Being successful in school is hard. I’ve had some ups and downs throughout the years, but I’ve come a long way. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.
1. Get a mentor.
Finding a mentor who is willing to put in the time and effort is essential for getting through college. If you want to get into an Ivy League school, you’re going to need a lot of help from people who have gone before you. Don’t settle for anyone who just says they can help. They’re lying. Look for someone who has actually done it and knows what it’s like.
2. Get involved.
If you want to get good grades, you’ll need to dedicate a significant amount of time to studying. This means that you won’t be able to go out and party every weekend. But don’t let that stop you. There are plenty of ways to get involved in campus life without drinking or smoking. There’s a ton of stuff you can do in college, so find something you enjoy doing and use it to meet new people.
3. Be on time.
College is a busy place. If you show up late, it’s going to hurt your grades. It’s also going to make your classmates think you’re lazy. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about being late. It’s nobody’s fault if you’re running late. It’s going to happen to everyone eventually.
4. Learn how to manage your time.
This is another tough one. College isn’t just about studying all day and hanging out all night. You’re going to have to balance everything. You need to set aside time for homework, but you also need to have time to study outside of class. This can be hard to do if you don’t know where to start, but you’ll find that it gets easier as you go along.
5. Be organized.
There’s a reason why they call it a college education. You’re going to be surrounded by piles of papers all the time. You need to make sure you’re not going to miss anything important. Start keeping a calendar on your phone so that you can quickly jot down assignments and deadlines.
6. Don’t procrastinate.
You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it’s still worth repeating. It’s really easy to fall into a trap of procrastinating. Don’t let this happen. Take care of the things you need to take care of right away. Don’t put off studying until the last minute. It’s going to be hard to learn anything if you don’t do it.
7. Learn to relax.
Everyone has a bad day now and then. If you’re feeling stressed, don’t beat yourself up about it. You’re going to feel like crap if you’re not careful. That’s normal, but it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Relax, take a deep breath, and get back to studying.
8. Take notes.
This is a big one. Even if you’re taking notes on a computer, you should still try to write them down somewhere. This helps you remember what you read better and allows you to refer back to it later.
9. Get to know your teachers.
Don’t just blindly take whatever the professor gives you. Find out what they like and don’t like, and see if you can meet their expectations. Ask them about any topics you don’t understand and try to figure out a way to understand them.
10. Get help from tutors.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your professor about any questions you might have. You can also look for a tutor online who can help you with your classes.