Student Success in College

I. Discovering the Value of Education and Sharpening Key Thinking Skills

1. Focus on the purpose and value of getting an education.

Focus on the purpose and benefit a of a college education.
2. Practice good decision-making skills.
Good decisions don't happen by accident. Good decisions happen by engaging in a
thoughtful process that includes keeping your goals visible, gathering important
information, and exploring and evaluating your options.
3. Improve your information literacy skills.
In the academic world, information literacy skills will help you successfully complete
assignments. In many careers, you will also need information in order to make good
decisions and complete projects.
4. Evaluate credibility of websites and other sources of information.
One of the biggest information literacy challenges is being able to determine whether the
information you find or come across has value.
5. Get confident reading and using scholarly sources.
College-level work requires you to use more sophisticated information sources.
Professors want you to back your opinion up with data and research.
6. Build your foundational knowledge.
Having a strong foundational knowledge base is important.
7. Learn how to be a critical thinker.
Your professors expect you to engage in high-level cognitive tasks.

II. Setting Goals and Choosing a Career Path

1. Establish short- and long-term goals.

Students who set goals are more likely to succeed Long-term goals are valuable because
they help you focus on the big picture, emphasizing your values and priorities.
2. Challenge yourself by setting high goals.
Research has shown that we are most likely to achieve at high levels when we set high
goals.
3. Use the ABCS approach to goal setting.
Aim high-research shows that students who have challenging goals are more likely to
succeed Believe in yourself. Specify and self-reflect-having specific goals makes it easier
to monitor your... progress and the self-reflection process allows you to make
adjustments as needed so that you. Stay on track toward your goals.
4. Recognize the importance of engaging in active career exploration.
Deciding on a career path can be a challenging task.
5. Reach out for assistance with career decision-making as needed.
 There are many resources available to students that are focused on helping them find and
evaluate the information needed to make important career decisions.
6. Engage in self-assessment activities to make better career decisions.
Reflecting on your values is an important first step in the career exploration process.
7. Check out career websites and conduct informational interviews.
In addition to learning about yourself, learn about various careers.

III. Building Academic Skills

1. Learn how memory works.

Knowing how memory works helps you make the most out of your study time.
2. Actively read your textbook-try the 3R and SQ3R techniques.
To make the most of your reading time, engage in the 3R (Read-Recite-Review)
technique or the SQ3R (Survey-Question-Read-Recite-Review) technique. Both
approaches focus on you using your own words to summarize what you've read and have
you interact with the text several times (read, recite, review).
3. Be prepared so that you can actively participate.
Completing reading and written assignments prior to class gives you the background
information you need so that you can be an active participant.
4. Use a note-taking method that works.
Taking notes ensures you will have the information you need when it is time to study.
5. Use a multisensory approach.
Visuals are particularly powerful, so pay attention to charts, graphs, and images.
6. Test yourself regularly and chunk information when studying.
Take advantage of practice tests in texts or on the textbook publisher's website, or you
can create your own.
7. Teach to learn and participate in study groups.
Teaching can happen naturally in study groups.

IV. Strengthening Soft Skills

1. Embrace opportunities to learn soft skills

Soft skills are skills that are needed in almost every career.
2. Practice professionalism.
Professionalism involves being honest, responsible, and hardworking.
3. Balance life, school, and work obligations.
Find a balance between your many responsibilities and focus on what is most important
to you.
4. Break tasks down to avoid procrastination.
Breaking tasks down into manageable chunks can make it easier for you to start working
on larger assignments.
 5. Use to-do lists and planners to manage your time.
The to-do list is a simple but effective tool to help you keep track of the tasks you need to
complete.
6. Focus on one task at a time.
Multitasking does not work focus on one activity at a time.
7. Develop interpersonal and leadership skills
Enhance interpersonal and leadership skills.

V. Demonstrating Knowledge and Skills

1. Focus on why first.

Before you begin to work on an assignment, be sure you understand the purpose of the
assignment.
2. Engage in academically honest work.
Academic integrity is important.
3. Know when and how to cite sources.
Always cite sources unless you are presenting your own original idea or common
knowledge.
4. Plan, write, and then revise.
Before you write a paper, carefully review the assignment and plan by writing an outline.
5. Engage your audience when presenting.
The more prepared you are, the easier it is to engage your audience.
6. Create effective visual aids.
According to research, images are better than words.
7. Use test-taking techniques that work.
Preparing well for an exam is the single best way to improve exam performance.

VI. Mapping Your Path to Success: Plans and Action Steps

1. Meet with your advisor.

Students who meet with their advisor are more successful than students who do not.

2. Understand curriculum and graduation requirements.

Knowing what courses and experiences are required of graduates will help you plan
effectively.

3. Explore academic options, such as online courses.

Meet with your academic advisor to learn about your academic options.
4. Embrace study abroad, service learning, and internship opportunities.
 There are many long lasting benefits, such as increased independence, associated with
studying abroad.

5. Expand and strengthen your network.

One of the most effective ways to discover career opportunities is through networking.

6. Have a professional media presence.

Employers look at social media sites, so be sure that your online presence is positive and
professional in nature.

7. Make good financial decisions and establish a good credit score.

Be careful about accumulating too much debt. Think about the financial choices you
make each day and the long-term consequences of these decisions.

VII. Staying on Tract and Celebrating Success

1. Regularly engage in academic self-regulation.

Academic self-regulation involves three main phases: setting a goal, using learning
strategies to work toward the goal, and self-reflecting on whether or not you are making
progress toward your goal.

2. Interpret mistakes productively.

We all make mistakes. Focus on factors, such as effort, that are within your control. This
leads to more productive outcomes.

3. Practice good stress management.

Keeping stress at a moderate level is best.

4. Stick with tasks.

Individuals who see tasks through to completion are much likely to meet with success.

5. Adopt an optimistic attitude and focus on what is within your control.

Having an optimistic attitude is one of the most powerful resilient factors. Resilience is
the ability to bounce back after negative experiences.

6. Use your support system.

Surrounding yourself with others who care about you and want you to be successful is
what successful people do.
 7. Celebrate your accomplishments.

Savor the moment and feel proud of your accomplishments. Success can lead to even
more success.

Student Success in College- Doing What Works!

Christine Harrington, 209 Language USA