How to Succeed as a Student: Tips, Advice, and Strategies

Going to college or university can be an exciting yet challenging time. There is so much to juggle – classes, activities, friends, family, work, and more. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, with the right strategies and mindset, you can learn to balance it all and set yourself up for success during your student years and beyond.

Get Organized

Organization is key to keeping your academic life on track. Here are some tips:

• Use a planner or calendar to keep track of assignments, tests, activities, etc. Include due dates and reminders.
• Check your school email and learning portals frequently so you don’t miss any important updates or communications from professors.
• Keep folders, either physical or digital, for each class to store notes, handouts, returned assignments/exams, etc.
• Develop a routine and consistent study schedule that works for you. Block off certain days/times to study each subject.

Set Up a Dedicated Study Space

Having a designated area for studying helps minimize distractions. Ideas for study spots:

• Library – Take advantage of private rooms, carrels, or tables. Libraries also usually have great resources and helpful librarians!
• Empty classroom – See if your school has open classrooms you can use outside of scheduled classes.
• Cafe – The white noise can be better than total silence. Just avoid busy times!
• Dorm room – As long as you can avoid roommates and resist other temptations!

Wherever you choose, make it a tech-free zone while studying to avoid phone/Internet distractions.

Use the Right Tools and Accessories

Certain supplies and gear can really help optimize your study sessions:

• Laptop – Essential for papers, research, accessing your learning portal, etc. See if your school offers discounts on laptops or tablets.
• Backpack – Look for one with padding to protect your laptop and enough room to carry everything you need for classes. Water bottle pockets are handy too!
• Planner/agenda – As mentioned above, use one to stay organized and track assignments, tests, etc. Choose whatever format works for you: paper, digital, app, etc.
• Highlighters and pens – Make textbooks, notes, and study guides easier to review by highlighting key terms and concepts in different colors.
• Noise-cancelling headphones – Help block out distracting sounds around you while studying.

Adopt Effective Study Habits

How you study matters just as much as what and where. Use these study tips:

• Review material frequently – Don’t cram! Start studying several days before a test, rereading notes, flashcards, etc.
• Take handwritten notes – Studies show writing notes helps information stick better than typing them.
• Summarize key ideas – Pull out the most important points and concepts. Rephrase in your own words.
• Make flashcards to memorize terms, definitions, dates, formulas, etc.
• Practice problems – For math and science classes, doing lots of practice questions helps reinforce concepts.
• Study in chunks – Break study sessions into manageable blocks of time with breaks in between. The Pomodoro technique uses 25 minute sessions.
• Teach concepts to others – Explaining the material out loud helps cement your understanding. Form study groups!
• Get enough sleep – Being well-rested helps you focus and retain information better. Don’t pull all-nighters!

Set Goals

Setting SMART goals can help provide motivation and a sense of purpose:

• Specific – Provide details, like a certain GPA or grade in a class.
• Measurable – Quantify your goals so you can track progress.
• Achievable – Make sure goals are within reach if you put in the work.
• Realistic – Given other commitments, set reasonable goals.
• Time-bound – Set deadlines to work towards.

Post your goals where you’ll see them daily as a reminder to stay focused.

Manage Your Time Wisely

College life comes with many distractions and commitments competing for your time. Follow this advice:

• Use a planner to block out study time among other activities.
• Limit social media and Internet surfing during study sessions.
• Take breaks during long study periods to renew focus.
• Set priorities – Delay less important tasks if needed. Don’t overcommit.
• Wake up early to get a head start on the day’s tasks.
• Batch similar tasks, like errands, so they take less total time.
• Say no sometimes! Don’t feel pressured to take on too much.

Find Support Systems

Don’t try to get through college alone. Seek out resources and connections:

• Professors – Develop relationships with them during office hours. Ask for help!
• Academic advisors – They can help you pick classes and stay on track to graduate.
• Tutoring centers – Great for extra help on challenging concepts.
• Counseling services – Most schools provide mental health counseling and advising.
• Clubs and activities – They provide built-in communities and support networks.
• Friends and family – Don’t neglect personal relationships in pursuit of academics.

