I will immediately start taking these steps to ensure I succeed in my classes:

I have not used my time as well as I might because I’ve been doing the following:

To ensure I do well in all my classes, I will now begin to focus on

My grades generally suffer when I

Here’s what I will begin doing now in my classes to fully use all steps of the process:

In the coming weeks, I will check online or in person for information about these offices that may be able to help me succeed:

I have not paid much attention to these available resources on my campus:

To pay closer attention, I will try the following:

When I’m bored in a large lecture hall, I frequently do this:

I will begin working to strengthen my learning through these other styles:

This is my preferred learning style:

In the past, I have paid too little attention to these steps of the learning process:

Here’s what I’ll do to stay focused in my first year:

The most likely problems I’ll have (as a traditional or returning student) transitioning to college are

may have to put these values on hold while in college:

My personal values most closely related to a college education are

Here’s what I’ll do to be more positive:

My most negative attitude toward college is

Visit your college’s Web site and spend at least thirty minutes exploring available resources. Usually there is a section called “Students” or “Present Students” or “Student Resources” or something similar—apart from all the other information for prospective future students, parents, faculty, courses, and so on. Jot down some of the topics here that you might want to consult again in the future if you were to experience a problem involving money, personal health, academic success, emotional health, social problems, discrimination, or other issues.

Based on this evaluation, what aspects of college learning might you want to give more attention to? (Refer to Chapter 1 “You and Your College Experience”, Section 1.3 “How You Learn” for ideas to think about.)

What are your two weakest “intelligence types”?

What are your two strongest “intelligence types”?

Get to know my instructors and other students in the class right away

Check the class syllabus for important assignments and exam dates and begin scheduling study periods well ahead of time

Check out tutoring services only as a last resort at the end of the term if I’m in danger of failing

Take it easy my first year in college, not worrying about grades, to avoid burnout

To save time, go first to a friendly instructor to learn about any resources the college may have to help me

Take as many online courses as I can so that I can sleep late and get help from friends doing online assignments

Talk to other students to find out what classes and instructors are easiest to keep my GPA up

If I read too slowly, look for a CliffsNotes summary of the reading so I don’t lose time reading whole textbook chapters

Prepare for each class every day

Pay very close attention in class so that I don’t have to be concerned with reviewing the course material later

Make good friendships and interact with a wide range of people on campus

Sit in the back row where I won’t be noticed or get asked a question I might not be able to answer

Be sure to tell all my instructors what I think they want to hear, not what I might really think

Form study groups with other students different from me so I can take advantage of how they learn as well

Talk to my advisor so that I take only those classes where the teacher’s style matches my own learning style

Give up everything else in life while in college

Adopt a positive attitude and work on staying motivated to succeed

Attend classes when I think something important will be said and I can’t find someone to borrow class notes from

Manage my time well so that I have enough time to study and start on assignments well ahead of the due dates

Decide immediately what I want to major in and never change my mind as I move forward through my courses

Approach classes and homework exactly as I did in high school

View college as a vital experience preparing me for the rest of my life

Where on campus would you first go for help choosing your courses for next term?

Use your imagination and describe three different actions that would violate of your college’s academic honesty policy.

List three things a college student should be good at in order to succeed in an online course.

In a large lecture hall, if you sit near the back and pretend to listen, you can write e-mails or send text messages without your instructor noticing.

If your instructor in a large lecture class is boring, there’s nothing you can do except to try to stay awake and hope you never have him or her for another class.

They know how to speed-read so they don’t have to underline or highlight in their textbooks.

They know how to stay motivated.

Are you a “traditional” or “returning” student? List an important advantage you have as a result of being in this classification:

Participating in class is a key to being successful in that class.

Meeting other students in your classes is important early on because you can skip classes once you arrange to borrow other people’s notes

Understanding one’s own learning style makes it easier to understand how to apply one’s strengths when studying and to overcome obstacles to learning by adapting in other ways.

A positive attitude about yourself as a college student helps you stay motivated to work on succeeding in your classes.

The best way to get help with a class is to pick whoever looks like the smartest student in class and offer to pay that person for tutoring.

See your academic advisor only when it’s time to register for courses or when the college requires you to.

Because college classes are usually more difficult than high school classes, figure—purely as a starting point—that with the same effort, your college GPA could be a full point (or more) lower than your high school GPA. Does that give you any cause for concern? If so, what do you think you should work on most to ensure you succeed in college?

What was your cumulative GPA in high school?

In your college or your specific program, do you need to maintain a minimum GPA in order to continue in the program? (If you don’t know, check your college catalog or Web site.) What is that minimum GPA?

Adapt your style or study with other students.

For the activity above, list at least two strategies you can use to improve your learning effectiveness when in that situation next time.

Name a type of learning experience you may have difficulty with.

Name an activity from which you generally learn very well.

How would you describe your personal learning style?

Listen carefully to what your instructor says.

Review your class notes to make sure you understand.

Take effective notes.

Prepare for today’s class by looking over your notes on the reading you did for today.

Most college graduates later look back on their college years as one of the best times in their lives.

To do well in college, you basically have to give up everything else in life for a while.

If you sit back, wait patiently, and stick it out long enough, success in college will inevitably come to you.

Attitude is one of the most important factors affecting college success.

Life in college usually differs in many ways from one’s previous life in high school or in the workforce. What are the biggest changes you are experiencing now or anticipate experiencing this term?

What do you value that will you likely have less time or money to spend on while in college?

What do you value that will be richer in your future life because you will have a college education?

All of the above

Look back at the values you rated highly (4 or 5) in Activity 2, which probably give a good indication of how you enjoy spending your time. But now look at these things you value in a different way. Think about how each relates to how you think you need to manage your time effectively while in college. Most college students feel they don’t have enough time for everything they like to do. Do some of the activities you value most contribute to your college experience, or will they distract you from being a good student?

Other:

Other:

Participating in clubs, organized activities

Going to parties

Talking on the telephone, texting, e-mail

Going to religious services

Attending classes

Cleaning house

Volunteering your time for a good cause

Setting your own schedule

Engaging in your hobbies

Having a positive romantic relationship

Being your own boss

Exercising, being physically active

Eating nice meals out

Going to movies or entertainments

Meeting new people

Looking good, personal hygiene

Working your job

Getting out in nature

Enjoying time alone

Watching television

Having nice clothing

Studying and reading textbooks

Being liked by others

Shopping

Traveling to new places

Reading a good book

Sleeping

Online social networking

Cooking

Playing computer or video games

Playing sports

Staying current with the news

Having intelligent conversations

Having a nice car

Learning new things about your interests

Having good friends

Making a good income

5

5

Were you able to easily answer the questions in Activity 1? How confident do you feel about your plan?

re you confident you will be able to overcome any possible difficulties in completing college?

What do you anticipate will be the most difficult part of completing college?

How many courses will you need to take per term to finish college in your planned time period?

ow long do you anticipate being in college?