- Good study habits entail the ability to absorb the information you receive, to interpolate it based on your own experiences, and to speak about it in an intelligent and knowledgeable manner. In order to do that, you need to attend class regularly, take good notes, and learn how to listen to the professor's lectures. You also need to read for comprehension, not just skimming your eyes across the words. As a general rule, you should spend more time studying than socializing or engaging in extracurricular activities.
- Monday does not mean Thursday. Monday does not mean Tuesday morning. Monday does not mean, "I was gonna do it, but there was this hot chick at the kegger last night." Monday means Monday. If college teaches you nothing else, it must impart the ability to set goals and meet deadlines in a reliable fashion. Hand in term papers when they're due, make sure you get to tests on time, and find ways to make it happen rather than ways to make an excuse. That reliability and the ability to stay on task will pay dividends with every job you ever hold.
- Time is a precious resource, and at college you often find yourself with more things to do than there are hours in the day. This is especially true if you engage in extracurricular activities like sports or the school paper. Life holds many of the same demands, and the ability to successfully juggle multiple commitments becomes invaluable as you make your way through the world. Learn to establish priorities, to focus on the important things, and to let frivolous matters slide when crunch time comes. Recognize how much time it takes to complete a given task and set aside enough time to do it. Experts recommend spending two to three hours studying for every hour of classes you take. With that as your top priority, you can schedule the remainder of your activities in a way that gets them done while still keeping you sane.
previous post