Practice Self-Care

With classes, activities, and other demands, it’s easy for students to experience burnout. Make sure to:

• Eat nutritious meals and stay hydrated – Meal prep snacks to have on hand.
• Exercise regularly – Even light activity relieves stress and boosts energy.
• Get enough sleep – Don’t cut back on sleep to cram more study time.
• Take time for hobbies – Reading, sports, crafts…anything enjoyable unrelated to school!
• Limit alcohol/drug use – They can negatively impact studies and health.
• Seek counseling if needed – Many students benefit from therapy.
• Have some fun! – Don’t make college all work and no play.

Conclusion

The key to success as a student is developing strategies that work for your learning style and situation. With discipline, good habits, and support systems, you can thrive in college or university while laying the foundation for the rest of your life. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches until you find what sticks. Believe in yourself!

Tips for Studying Different Subjects

Studying for various college subjects and classes requires specialized strategies. Here are tips for some common majors and courses:

Math and Science

• Read chapters and review notes before lectures
• Work through lots of practice problems
• Focus on understanding formulas and their applications
• Redo homework problems as additional practice
• Use flashcards for key terms, theorems, laws, etc.
• Do practice tests from the textbook
• Study with classmates to share skills and insights
• Get extra help from professor, TA, or tutoring center

English and Writing

• Annotate readings to engage critically with texts
• Review paper requirements and rubrics thoroughly
• Make detailed outlines before writing papers
• Visit writing center to get feedback on drafts
• Read exemplary essays to inspire your own writing
• Learn proper citation styles and format guidelines
• Allow lots of time for revising and editing
• Read essays aloud to catch awkward phrasing

History

• Create visual timelines of key events, people, periods
• Connect facts to broader historical context
• Memorize important dates, battles, leaders
• Know different interpretations and debates among historians
• Brush up on geography to understand events
• Review class notes right after lectures
• Read both textbook and primary sources
• Write practice essay responses to test prompts

Foreign Languages

• Practice speaking out loud along with audio exercises
• Use digital flashcard apps to master vocabulary
• Learn common verbs, sentence structures, tenses, etc.
• Immerse yourself in the language with music, shows, books
• Review notes frequently instead of cramming vocabulary
• Test yourself by describing images in the language
• Meet with tutor or join conversation groups
• Look up words you don’t know while reading/listening

Computer Science

• Draw diagrams and flowcharts to visualize programs
• Practice coding challenging logic problems
• Use flashcards for keywords, data types, functions
• Explain code line-by-line to someone else
• Participate in hackathons and coding challenges
• Work on personal coding projects outside of coursework
• Learn debugging skills and how to fix errors
• Stay up-to-date on new languages, frameworks, trends

Compare Learning Platforms

Here is a comparison of popular learning platforms college students use:

Platform	Pros	Cons
Blackboard	Used by many colleges, integrated grading tools, supports multimedia	Can be glitchy, not very user-friendly
Canvas	Intuitive interface, robust apps and integrations, universal design	Requires reliable wifi, focuses more on quantity than quality of interactions
Moodle	Open source, highly customizable, strong communication features	Steep learning curve, layout isn’t very polished
Desire2Learn (D2L)	Ease of navigation, automatic notifications, multi-language support	Some features may seem outdated, mobile app lacks full functionality
Sakai	Collaboration-focused, allows integration of Google Docs/Drive	Less intuitive, not ideal for delivering lots of multimedia content

Pros and Cons of Online Classes

Online classes are a popular option – here are some of the pros and cons:

Pros

• Convenience and flexibility
• Can work at your own pace
• Saves commute time
• Easier to balance other commitments
• Broader range of courses available
• Can replay pre-recorded lectures

Cons

• Reduced instructor interaction
• Less accountability without class attendance
• Technical issues or lack of access
• Harder to build connections and network
• Requires more self-discipline and motivation
• Not suited for hands-on learning

Compare Note-Taking Methods

Method	Pros	Cons
Pen and paper	Improves retention, portable, flexible formatting	Can be messy, hard to organize notes
Laptop	Faster typing, easy to share notes digitally	More distractions, less retention
Mobile apps	Great for on-the-go notes, integrates nicely with digital life	Smaller screens make formatting difficult
Audio recorder	Captures lecture verbatim, good for auditory learners	Must go back and review full recordings, no visual reference