about procrastination from the University of North Carolina.
2. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of due dates. Missing a paper deadline or forgetting exam dates is inexcusable. Avoid this by shelling out a few bucks for a planner. And use it regularly.
3. Set priorities and don’t be afraid to cut back on a few things. Being captain of the lacrosse team, student government president, and editor of the yearbook all while getting a degree in chemical engineering might look great on a resume, but for most people, taking on so many activities is impractical. Take a serious look at what is important to you. If you feel overloaded, don’t be afraid to drop an activity or two. Click here to learn how to balance your job and your classwork.
4. Time is on your side. There are 168 hours in each week. If you set aside 56 hours for sleep and 40 hours for academics, that leaves you with 72 hours for everything else. Click here for more time management tips.
5. Leave reminders for yourself. Have a meeting tomorrow at noon? Leave a post-it note on your door so you don’t forget.
6. Avoid time wasters. As fun as it may be to stay up all night watching television or playing Tecmo Bowl, perhaps you shouldn’t do so with a big paper due the next day.

Campus Life

1. When living in the dorm, take it all in stride. You may be required to live in a dorm your freshman year. Don’t expect much in terms of privacy, personal space, quiet time, or even cleanliness. But enjoy some of its perks, namely the camaraderie with your dorm mates and the proximity to your classes.
2. Avoid athlete’s foot. Invest in a pair of shower shoes, especially if you live in a dorm with a communal shower.
3. Lock your doors. You may have a lot of valuables in your room — computer, jewelry, clothes, stereo, television. Don’t make it easy for someone to come in and take something.
4. Party. Mingle and meet people. Don’t stay locked up in your room or your library all the time. Go out and enjoy yourself every once in a while. Just don’t party too hard too frequently.
5. Join a student organization. Whether it be student government or ballroom dancing, join a club of other people with similar interests to your own. You’ll make close friends and do activities that you enjoy.
6. Join an intramural team. Not only will this help you stay in shape, but you’ll make new friends with your teammates.
7. Join a club in your major. Most majors will have some sort of honors society or extracurricular club on campus. Joining such a club will get you involved with other students in your classes and will likely put you in personal contact with one or two of the professors, as they are often the moderators of these clubs.

Survival

1. Eat healthy. Your mom’s home cooked meals are no longer an option. Try to eat at your dining hall as often as you can and be sure to eat your fruits and vegetables. A diet of greasy pizza and beers every night isn’t exactly first-rate eating.
2. Exercise. P.E. classes usually are not required in college as they were in high school. Account for this by going on runs, using the student gym, or simply throwing the football around.
3. Find out what health services has to offer. Many university health service centers offer free flu shots, STD testing, and birth control.
4. Take care of yourself when you’re sick. You mom is no longer around to make sure you get plenty of fluids and chicken noodle soup. You’ll have to do this on your own. Check out WebMD’s Cold and Flu Survival Guide. If you’re sick for more than a day or two, consider seeing a doctor or nurse at the university health center.
5. Get plenty of rest. Seldom do college students get enough sleep. Try to get as much sleep as you can each night. Doctors recommend at least eight hours per night for college aged students.
6. Be safe. Get the scoop on underage drinking, drugs, and sex. If you’re ever uncomfortable, just say no.
7. Designate a driver or have enough cash for a cab. Never take a ride home from a drunk friend. It’s a good way to get killed. Take a cab if you need to. A few extra bucks spent could save your life.
8. Be lawful. Getting into trouble with the law could cause your scholarships to be revoked or could even get you expelled from school. Also be sure to read the campus rule book for any special university rules you may be expected to follow.
9. Pack lots of underwear and socks. You don’t really need to do laundry until you run out of these two essentials.
10. Homesickness is natural. Almost every freshman experiences it. Just know that you’re not alone and that you will get over it.
11. Become familiar with your college town. Know where the local grocery store, gas station, pharmacy, and hospital are. You may need them all at some point during your college career.
12. Make travel plans well in advance. Are you planning to fly home for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Want to take a trip to Aruba for spring break? Make sure to start planning well in advance. You’ll get the best rates on flights if you start looking at least two months ahead of time.

Considering all of the learning experiences in front of you, college should be the best years of your life. Appreciate the time you have as a college student. There are a lot of opportunities for you in a time when you will have relatively few responsibilities. Of course, everyone will undergo struggles in this period, but that is part of what makes college so unique and challenging. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the resources at your fingertips while you have them there. Seize the day, and remember, as Tom Petty once said, “The work never ends, but the college does.”

Source : http://oedb.org/library/college-basics/88-surefire-tips

Perhaps you were class president in high school. Or perhaps you were a member of the honor society. You could have graduated in the top percentile of your graduating class; perhaps you were even valedictorian. Maybe your were in the honors program or the International Baccalaureate program. Actually, it doesn’t really matter what you did in high school as you make the transition to college. High school success (or lack of it) doesn’t automatically apply to college.  

You start college with a clean academic slate, along with a lot of independence and a myriad of critical decisions as you begin the transition into adulthood. The decisions that you make and the actions you take during this first year of college will have a major impact on the rest of your college experience.  

But wait! This article is not meant to scare you or take away any of the joy, excitement, and anticipation you feel about going to college. Quite the opposite. This article is all about the things you need to do to not only survive your first year of college, but to thrive in college. And many of the tools, skills, and habits you develop through this article can not only be used to help you succeed in college, but in your future career as well.  

The first few weeks on campus are extremely critical for all new students. It is during this time that you make critical decisions that will have an effect on the rest of your life. Some of these 25 tips are critical during your first weeks, while the others are meant for longer-term guidance and survival. Whatever you do, be sure to be yourself and try to enjoy your college experience as much as possible. Expect to feel some stress and homesickness, but don’t let these issues wear you down.  

