by Matthew Huddleston

Created on: June 29, 2009

Being prepared for the transition from high school academics to college academics is a constant clarion call from teachers, counselors, parents, and even your friends already in college. Still, many college freshmen may seem initially overwhelmed by the rigors of college academics. This can be the case whether you are attending a private university or a local junior college; whether you are living at home or in a rowdy dorm. College courses are, by design, differently challenging than the typical high school courses. No more of all the seemingly meaningless busy work that filled the hours of daily classes and provided some easy buffer for your grades. Most college course grades include a mid-term exam, a final exam, and a course project. How you perform on those three assignments determine your grade for the course. At first, it may seem that very little of the standard procedures you learned in high school apply directly to the collegiate academic environment. In fact, you will find that much of what you need to know to succeed in college, you learned in high school.

1. Set Your Schedule: High school academics included the monotonous six class periods per day (maybe only three or four if you attended a block schedule school). You yearn for the freedom of setting a class schedule that reflects your new, more independent status. This is the first trap that snares college neophytes. Scattering classes haphazardly across the schedule can create unnecessary confusion. Instead, take a cue from the seeming monotony of public education. Scheduling your classes in tight blocks throughout the week keeps you focused on academics and provides larger out of class blocks for reading, writing and studying. Most colleges set classes to run for Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays. By loading one set or the other, you have one set of heavy class days, and one set of light class days. This helps create a rhythm to your week without the monotony of the same class schedule each day. Also, unless you have a late night job, sign up for those early weekday classes. Not only will they be more available during registration, morning classes allow you to start each day fresh and early, and force you to remain focused on academics throughout the week.

2. Bring Materials to Class: Just like in high school, be prepared for class. Have your pencil sharpened and note paper ready. Know which book the instructor will be referring to in class. Carry

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