There is absolutely no simple answer or silver bullet to college success. Even the most well-prepared and meticulous students will tell you that succeeding as an undergraduate can be a challenge. Although there’s no standardized formula for making it through college, here are a few great tips for succeeding as an undergraduate.
Attend classes and participate in discussions
Class attendance can have a very positive impact on your final grade. Never assume that reading the chapter will equip you for assignments and exams. There are professors who don’t follow the book, and they largely base portions of the exam on their lectures and class discussions rather than the chapter readings.
Furthermore, some professors have been known to make major announcements during classes. They can even go ahead and give useful exam tips during lectures. Cultivate the habit of attending classes as this can make a huge difference in your path to college achievement.
Spend time with success-oriented peers
You can make peers that work for your benefit in college. Surround yourself with peers who are committed to succeeding in their university studies. By spending your time with successful people, you gain lots of motivation as you learn from each other and challenge each other.
Say no to procrastination
Procrastination is a killer of goals and dreams. Putting off tasks can seem like a good method to temporarily reduce stress. In reality, though, postponement is a recipe for accumulating more and more stress as time progresses.
You need to get started right away on assignments because things won’t get any easier later on. If you leave tasks until a later date, the workload will snowball and deadlines will draw closer. Break down the tasks into manageable steps and begin working progressively. This will eliminate the fear and worry that the task will grow big and difficult.
Use college resources to your advantage
Many students tend to overlook the vast network of resources readily available in college. Do not be like a multitude of students who settle on the bare minimum throughout the semester.
Attending classes regularly is good, but you also need to frequent other resource centers such as campus libraries, computer labs, as well as tutoring and writing centers. These resource centers provide free and valuable information that can shape your career and draw you closer to attaining success as an undergraduate.
Use a calendar or planner to stay organized
Time management is of great significance as far as being successful as an undergraduate is concerned. Remember, you have the responsibility to know and meet deadlines in college. For that reason, you need to use a calendar or planner to create a schedule involving all campus activities—classes, study time, and work obligations.
Consult with your professors regularly
Do you even know why your professors have open office hours? It’s to give students like you time for fruitful consultations. You should attempt to consult with each of your professors a couple of times during the semester.
Your goal should be to introduce yourself to your professor and attend office hours the first few weeks of the semester. By so doing, your professor will get to know how serious you are with your studies.
