Tips to doing well in college

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>I am going to be starting college in the fall of 2012 and I am really nervous because I really want to do well. I was just wondering if any current students had any advice to help me so I can get good grades. I am not necessarily that smartest kid, but I am willing to work really hard for my grades.</p>

2

<p>I was also wondering how difficult college is from high school and how hard it is to transition from high school to college.</p>

3

<p>Read this comparison: [How</a> Is College Different From High School? - - SMU](<a href=“http://smu.edu/alec/transition.asp]How”>http://smu.edu/alec/transition.asp)</p>

<p>You should focus on understanding the processes that take place. Memorization is generally not your friend. Work lots of problems.</p>

4

<p>All I know is college is harder material, and yet it’s way more interesting and more often taught by experts, making it both more doable or less doable depending on your general attitude towards academics or the particular subjects you’re studying. </p>

<p>There’s also way more homework which is often not even checked by the professor, but fortunately less class time. I’m not a big fan of spending 6 hours every day in classrooms, so I can’t wait for college!</p>

<p>Another difference: Professors actually get paid for office hours while high school teachers often much extra time for you! So that’s definitely a plus.</p>

5

<p>Professors don’t get paid extra for office hours. They’re on salary and get paid the same amount regardless of how many hours they devote to teaching a class.</p>

<p>My best tip: the lecture is intended to prepare you for reading the textbook and doing the problems. The lecture by itself is not intended to teach you the course content. You’re expected to learn that outside of class. Most students don’t have this approach, and most students therefore won’t get A’s.</p>

6

<p>Several questions;

  1. What classes did you take in high school? Lots of AP/IB?
  2. How many activities were you in? Full list of sports and activities, band, plays?
  3. Did you have a job? Work 10, 20, 30 hours a week?
  4. What college are you going to? Greendale or Caltech?
  5. What major? Physics or Mass Comm?</p>

<p>College can be much harder than high school, as hard or easier. The real question is how hard are you willing to work to be successful? </p>

<p>My suggestions; try to preread the materials when at all possible, go to class (no skipping, especially labs), take good notes and review those notes daily. Have fun at appropriate times. (Also don’t expect your profs to be good teachers, many are brilliant people but baaaad teachers.) You’ll do fine.</p>

<p>Also keep in mind your paying for it.</p>