5 Tips To Excel In College

Wed, Nov 16, 2022 11:30 AM

When a student is not excelling in college, they are likely not going to finish their degree in 4 years. Unfortunately, the national average for students graduating from college is 5 ½ years – YIKES! Sometimes this happens because a student is in a program that takes longer to complete – especially if mandatory Co-ops are part of the curriculum. In other cases, students might be stuck trying to decide what they want to major in or are in classes they just aren’t passionate about, leading to extra semesters of schooling as they try to figure it out.

One-way students can excel in college is by following these 5 Simple Tips below:

#1 Learn time management skills and start preparing for classes early
#2 Get involved and network
#3 Reflect on what you learned and how it can be applied to your future
#4 Find a good study space or study group
#5 Be honest with yourself, if you aren’t passionate about your major – take action

As your student enters college, encourage them to set up designated “study block” times and get a calendar to write upcoming dates/deadlines in on a daily basis. A great way to be held accountable for studying is by joining a study group or having them visit their Teacher’s Assistant (TA) or professor during their open office hours. After your student learns course material, encourage them to apply it to their daily life and think about their future career. Finding the right place to study based on their learning and study style can make or break how successful they will be in their classes.

If your son or daughter isn’t super excited about anything associated with their current major, this may be a sign it is time to consider a change – ASAP. I always say it is important to help your student identify what they really want to pursue in college prior to them showing up on campus. And while it is common for students to change their major, sometimes multiple times in college, there are great resources on campus they can use to help them find some direction like the Career Counseling Center.

By attending the right college, at the right price, and pursing the right major or career path, a successful college experience can be achieved!

Want to learn more tips and strategies? Schedule a FREE 15-minute Discovery Zoom Meeting with me TODAY where I can assess what your college-specific needs are and dive deeper into how I can help your student successfully cross the finish line.