Most college freshmen are surprised by both the length of their out of class assignments and the quality of work they are expected to produce. In fact, most freshmen will tell you that the adjustment to college academics is significantly more difficult than the social adjustment. The time it takes to adjust to life in a college classroom can be shortened considerably if you'll take the ten suggestions below seriously. 1. Whatever you do, don't start cutting classes. There is no better way to ensure your failure. 2. There are no days off. Don't get behind. Don't procrastinate. Never. Catching up in high school may be fairly easy; that's not so in college. 3. When in class, listen actively to your instructor and take good notes. Highlight points of emphasis and subject matter most likely to appear on exams. 4. Never let a day end with unanswered questions in your mind. Visit with your instructor, talk with a classmate, review your text, get help in the learning center, or do whatever else it takes to be sure you understand your coursework. Unanswered questions will come back to bite you in a place that will make sitting painful. 5. Put together a semester long calendar which lists the dates your papers are due and the dates on which your examinations are scheduled to take place. Then, pencil in the dates on which you will review for exams and prepare your papers, while not giving you too much to do during any one week. Careful planning can really help take the pressure off. 6. Never do a reading assignment without having a highlighter handy. The better you highlight when reading, the more efficiently and quickly you will be able to review later. 7. Your exams can tell you a lot about your instructor and what to expect on future exams. Review and analyze them. 8. Talk to students who have taken courses with your instructors. They can often provide valuable insight. I'll never forget how much I was helped by a student a year ahead of me who told me that my Western Civilization professor asked at least one question about the church on every exam and often focused on Popes and timelines. 9. Study groups can be very helpful, especially in courses you are likely to find difficult. Join them if they exist. Start them if they do not. 10. In college, faculty (especially good faculty) continually challenge students; it's a big part of the learning process. Don't get ulcers worrying about it, and don't despair if you occasionally get blown out of the sky by faculty (or other students). But, be prepared to defend your statements, particularly those you make on exams and papers. Expect to have classes which vary in difficulty and instructors with different levels of commitment and teaching ability. Regardless of those and other factors which may be beyond your ability to control, if you work diligently, manage your time well, and stick with the ten basics above, you should do just fine.
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Most college freshmen are surprised by both the length of their out of class assignments and the quality of work they are expected to produce. In fact, most freshmen will tell you that the adjustment to college academics is significantly more difficult than the social adjustment.
Educator Daniel Z. Kane has developed websites on scholarships, college admission, financial aid, online degrees, and online colleges. This and other unique content education articles are available with free reprint rights.
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