The Best Tips for Being a Successful College Student

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Students studying

Going to college is the first step you will make towards building a successful career. It is a trying time, but in the end, it will be an experience to remember. Here are some tips to ensure that you have as much success as possible during your studies.

Know your learning style

By the time you have reached college, everyone assumes that you have already “learned to learn”. This means that you have had enough experience in learning new things, studying, and revising for tests, that you know what the most efficient way for you to retain knowledge is. However, that may not necessarily be the case. There are many freshmen who actually have no idea how to systematically organize information and memorize everything they learn in classes. You probably know that there are different learning styles a person could lean towards, like auditory, visual, reading and writing, and kinesthetic, but most people benefit from mixing all the styles, depending on the subject matter. Try to be more mindful of your learning, and think about the methods you use that guarantee success. 

Attend classes regularly and take notes

You may think that having optional classes where attendance is not obligatory is a blessing, but we are here to tell you that this is more of a double-edged sword. Firstly, professors cover most of the material during lectures, so it is more helpful to have someone immediately explain the subject matter to you, and clarify some questions that might come up during the lecture, rather than you having to ask for clarification right before the exam. You risk being left to fend for yourself, especially if you do not have a classmate who is willing to help you. Secondly, taking notes during lectures will ensure that your first encounter with the syllabus is not when you finally sit down to revise for an exam, but that the topics covered in class are more or less familiar to you.

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Organize your study time

One of the biggest student “ailments” is definitely – procrastination. Somewhat unavoidable, leaving everything to the last minute is something you have to fight against with all your might. It may seem tempting to postpone starting that assignment you got at the beginning of the semester, and leaving it for later. However, you have to bear in mind that you will get countless more assignments, unfortunately. Organize your time – that means finding time to revise, do homework, and finish assignments. It may sound ridiculous, but procrastinating is a great source of stress, and it can trigger a chain of mental health issues, and you best avoid that. Consider taking MBA distance learning for more flexible schedules and convenience.

Keep yourself motivated

In time, you may inevitably lose motivation for your major, since after a while, all the exams, lectures, assignments, and expectations do drain a person. Luckily, you can always choose interesting minors that will keep you motivated for academia. On the other hand, even if you choose to take a gap year, or change majors, there are a lot of great options nowadays, even high-quality online courses. If you choose to finish your degree in Australia, there are a lot of great opportunities for remote learning, for example the best online MBA in Australia, which allows you to both get your degree and work a full-time job at the same time. The choice is yours. 

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Take on extra activities or volunteer to build your resume

Volunteering and extra-curricular activities are another great way to acquire necessary skills, and it will keep you motivated to work towards fulfilling your goal. Not to mention that volunteering is a great thing to have on your resume, and in some universities, it may even bring you extra credit. Employers prefer candidates who worked on improving their skills outside of classes, so extra activities are also an important addition to your CV. You may even be surprised, but even participating in sports activities will benefit you when you start looking for a job one day.

Maintain a healthy social life

Besides being conscientious at school, there are other ways you can be successful during your studies. Remember, grades are one thing, but you also need to think about other aspects of life if you want to maintain balance. Your college years will be among the best years of your life, and you will never have as much freedom as in your early 20’s, so make good use of this time. Meet new people, experiment, go have fun, travel, and live life to the fullest.

Keeping yourself motivated and active, while properly organizing your time will help you have the best possible experience in college. Study hard, attend classes and have fun along the way, and you will have nothing to worry about what so ever.