Be A Better Student: 9 Habits for Success In School
It’s important to make the most of your college experience. These four years are a unique time in your life. You’re no longer living under the watchful eye of mom and dad, but you’re not quite on your own yet. It’s easy to get distracted by your newfound freedom and the exciting step toward independence. Some students forget that they’re at school to get an education and have trouble staying on track. Here are some habits that will help you reach your full potential and guide you toward a successful college experience.
You can download a list of the 8 most scientifically proven habits for success in college in WeDo to keep track of everyday with List Code: SUCCESS
Go to class
And take notes. As the term progresses, it gets easier and easier to justify skipping lecture. Resist the temptation. If you go to your three-hour lecture and only write down one sentence of information, that’s one sentence more than the person who hit snooze on their alarm. Save any absences for real reasons (sickness, personal emergency, appointments). “I was binge watching Friends for the third time until 3-am” is not a real reason to miss your morning lecture.
Get to know your TAs
TAs want to see you succeed. Don’t wait until right before the midterm or final to start going to office hours, that’s when everyone goes. Start attending in the first few weeks of the term and get on your TA’s radar. If your TA is submitting final grades and can match your name to your face, chances are, they’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Ask them to clarify lecture material or help you develop your essay thesis. TAs are a great resource because they know the tips and tricks of the class.
Study smart, not hard
Study throughout the term, not just for exams. A great way to do this is to take notes consciously: Ask yourself “Could I be tested on this?” “Is this a theme that could be connected to other parts of the class?” “Is this formula something I’ll need to memorize or will it be provided?” Conscious note-taking is like making a study guide as you go along. Find a method of note-taking that works for you and Finals-Week-You will thank Week-Three-You.
Commit to staying focused, then reward yourself
Mom isn’t around anymore to withhold the wifi password or hide the remote until you finish your homework. It’s up to you to stay on track. Keep in mind: A two-hour study session with no distractions (texts, social media) is substantially more effective than a six-hour study session in which you pick up your phone after every page you read or problem you solve. Maybe this means you get a 10 minute Facebook break every 50 pages you read or one episode of The Office at the end of a solid study period.
Make friends
You don’t need to be in each others’ Instagram posts or hanging out every weekend, that’s optional. Introduce yourself to other students and exchange numbers. Study together, struggle together, help each other out. When the final rolls around, you can meet up to compare notes and discuss what might be on the test. Talking through information will help you both get more comfortable with the material. You’ll feel better with the camaraderie and they might help you understand something you didn’t before.
Sleep and eat
This one doesn’t need much explanation. Just do it. You learn better when you feel better. Get in the good habit of prioritizing good sleeping and eating. Every. Single. Day.
Find a stress relief
Whether it be playing intramural soccer, going for a run around campus, or taking a book to the beach, set aside time for yourself to do something each week that has nothing to do with school or work. Don’t feel bad about clearing your head and taking time to recharge yourself. Breaks are good for your mental health and productivity. Find something that makes you feel happy.
Set boundaries
It’s okay to say “No” to your roommates on Wine Wednesday when you have an in-class midterm on Thursday. Think about the bigger picture and why you’re paying thousands of dollars. While the “college experience” is important, Wednesday will come again. Check your priorities and make decisions based off of that. There will be another party, but there won’t be a way to makeup your test.
Get organized
Review your schedule at the beginning of the week. Get familiar with all of your classes, assignments, and exams, then prioritize your to-do list. Break up bigger projects and think about how to best manage your time and resources. Use a planner! Better yet, use WeDo! Save everything you need to do in one convenient place. WeDo even has a daily quote to keep you motivated to succeed!
Already have WeDo? Enter this list code to save for later: SUCCESS
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