Tips to a successful semester

It's that time of year again, when it's time for everyone to start school again. Every school year or semester is different, therefore you must do different things to survive if you begin to struggle.



Here is some advice based on my experience that may help you...

• Take plenty of notes, if you are allowed to use a laptop in class use that (you'll remember more info that way). Chapter outlines from the textbook website can help you with note taking.
• If you miss class, ask someone in your class or send a mass e-mail to  your class mates asking for a copy of their notes to study with, or you can post your notes to a web site (where ever you're hosting them) and share them with your class. Use this to start a study group.
• If your school offers free tutoring, use it. Sometimes the tutors explain what you're having the problem with better than the instructors. You can also ask your instructors for help as well.
• Go to class. Some classes don't take attendance and some students will take advantage of that, then pay for it when they accidentally miss a quiz or an exam.
• If you are taking an online class, although you don't have to go to a physical class room, it's double the work. You will usually have deadlines and a semester cut-off date (no homework, projects or exams are excepted after this date). Don't wait until 1-2 weeks before the cut-off date to start doing your work. You should pace your self, for example, if you have to do work based on a 12 chapter book, spend 1-1.5 weeks focusing on one chapter at a time, that way you can meet all of your deadlines on time and will have completed all of your work before the cut-off date.
• When book buy-back comes around, keep the books based on your major. For example, if you're majoring in computer science, you would keep all of your computer books as a references and get rid of the other books that you don't need. Believe me, I've had to go back and purchase books that I wish I didn't sell back. Don't let anyone borrow or steal your books.
• Most importantly, pick a good time during the day/night to study. Study at least 30 min - 1 hr a day, and increase the time when preparing for an exam. Practice exams are good for studying as well.
• If you're stressed out because you have a lot on your plate, or you're not doing so good in one of your courses, go ahead and withdraw from that course while it's still an automatic W (before it becomes an WP or WF). That way, you shouldn't have any problems with financial aid if you're getting it (based on your school); Be sure to talk to someone in your financial aid office about their policy on withdrawals.

As promised, some useful tips and advice. Although this guide is primarily aimed at college students, high school students can use these tips too.