College can be a worrisome and challenging experience for students. The pressures of new classes, new teachers, new social situations, and living away from home are extremely overwhelming. Students can make college an enjoyable and manageable experience by developing a few skills essential to college survival.
Reading Skills
An enormous amount of college work consists of reading and reading comprehension. A key element in reading effectively is to clear the mind of all distractions, paying close attention to what is being read. Students should look at the title of the passage, look at any subheadings, study any diagrams or illustrations, and quickly skim over the passage before reading it in its entirety. Following these steps gives students a general idea of what the passage is about. After reading the entire passage, students should ask themselves three questions: What is the main idea of the passage? What kind of writing is the passage? What was the author's purpose for writing the passage? Asking the preceding questions enables students to understand and remember what they read more proficiently.
Note-Taking Skills
Taking lecture notes is very important since they reflect what the instructor thinks, in addition to identifying the material that will be on exams. Class assignments are also given during lecture. Before lecture, students should become familiar with the material that will be presented. Look at the course syllabus and review any notes from the last class. Listen carefully to the instructor, attempting to identify any transitional words, such as "therefore", "finally", and "furthermore." Transitional words usually signal an important idea. Students should be open-minded and should not mentally argue with the instructor. Mental disagreement with an instructor causes the student to become distracted. After class, notes should be revised as soon as possible, coordinating textbook notes with lecture notes. Review the notes at least once a week and always review previous lecture notes before the next lecture.
Study Skills
Effective study skills can be difficult to develop because, in actuality, most people don't like to study. Unfortunately, that approach won't lead to a successful college experience. Studying can be made easier with a few simple tips. Estimate the study time needed for each class, which is usually two hours for every one-hour of class time. Students should study at their most alert times, enabling them to stay focused. To reduce procrastination, the most difficult subjects should be studied first. Students shouldn't over study and they should reward themselves for good study habits. Most importantly, students should take control of their study environment. Studying in a familiar, comfortable place makes study time more enjoyable. Remove all distractions by taking the phone off the hook, turning off the television and any music, and blocking out family/friends. Finally, find a comfortable spot, relax, and hit the books!
Test-Taking Skills
Taking tests can be stressful and frustrating for students. A few basic test-taking skills can make students more confident in their abilities to pass tests. Arrive a few minutes early for a test and always bring a pen and pencil. Read directions carefully and skim over the entire test before beginning. Students should answer the questions they know first and then go back to the others. Most importantly, use all of the allotted time and review answers thoroughly.
Stress Management
Learning to manage stress is very important in college. The pressures of maintaining good grades and keeping assignment deadlines can be agonizing. College students should get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, exercise, avoid drugs and alcohol, schedule fun activities, and manage their time efficiently to avoid stress. Managing stress produces a more relaxing, productive college experience.
Time Management
With students' hectic schedules consisting of classes, work, social obligations, and family obligations, twenty-four hours isn't enough time in one day. Poor time management can lead to academic failure. The key to effective time management is learning to balance an academic life with a social life. The best way to do this is to create a schedule and follow it as closely as possible. Students should list all of their academic priorities first and then plan their social activities around those priorities. They should make it clear to family and friends that their academic goals are important and require extra attention, but they should also make time for family and friends so that they won't feel alienated. Making time for family, friends, and fun relieves stress, making academic pressures much easier to deal with. Develop a plan and try not to deviate from it!
Although developing these skills won't guarantee success in college, they can make college seem less demanding. The combination of academic and social skill development produces successful college graduates who become productive members of society.