But, the adjustment to college academics need not be too lengthy or traumatic if you follow ten pretty straightforward rules.



1. Whatever you do, don't start cutting classes. There is no better way to ensure your failure.

2. There are no days off. Don't get behind. Don't procrastinate. Never. Catching up in high school may be fairly easy; that's not so in college.

3. When in class, listen actively to your instructor and take good notes. Highlight points of emphasis and subject matter most likely to appear on exams.

4. Don't be shy about asking questions or getting help if you have a question or are having trouble understanding something. Visit with your instructor after class or during his/her office hours, ask a classmate for clarification, seek out help in the campus learning center, or turn to Google or Yahoo. Just don't delay.

5. Look at the syllabi in all of your courses and put together a calendar which includes exam dates and the dates papers and major assignments are due. Once you have a calendar which clearly portrays what is due when, put together a schedule of when you are going to do the required work.

6. Use a highlighter when reading. It will make your review work much faster and easier.

7. Save and review all of your exams. They can help give you an idea of what to expect from an instructor in the future.

8. Ask other students who have taken courses with your instructors about their tendencies and expectations. The more you know about the kinds of questions you're likely to see on exams and the expectations your professors have for students, the better.

9. Take advantage of any opportunities you have to start or join study groups. They can really help you.

10. In college, faculty (especially good faculty) continually challenge students; it's a big part of the learning process. Don't get ulcers worrying about it, and don't despair if you occasionally get blown out of the sky by faculty (or other students). But, be prepared to defend your statements, particularly those you make on exams and papers.

Expect to have classes which vary in difficulty and instructors with different levels of commitment and teaching ability. Regardless of those and other factors which may be beyond your ability to control, if you work diligently, manage your time well, and stick with the ten basics above, you should do just fine.