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Tips from Students: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

The Good

I asked several honors students who are graduating this semester to give advice to incoming freshman. Here's what they said:

Time management

Visit teacher for questions after/before class

Get involved in clubs/student government

Set goals (ex) long-term, short-term. Write them out and post them where you can see it every day.

Do not cram, break up your study times

Figure out the way you learn (ex) tactile, reading etc...

--James H.

 

Try to maintain a perfect attendance.

Help other classmates

As soon as the semester begins, try your hardest: even when the coursework is still easy. It puts less stress on you when finals arrive.

--Arcy G.

 

Set goals for how long you want to stay at a community college and set your schedule accordingly (so you won't waste time).

Don't be afraid to get involved. There are so many opportunities and so few take them.

Get to know your professors!

Talk to the transfer advisors in your transfer center. They can be very helpful.

Find out when the college reps from your prospective colleges visit, they might just be the one to read your transfer essay.

--Bonnie B.

 

To an incoming freshman to college, my advice would be choose classes that interest you and don't be afraid to change your major once or twice or even stay undeclared for a while.

--Evan B.

The Bad and The Ugly

After taking their first exam, I asked the same students referred to in Tip #62, Try Coasting in the textbook to do a self-assessment. Of those students 80% admitted that they didn't spend enough time studying and 65% of students admitted to cramming the night before. Here are some of their comments with the score they received on the exam:

I wasn't prepared. I didn't review enough because I was ill prior to the test.

--60%

I didn't study and I just had the memory of the lectures to take the test on.

--52%

I could have done better, a reflection of me is studying and getting good grades. I would read the chapter and not just rely on the lectures.

--32%

I should have used the study guide.

--69%

I would study more. I wouldn't wait till the last minute. I would study over time. I would also read a little more and review lecture notes more.

--79%

Pay better attention to the details.

--58%

I waited too long to sign onto the course website and get the notes and study.

--36%

Be in class for the test

--0%

Get help from others, get more tutoring.

--53%

I didn't study one of the chapters. There were alot of questions on that chapter.

--52%

The computer was down the night before the test

--38%

Not use a bunch of note cards. Organize my thoughts better. Use symbols to abbreviate long terms.

--A low 'B'

I would have taken an hour or two every three days a week and taken additional notes from the chapters studied.

--An 'F'

I know for a fact. I did not study enough.

--34%

I would read the book and study the notes. I would read and make sure that I understand everything and be able to remember what I need for the test.

--An 'F'

I was dumb and did not remember to study very well.

--44%

I would have gone over the material more than just one or two times, so I would have been able to recall terms easily and not be indecisive about test questions.

--70%