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