College Success Skills: Online Resources

Successful people succeed by setting goals and working to achieve those goals.  In other words, successful people plan to succeed.  You, too, can plan to succeed.  Don’t procrastinate.  Start planning for success today!

1.  Organization – Getting organized is the first step to success.

• Remember that you are responsible for knowing about and completing your assignments and special projects.
• Use a calendar or to do list to write down your homework, extracurricular activities, community activities and home responsibilities.
• Make sure you have all the materials you need when you go to class and when you do your homework.

2. Time Management – Managing time wisely will help ensure that you have the opportunity to do both the things you need to do and the things you want to do.

• Plan a definite time to do your homework.
• Plan time for extracurricular and social activities as well as home responsibilities
• Commit yourself to your time plan, but be flexible.  For example, if something happens that makes it impossible for you to do homework during the regularly scheduled time, plan an alternate time to do the homework.

3. Set priorities – If you have lots to do, it is important to set priorities

• Rank each task in 1,2,3 order. Start with #1 – the most important task – and continue on down the list.
• Start with the subject in which you need the most improvement when doing homework.
• Check off finished tasks
• Prioritize your optional activities.  If you frequently find that you cannot finish all the tasks on your list, you may need to eliminate activities that are low on your priority list.

4. Set goals – Just wishing to get better grades or to excel in soccer accomplishes nothing.  You need a plan of action to achieve your goals.  Setting goals will result in better grades and high self-esteem.  Best of all, setting goals will make you feel in control of your life.

• Be specific. List specific goals for each academic subject. Also list goals for other school and home activities.
• Set time limits.  Your goals can be both short-term (within a month or on the next quiz or test) and long-term (within the semester or within the school year).
• Set realistic goals. For example, if math has always been difficult for you, don’t aim for an “A” in Algebra at the beginning of the year.  If you usually get a “C-“ in math, you may want to begin by setting a short term goal of “C+” or “B-“. Reaching that first short-term goal will give you the confidence to raise your goal for the next test or the next grading period.
• Draw up a step-by step plan of action for reaching each goal. Then go for it!
• Write your goals down, and put them in several places (on your refrigerator, by your computer, on your bathroom mirror), so you will see them several times a day.
• Share your goals with others – your parents, teachers, good friends, etc.  They can give you encouragement.
• Keep at it! Be determined, and keep a positive attitude.  Visualize yourself achieving your goals.
• Reward yourself when you reach a goal.

Reproduced with permission of the Tarrant County College Libraries.  http://libguides.tccd.edu/STSC/TimeManagement

• Use a planner. 
  • Use your planner to keep track of important school, work, and home tasks and appointments such as:
    • due dates for assignments
    • special class meetings (different locations?)
    • other important information related to class deadlines
    • study group meetings
    • tutoring appointments
    • work schedule
    • other appointments
  • Paper planners work well for some students, and are available in a variety of styles. 
  • Electronic planners are also popular.  Choose the type of calendar with which you're most comfortable.
  • Whatever style you select, track work, school and personal commitments in one place, that will allow you to see your whole schedule at a glance, and help you to balance your obligations.
  • At the beginning of the semester, once your schedule is set, schedule all of your class meetings in your planner.
    • Also schedule time for study, homework and review.  Follow the guidelines above to make sure you schedule adequate time for all of your classes.

• What to do in your "out of class" time
  • First, review your class notes from the most recent class.
  • Edit your class notes.
    • Make sure they are organized.
    • Fill in missing information.
    • Check the information you took down in class against your text or other materials to make sure you understand it.
  • Then, do any assigned work.
  • Weekly, for each class, schedule a longer cumulative review (at least one hour) of all the material that has been covered to date.
  • For a semester long project, budget time each week to work on it.

How much time do I need to devote to school?

• You should be prepared to spend at least 2 hours outside of class for every 1 hour in class.  For a 3 credit hour college level class, you would allow a minimum of 7.5 hours per week when adding classroom time to homework/study time.  For a 1 credit hour college level class, you would allow a minimum of 3.5 hours per week when adding classroom time to study time.  Some weeks will require more time; some will require less.

With thanks to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, here's a very useful weekly planner that you can print and use this semester!