Succeeding in College (2024)

Succeeding in College

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Just as in elementary school through high school, your success in college requires high motivation and effort, strong study skills, effective time management, and good test-taking strategies. These areas are covered in other screens here at www.how-to-study.com. But college success requires much more. Once you move from high school to college, you will generally find that students are more motivated and competent than in high school; teachers are more demanding; the work is more difficult; and students are expected to be independent. Further, if you are living away from home for the first time, you will have many new experiences.

Here are some ideas that will help you succeed in college:


Have Clear Goals

College success requires commitment and a lot of hard work. You must be very certain about the importance of a college education.

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  • Be clear about why you are going to college.
  • Establish specific goals you wish to accomplish.
  • Know what it will take to reach these goals.
  • Be certain your goals are consistent with your interests and abilities.
  • Be flexible - change your goals if needed based on your experience as you progress through college.

Get Financial Aid if Needed

College is expensive. Even if you attend a public college or university and live at home, you still must pay for tuition, fees, and books. There are many sources of financial aid that can help you meet the high costs of college. Become aware of and pursue these sources.

  • Consider all possible sources of financial aid in addition to your college's financial aid office.
  • Meet all deadlines for submitting applications and documentation.
  • Respond quickly and completely to all requests for additional information.
  • Be persistent in following up your application.
  • If you do receive financial aid, meet all requirements to keep and continue your aid.

Manage Your Money

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  • There are many ways to spend money in the college setting for other than education purposes. Take steps to ensure that you do not waste the money set aside for your college education.
  • Set a budget and keep to it.
  • Be careful about your use of credit cards. Don't overspend. Pay balances promptly to avoid high interest costs.
  • Open a checking account and carefully monitor your balance.
  • Keep your cell phone under control. Those minutes and fees can really add up.

Stay Physically and Emotionally Healthy

You will need to be at your best to succeed in college. This means taking care of your body and maintaining a good frame of mind.

  • Get enough sleep.
  • Don't rely on coffee and drinks that contain high doses of caffeine to provide you with energy. Foods such as pasta, peanut butter, non-sugar cereals, and fresh fruit are healthy alternatives to provide the energy you need.
  • Avoid junk foods. Fast food is convenient but usually not good for you.
  • Use the services of the student health office. These services typically include emergency treatment, low cost examinations, and low cost or free medication.
  • Use the services of the counseling office. The professionals there can help you overcome feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

Choose a Professor Carefully

In college you get to select your schedule of classes. Most classes offer more than one section so that you can choose not just the day and time but the professor who is teaching that section. Often you will find student ratings of professors on the Internet. You can get even more feedback by talking to other students. Try to choose a professor who demonstrates the following characteristics.

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  • Maintains adequate office hours.
  • Provides constructive feedback.
  • Adapts to different styles of learning.
  • Grades fairly.
  • Is highly competent in the subject being taught.
  • Establishes clear and reasonable requirements.
  • Provides a positive learning environment.

Work With Your Advisor

As a student you will be assigned a faculty advisor to help you with both academic and career issues. It is up to you to get the most out of this guidance.

  • Know your advisor's office location, schedule of office hours, and contact information.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor at any time you have problems that affect your academic performance.
  • Consider your advisor's ideas when selecting your major or at any time you are considering changing your major or career goals.
  • Have specific questions in mind whenever meeting with your advisor.

Make Good Use of the Library

You are going to spend a lot of your time in college at the library. Take full advantage of this major resource.

  • Get to know the resources of the library as soon as you get to college.
  • Learn to use its computer resources and card catalogs.
  • Make good use of its equipment such as copy machines, microfiche readers, production facilities, etc.
  • Check out its quiet study areas. Sign up for their use if required.

Get Involved in Campus Life

There is a lot more to college than just classes. A college campus is an exciting, dynamic environment that can provide you with many opportunities for enhancing your college experience.

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  • Join a student organization that is consistent with your interests. You will find many organizations from which to choose.
  • Join a club in your major. This cannot only help you in your studies but can provide contacts that may be very useful in your future career.
  • Join an intramural team. This is a great way to keep yourself in good physical shape and make new friends.
  • Attend social events. Your college experience should not be all work and no play.

Yes - success in college takes effort. But this effort will provide benefits to you throughout your life. The ideas presented above can help you to make your college experience a successful one.

Succeeding in College (2024)

FAQs

Succeeding in College? ›

Success in college means more opportunities and more successful life. Succeeding in college means respect, you are consider to be a knowledgeable person and you can provide benefit of your knowledge to your society.

Why is succeeding in college important? ›

Success in college means more opportunities and more successful life. Succeeding in college means respect, you are consider to be a knowledgeable person and you can provide benefit of your knowledge to your society.

What helps you succeed in college? ›

10 Tips on How to Be Successful in College
  • Attendance Is Key. Making every effort to go to class regularly is vital for academic success. ...
  • Actively Engage. ...
  • Put Your Best Foot Forward. ...
  • Stay Organized. ...
  • Time Management. ...
  • Study Effectively. ...
  • Take Advantage of School Resources. ...
  • Visit Your Academic Advisor Regularly.
Jun 21, 2022

What percentage of students succeed in college? ›

In 2020, the overall 6-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began seeking a bachelor's degree at 4-year degree-granting institutions in fall 2014 was 64 percent.

