Examination Time

College is hard and high school can't always prepare students for the reality of its difficulty. What can a student plan to do to not only help himself survive through college but even succeed and excel? While nothing can absolutely guarantee success, these tips will help!

Why Scheduling Study Time is Important

It's easy for a student to fall behind if she plans to get to studying when she has time. It's better to actually schedule time for study and even designate a special study area for this purpose. The campus library is often a good place to study.

Studying is more than just completing homework. It includes reading texts, writing papers, and reviewing notes taken in class. A good rule of thumb when scheduling study time is to spend about three times credit hours. In other words, if one class is three credit hours, the student should schedule nine hours a week to study.

It's also good for a student to learn her best ways to study. For example, if she finds that she retains more information when she studies in the morning compared to studying at night, it would make more sense to schedule most of her study time for the morning.

Take Notes in Class and Review Them Regularly

Taking notes in class is just one way for a student to reinforce what he's learned. But if he needs to learn facts from the lecture that will be translated into possible test information, he should review his notes regularly.

How often is "regularly"? If reviewing his notes once a week ensures that he remembers most of the pertinent information, then it is enough. But some students feel more assured if they go over their notes every other day. As long as the student feels that the amount of time is well spent and helps him retain most of the information, the time he has spent is adequate.

Struggling in College? Things to Do

If a student is having a hard time with class, she shouldn't just throw her hands in the air and give up. First, she should recognize that she is struggling and seek help. There are many different places she can find help.

The first person she should speak with is the professor of the class she's having problems with. Many times, the instructor can offer valuable insight into the class, telling the student areas to focus on or he can even answer any questions she has. She can also ask the school for a tutor. Most colleges offer tutorial services at no cost to students. She can also join study groups or join tutoring labs that offer assistance to struggling students in particular courses. She can even ask her fellow students if they'd like to form their own study group.

Whatever the case, she should realize she's not alone. Once she knows she needs help, she needs to find it. Getting that help can be the difference between success and failure.

Students Should Talk Regularly With Advisor

An advisor is available for a student at more times other than just when choosing classes. If a student finds he's having a hard time semester after semester, he might want to talk with his advisor about class loads. Maybe one less class a semester – while it might add another semester to his overall school time - could be the difference between so-so and superior grades.

An advisor can also give a student advice about learning styles. A student should discover what methods work best for him - for example,In a large lecture class or in a more intimate setting? The answers to these questions should tell him what kind of classes to focus on taking when possible.

Advisors can also help students stay on track when they find that they're losing their focus. And if a student finds he learns better from one professor than another, he might be able to talk with his advisor to find out why. Not all instructors teach the same way, just as students all learn differently. If a student can discover a specific teaching style that works best for him, he'll want to find out what it is and stay in those kinds of classes when possible.

Success in College is Not Impossible

Believe it or not, sometimes students get so stressed that they can't concentrate and can't learn information when they study. Sometimes it's just as important to relax as it is to study hard. Students should schedule in play time along with time to study. Rest is important, as is spending time with friends and simply enjoying life.

Success in college is attainable, though, and if students just take a little time preparing to excel, they can. By scheduling study time, taking notes and regularly reviewing them, recognizing when they're struggling, touching base with their advisor, and resting regularly, students can set themselves up for success.
Procrastination, or putting off work until the last minute, is a problem for most college students at least some of the time. Even the most motivated students sometimes lose focus and procrastinate, which inevitably leads to all-night study sessions, poor grades, and a whole lot of stress.

So what's the best way to avoid procrastinating in college? Different strategies work for different people. Here are a few strategies for avoiding procrastination for students to experiment with until they figure out what works best for them individually.

Time Management: Make a Study Calendar

For some students, the best way to avoid procrastination is to make a detailed calendar of what needs to be accomplished, and when. These kinds of calendars can be made for a whole semester, or for a busy week, or for a long night. Many students find that it's worth the time to spend a half an hour at the beginning of the studying process mapping out a detailed schedule that sets aside specific chunks of time to accomplish the tasks at hand.

When creating a study calendar, keep several tips in mind:

Make sure enough time is allotted for each project. Work in "buffer" time if possible to make sure there's time for everything.
If necessary, prioritize. Allot more work to more important projects.
Work in study breaks to keep from going crazy. With no breaks, the urge to procrastinate may be stronger.
Don't forget to schedule other obligations, like work and student activities.
Identify Individual Procrastination Traps

Everyone has a different activity they choose to do instead of work. Some of these activities might actually be helpful in another context, like working out, cleaning, or paying bills. Other procrastination habits are less helpful, like eating junk food or watching reality TV. Once a student identifies his or her procrastination traps, it's a little easier to steer clear of these. A TV junkie might find it useful to go study in the library where there's no TV available. A cleaning junkie might get all the cleaning done first so there's nothing left to do