Prioritize Academic Success

Do the work: 1 hour of class = 2 hours of studying

Developing good study strategies and habits is essential to academic success. A good rule of thumb to follow is that you should spend at least two hours studying for every hour you spent in class, some classes will require even more. College is all about learning, if you cut corners and don’t do the prep and practice every day you will end up cramming for your tests and cramming isn’t learning.

 

• Here are three quick rules that will help you be successful: 

o Prep: Do your homework and readings before attending every class.

o Practice: Review materials after class when they are fresh in your head. Even if a homework assignment is optional, do it. Homework is practice before the big test. Know how to study, with who, where, when, and how often. To figure out what works best for you, visit: http://www.howtostudy.org. The site offers a number of different tools and assessments to help you determine your best study environment, how to organize and prepare for studying, and a number of different study strategies to try out.  

• It may also help to learn more about your preferred learning styles. The VARK Questionnaire can help you identify the ways that you learn best and strategies that fit your preferred learning styles: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

o Participate: Ask questions in class, be interested in the topic, answer questions when your instructors ask them. A great way to stay focused during class is to sit in the “learning T.” The learning T is the front row and the seats straight down the center of the room. If you sit here your instructor can see you and you will naturally be a part of discussions and lecture.