How important is college in life? ›

College can help you develop your personal and professional skills. College can offer students a lot more than just academic learning. In addition to providing an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in a chosen field, college can also be a great place to develop personal and professional skills.

What are the 3 things you need to be successful in college? ›

Recognizing your values, building SMART goals, and knowing your learning style can help put you on the path to success in college.

What skills do students need to be successful? ›

Seven Skills Students Need for Their Future
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving.
  • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence.
  • Agility and adaptability.
  • Initiative and entrepreneurialism.
  • Effective oral and written communication.
  • Accessing and analyzing information.
  • Curiosity and imagination.

How many people fail in college? ›

A shocking 70% of California's community college students fail to graduate or transfer. Learn about the catalysts of the failure and how campuses are trying to turn these dire statistics around.

Is it common for college students to fail? ›

Failing a class in college is common. At The Ohio State University, around 10% of undergraduates retake a failed class every year. That means more than 1 in 10 undergrads fail a class (since not every student repeats a failed class).

How many successful people dropped out of college? ›

This research emphasizes that the successful dropout entrepreneur is not a pervasive phenomenon. So, what percentage of college dropouts are successful? Based on these numbers, the college dropout success rate is only at around 6%.

What are 5 benefits of going to college? ›

10 Benefits of a College Degree
  • Earn more money, experience less unemployment. ...
  • Raise your voice! ...
  • Call the shots—be your own boss. ...
  • Transform your family tree. ...
  • Invest in and shape our democracy. ...
  • Never stop evolving. ...
  • Pay it forward. ...
  • Bring your ideas to fruition.
Feb 28, 2022

What makes college so hard? ›

Yes, college classes are typically harder than high school classes because the course work, topics, and depth of materials are more complex, set at a faster pace, and require more studying.

Does college lead to a happier life? ›

College-educated adults tend to live happier lives.

confidence, a better sense of independence, and stronger feelings of control over their lives. ⌘ College graduates tend to be more resilient and less depressed.

What are the 5 C's in college? ›

They comprise five undergraduate colleges (the 5Cs)—Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College (CMC), Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College—and two graduate schools—Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and Keck Graduate Institute (KGI).

What are the 5 C's of college choice? ›

With this in mind, the areas that may influence college choice tend to fall into five general categories: influence of family; influence of peers, institutional characteristics; institutional communication; and institutional fit.

What is the average age for college students? ›

College Enrollment by Age

In spring 2022 — the last time this data was made available — the average age of full-time undergraduate students was almost 23. Part-time, graduate, and professional studies students tend to be older than full-time undergraduates.

What is the biggest problem college students face? ›

Common Issues
  • Social anxiety, general anxiety, test anxiety, or panic attacks.
  • Family expectations or problems.
  • Depression, lack of energy or motivation, hopelessness, being overwhelmed, low self-esteem, homesickness, loneliness.
  • Relationship difficulties (emotional and physical aspects of intimate relationships)

How do you succeed in your first year of college? ›

How To Succeed in Your First Year of College
  1. Schedule blocks of time to get things done. Get yourself a planner that works for you and take time each week(end) to block out your schedule – class, study/homework time, meals, meetings, and free time.
  2. Make a to-do list. ...
  3. Plan ahead. ...
  4. Take care of yourself.

What are the 8 soft skills of successful students? ›

8 'Soft' Skills You Really Need to Land Your Dream Job
  • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving. ...
  • Attention to Detail. ...
  • Communication. ...
  • Ownership. ...
  • Leadership. ...
  • Interpersonal Skills. ...
  • Grit. ...
  • Curiosity.
Feb 17, 2017

What are the 7 important skills to be successful? ›

7 Skills Everyone (and We Mean Everyone) Needs to Succeed at Work
  • Effective Communication. ...
  • Organization and Management. ...
  • Negotiation. ...
  • Critical Thinking. ...
  • Teamwork and Delegation. ...
  • Research and Analysis. ...
  • Confidence.

What are the 7 study skills? ›

Active listening, reading comprehension, note taking, stress management, time management, testing taking, and memorization are only a few of the topics addressed in our study skills guides for students.

What year do most students fail? ›

You may be surprised to learn that many students fail academically in their first year of college. One-third of freshmen students don't make it to their sophom*ore year. That's a huge number, and it worries everyone concerned with higher education.

What major has the highest dropout rate? ›

These Are the 10 Degrees With the Highest Dropout Rates
  • Advertising: 8 percent 🔊
  • Journalism: 7.6 percent 📰
  • Art: 7.3 percent 🎨
  • Architecture: 7.2 percent 🏢
  • Engineering: 7 percent 🏗️
  • Biology: 6.8 percent🔬
  • Education: 6.6 percent 👨‍🏫
  • Medicine: 1.4 percent
May 29, 2023

Why do college freshmen fail? ›

A surprisingly large number of college freshmen have extremely poor time-management skills, which can lead to more time spent partying than studying, which is the main cause of failing tests. All of these are causes of the students ultimately flunking out of college.

