<p>If you were giving a college student one tip to increase their success, what would it be? Is it something basic but often overlooked? Something unusual that most people wouldn't think of? I'm not thinking of the obvious things like "go to class" or "do your homework."</p>
<p>I would say "work from Day 1 to establish relationships with people on campus: other students, professors, administrators." Contacts are all-important in our super-connected world. </p>
<p>I would love to hear what other parents (and successful students) have to offer on this topic.</p>
<p>Go to your professor’s office hours, in order to build a relationship, particularly in larger classes. When students ask me to write recommendation letters, it is easier for me to say more about students whom I know better.</p>
<p>In order for all of your studying to pay off, you must give your mind real breaks. Hopping on your phone or laptop does not count. Nor does pounding down a third coffee. Been studying for an hour? Take a 10-20 minute walk. Turn on a few songs you like and dance. Set the alarm for ten minutes, close your eyes and let your mind wander. You get the idea.</p>
<p>Your brain is quite literally not built to have an endless stream of information shoved into it. You must take productive breaks. It’s very tempting to skip them but you’ll be so much better off if you set the habit of taking them.</p>
<p>My husband’s best friend offered this advice to my super-social son:
“The guys who did not suceed in college were the ones who could not say ‘No’ to their friends.”</p>
<p>It’s tempting to skip class when no one takes attendance and no one is calling your parents to report that you are late. It’s tempting to do it cause you’re tired, overworked, hung-over, want to go away for the weekend, whatever. Don’t skip class. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. </p>
<p>If you’re in one of those classes where you can skip a certain number without penalty, don’t skip for petty reasons. Because one day, you’re going to be really sick, and you’re going to be miserable because you can’t skip your class because you burned up your skips for a few days of sleeping in when you were perfectly healthy. </p>
<p>Go. To. Class. It’s the best way to succeed in college.</p>
<p>With the irregular schedules that most people have at college, it’s very easy to sleep through an early morning commitment – like, say, the 8 a.m. final exam for a course that met at 11 a.m. all semester.</p>
<p>Develop healthy study habits… review class notes and/or start homework/reading as soon as possible after class; take advantage of short periods of time between classes to get work done, and don’t wait til the last minute to start or finish papers and test prep.</p>
<p>Study an hour a day, outside of class time, for each class.
Reward yourself with something social, for example: if I study an hour for each class today, I get to go out with my friends at 9 PM.
Exercise!
Read the daily email that you get from the college about what is happening on campus - and sign up for things right away.
Eat breakfast.
Break up with your high school romantic partner. Do not enter into a romantic relationship right away.
Moderation!</p>
<p>This is one of the old classics that everyone already knows, but I’ll repeat it anyway:</p>
<p>Do Not Get Behind in Your Classes. Stay up with the reading and the homework. Kill your inner procrastinator.</p>
<p>It was my biggest failing. It is my daughter’s biggest problem. Somehow my son managed to avoid it; he got his dad’s ‘keeping up with stuff’ gene, I guess.</p>
<p>Never miss class unless you are ill. Let your prof know if you are missing and why. You’d be surprised by what a difference this makes…Go to office hours, even if just to stop by and say hello, ask a question or two. You don’t have to stay long. But, if you develop a relationship, when you do run into an issue, it will be very, very easy to take care of it.</p>
<p>Even though you may have done your EC’s as a means to an end to get into college, don’t drop them once you get to college. If you played sports, play intramurals, if you did theater, do something in the theater. Whatever it was you did, don’t stop doing it once you get to college. You’d be suprised by how many kids drop their EC’s and wonder why they can’t “find their nitch.” That IS your niche, at least at first.</p>
<p>Don’t call your parents or old freinds every five seconds. Be where you are. Home isn’t going anywhere without you.</p>
<p>levirm - no limit, and I liked your tips! All the tips are really great ones. The Two Alarm clock especially. Nothing like waking up to find out you should have been at a final 10 minutes ago.</p>
<p>What are all your thoughts on how to pick a major for a topflight, multi-talented student who is pretty much good at everything and is having a hard time making a final decision?</p>
<p>What guidelines would you suggest for narrowing it down? Do you go for what’s practical (ie, think of eventual employment)? What criteria should be top of the list?</p>
<p>sharpenedpencil #4
I think this is the biggie - get to know those professors. So many benefits and pretty much no downside! </p>
<p>Some students are shy about stopping in without some very specific topic/problem to discuss or resolve. What advice would you tell a student like that?</p>
<p>Is there something you wish students knew about visiting your office that they clearly don’t? Something that might surprise them to know?</p>
<p>colorado mom, LOL. You’re right. As hard as it is to believe, some parents actually know what they are talking about! </p>
<p>Trying to tap into that general pool wisdom to pass it on. Thought if it didn’t come from mom, it might be better received! </p>
<p>What do you all think about time-management skills? Are they important? do you think they should be addressed directly, or just generally, as in “don’t fall behind,” or “start earlier rather than later.” Is this enough or is something more specific a better idea? If so, what? College gives students a lot of unstructured time and those who aren’t good at self-management might accidentally waste it. Especially with nobody looking over their shoulder to make sure they are moving from one task to another.</p>