It’s that time of year again, the end of summer is near and the beginning of school is here. Over the past several years, we have provided helpful tips and information about how to achieve success while in school. In this article we will share our best tips for back to school success.
Talk to Your Professors
The saying is true, “communication is key”. One of the best ways to achieve success is to talk to your professors. They provide office hours, phone numbers and emails so their students can discuss questions related to class. When meeting with your professor, be sure you have a purpose. If you have questions regarding your grade, make sure you know their policy before asking questions. If you have questions about class materials, write those down before your meeting. Most importantly, do not be afraid to meet with them, they are there to help you. If you cannot make their office hours, be sure to email them requesting a different time. To learn more, check out Talking to Your College Professors.
Balance
First, acknowledge that life will change once classes begin. You will have to learn how to adjust your daily schedule with classes, projects, work and family. Once you realize that, then you can figure out to how balance your priorities. Consider finding ways to create study groups where you also work on projects, block certain times to spend with your family and be sure to communicate to your employer/supervisor that you are taking classes. Check out Balancing Life, Work and Graduate School for additional information.
Institutional Resources
Take advantage of the resources your college offers. There are tutoring services, writing centers, libraries and other academic services that you can take advantage of. You can look for resources on your college’s website, as well as asking your professors. When using writing centers, the services are often complimentary. In additional to institutional resources, you can also reach out to Teacher Assistants (TA) for help if needed.
Budget
We can all agree, college is not cheap therefore a budget is necessary. Even if you have help from scholarships, grants or loans, there will still be other items that are needed. Consider budgeting your living costs, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, food and other necessities. If you have to pay for books out of pocket, be sure to shop around for the best prices and consider renting them. Along with renting books, you can take advantage of student discounts! There are many retailers that offer discounts for college students on various items such as laptops and software.