Is my life ruined if I fail a class in college? ›

The failure will end up on your college transcripts and could hurt your chances of getting into graduate school or graduating when you originally planned to. Lastly, failing a class in college can be a bad thing simply because it makes you feel awkward, embarrassed, and unsure about your ability to succeed in college.

Which classes are failed the most in college? ›

End of dialog window.
  • College Algebra. The evil, despicable and terrible villain of early high school has come back to haunt you. ...
  • Organic Chemistry. The presence of this class on this list might not come as a surprise. ...
  • Physics. ...
  • Anatomy and Physiology.
Nov 11, 2017

Is it embarrassing to fail a class in college? ›

Failing a college class can be a difficult and stressful experience, but it's important not to be too harsh on yourself. Feeling disappointed, frustrated, or even embarrassed after failing a class is natural. Still, it's important to remember that failure is a part of the learning process.

Is Elon Musk a college dropout? ›

He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University. After two days, he dropped out and, with his brother Kimbal, co-founded the online city guide software company Zip2. In 1999, Zip2 was acquired by Compaq for $307 million and Musk co-founded X.com, a direct bank.

What is the leading cause of college dropouts? ›

While financial issues are probably the most common reason for dropping out of college, every student has their own reasons. Some unfortunately have family issues, a lack of support, or unexpected medical problems that are beyond their control.

Who is most likely to drop out of college? ›

Students aged between 24-29 are most likely to drop out of four-year colleges, as 52.5% of them have already left without a degree (What to Become, 2021). Only 30% of these dropouts re-enroll in college to finish their degree (EDI, 2021).

What percentage of students never finish college? ›

Graduation Rate

57% of students delay their four-year courses while 33% of them drop out (ThinkImpact, 2021). 36% of students from private universities graduate on time while 17% do in public or non-flagship colleges, (Admissionsly, 2021).

What percentage is failing in college? ›

You'll usually need to receive a letter grade between A and D to pass a class, often the numerical equivalent of 65 percent or higher. Receiving an F—which stands for “fail”—indicates that you did not pass the class. The cutoff to receive an F is usually 64 percent.

What percent of students struggle in college? ›

Academic Pressure

During the spring 2022 term, approximately 51% of surveyed students said that over the last 12 months they had problems or challenges with their academics. 89% of students who reported this issue also said these challenges caused them moderate or high levels of distress.

Do 69% of students say you don't need college to be successful? ›

In a new BestColleges survey of 1,000 current and prospective undergraduate and graduate students, 69% say they believe you can be successful without a college education. Instead, most students (74%) say college is just one option among many possible paths to success.

Why do most people drop out of college? ›

While financial issues are probably the most common reason for dropping out of college, every student has their own reasons. Some unfortunately have family issues, a lack of support, or unexpected medical problems that are beyond their control.

Why do college freshman fail? ›

A surprisingly large number of college freshmen have extremely poor time-management skills, which can lead to more time spent partying than studying, which is the main cause of failing tests. All of these are causes of the students ultimately flunking out of college.

What GPA is considered failing in college? ›

Undergraduate students need to have a minimum of 2.0 GPA while graduate students need a 3.0 GPA. While most universities use this standard grading system, each institution differs in the way they grade students as shown by varying GPAs.

What is the most common class to fail in college? ›

The 4 Most Commonly Failed College Classes
  • College Algebra. The evil, despicable and terrible villain of early high school has come back to haunt you. ...
  • Organic Chemistry. The presence of this class on this list might not come as a surprise. ...
  • Physics. ...
  • Anatomy and Physiology.
Nov 11, 2017

Do most people fail a college class? ›

You may be surprised to learn that many students fail academically in their first year of college. One-third of freshmen students don't make it to their sophom*ore year. That's a huge number, and it worries everyone concerned with higher education.

What is the most stressful year of college? ›

Junior year is generally considered the most stressful year of college, based on coursework and financial strain. However, freshmen experience unique types of stress. For example, 69% of freshmen students suffer from homesickness.

What is the most stressful school system in the world? ›

Ans. The countries with the hardest and most difficult education systems include South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, etc.

What do most college students struggle with? ›

Common Issues
  • Social anxiety, general anxiety, test anxiety, or panic attacks.
  • Family expectations or problems.
  • Depression, lack of energy or motivation, hopelessness, being overwhelmed, low self-esteem, homesickness, loneliness.
  • Relationship difficulties (emotional and physical aspects of intimate relationships)

At what point are you no longer a student? ›

A school, college or university no longer considers a person to be a student after completing their studies or ceasing to attend the institution. The student then becomes an alumnus (male) or an alumna (female).

Are people who go to college more successful in life? ›

The evidence that a college degree significantly improves one's employment prospects and earnings potential is overwhelming. Bachelor's degree holders are half as likely to be unemployed as their peers who only have a high school degree and they make $1.2 million in additional earnings on average over their lifetime.

Is it harder to be successful without college? ›

Even if a degree is not needed in the beginning, it may be required in order for you to move higher up within your company or field. That being said, you can certainly be successful without a college degree — your skills and talents can get you hired.

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