1. Go to all orientations. Do you really need to go on yet another campus tour? Yes. The faster you learn your way around campus — and around all the red tape — the more at ease you’ll feel and the better prepared you’ll be when issues arise.
2. Get to know your roommate and others in your residence hall. The people you live with, most of whom are going through similar experiences and emotions, are your main safety net — not only this year, but for all your years. You may change roommates after the first semester or you may stay roommates for all four years — just take the time to get to know your fellow first-year students.
3. Get Organized. In high school, the teachers tended to lead you through all the homework and due dates. In college, the professors post the assignments — often for the entire semester — and expect you to be prepared. Buy an organizer, a PDA, a big wall calendar — whatever it takes for you to know when assignments are due.
4. Find the ideal place for you to study. It may be your dorm room or a cozy corner of the library, but find a place that works best for you to get your work done — while avoiding as many distractions as possible.
5. Go to class. Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8 am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you’ll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc.
6. Become an expert on course requirements and due dates. Professors spend hours and hours preparing course syllabi and calendars so that you will know exactly what is expected of you — and when. One of the lamest excuses a student can give a professor: “I didn’t know it was due today.”
7. Meet with your professors. Speaking as a professor, I can assure you there are only upsides to getting to know your professors, especially if later in the semester you run into some snags. Professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students — take advantage of that time.
8. Get to know your academic adviser. This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, deciding on majors and minors. This person is a key resource for you — and should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts. And don’t be afraid of requesting another adviser if you don’t click with the one first assigned to you.
9. Seek a balance. College life is a mixture of social and academic happenings. Don’t tip the balance too far in either direction. One of my favorite former students always used to say her motto was to “study hard so she could play hard.”
10. Get involved on campus. A big problem for a lot of new students is a combination of homesickness and a feeling of not quite belonging. A solution? Consider joining a select group — and be careful not to go overboard — of student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.
11. Strive for good grades. Another obvious one here, right? Remember the words of the opening paragraph; while good grades could have come naturally to you in high school, you will have to earn them in college — and that means setting some goals for yourself and then making sure you work as hard as you can to achieve them.
12. Take advantage of the study resources on campus. Just about all colleges have learning labs and tutors available. If you’re having some troubles, these resources are another tool available to you. Another idea: form study groups.
13. Make time for you. Be sure you set aside some time and activities that help you relax and take the stress out of your day or week. Whether it’s enlisting yoga techniques, watching your favorite television shows, or writing in a journal, be good to yourself.
14. Don’t feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major. It doesn’t matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they’re doing with their lives — believe me, they don’t — college is the time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what you want to be. It’s not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options.
15. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Don’t look to place the blame on others for your mistakes; own up to them and move on. Being an adult means taking responsibility for everything that happens to you.
16. Make connections with students in your classes. One of my best students said his technique in the first week of classes was to meet at least one new person in each of his classes. It expanded his network of friends — and was a crucial resource at times when he had to miss a class.
17. Find the Career Services Office. Regardless of whether you are entering college as undeclared or have your entire future mapped out, seek out the wonderful professionals in your college’s career services office and get started on planning, preparing, and acting on your future.
18. Don’t procrastinate; prioritize your life. It may have been easy in high school to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still get a good grade, but that kind of stuff will not work for you in college. Give yourself deadlines — and stick to them.
19. Stay healthy/Eat Right. A lot of problems first-year students face can be traced back to an illness that kept them away from classes for an extended period of time that led to a downward spiraling effect. Get enough sleep, take your vitamins, and eat right. If you haven’t heard the jokes about college food, you soon will. And without mom or dad there to serve you a balanced meal, you may be tempted to go for those extra fries or cookies. Stay healthy and avoid the dreaded extra “Freshman 15″ pounds by sticking to a balanced diet.
20. Learn to cope with homesickness. It’s only natural that there will be times when you miss your family, even if you were one of those kids who couldn’t wait to get away. Find a way to deal with those feelings, such as making a phone call or sending some email home.
21. Stay on campus as much as possible. Whether it’s homesickness, a job, or a boyfriend or girlfriend from home, try not to leave campus too soon or too often. The more time you spend on getting to know the campus and your new friends, the more you’ll feel at home at school. And why not take advantage of all the cultural and social events that happen on campus?
22. Seek professional help when you need it. Most colleges have health and counseling centers. If you’re sick or feeling isolated or depressed, please take advantage of the many services these offices provide students. You don’t have to face these issues by yourself.
23. Keep track of your money. If you’ve never had to create a budget, now is the time to do so. Find ways to stretch your money – and as best you can, avoid all those credit card solicitations you’ll soon be receiving. The average credit card debt of college grads is staggering.
24. Don’t cut corners. College is all about learning. If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do well on tests, but you’ll learn very little. Even worse, don’t cheat on term papers or tests.
25. Be prepared to feel overwhelmed. There’s a lot going in your life right now. Expect to have moments where it seems a bit too much. As one student says, be prepared to feel completely unprepared. The trick is knowing that you’re not the only one feeling that way.

Final Words of Advice
You’ve done all the prep work — you’ve gotten good grades in high school, scored well on a standardized test, and been accepted into the college you want to attend — so enjoy all your hard work while laying the groundwork for a successful college career. Don’t be a statistic; be determined to make it through your freshman year — and beyond. Take advantage of your network of new friends and professors, have fun while learning as much as you can, and get the most out of your college experience.  

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. 

Source : http://www.quintcareers.com/first-year_success.html