Print Article for : Strategies For College Success

Your Online Guide » Education and Teaching » Articles on Education

[S1052]Strategies For College Success

by Elisabeth Kuhn, Eli

It's tough being a student. You're busy learning to live on your own, balancing the demands of friends and relationships and on top of that ? you're expected to study! Learning how to balance these various demands is vital to your academic performance, so take the time to learn how to manage stress effectively. The following are some of the key sources of stress that students have identified in recent studies of students attending colleges and universities around the nation:

1. Time Management

Time management was frequently rated as the biggest stress factor for students involved in post secondary education. Many students just aren't equipped with the skills it takes to manage their various responsibilities. If you're someone who spends too little time studying ? or someone who's often distracted by extracurricular activities ? look for programs on campus designed to teach you better time management skills.

2. Setting Priorities

Balancing all the various obligations that college life entails and setting good priorities is another source of stress identified by many of students involved in the studies. With all the clubs, activities and athletic events going on, it can be hard for many students to balance the things they want to do with the things they need to do ? like studying and working part-time. Many students in the studies commented that they felt like they were always ?on the run? between different activities.

3. Financial Stability

Worrying about money and financial stability was identified as another key source of stress for students. And it makes sense ? college tuition bills are constantly increasing and extra expenses like books and materials add up quickly. Students with homes and families to support are most likely to feel the pinch, but even students with no financial obligations can find it difficult to balance all the monetary obligations without stress.

4. Family Expectations

Family ? you can't live with them and you can't live without them. Many students are surprised to find that the stress from family expectations follows them, even after they leave the nest to attend college. Some students are only attending school to please individuals in their family, while others may be attending school to prepare for a career that their families aren't pleased with. Either of these situations ? as well as many others ? can be stressful for students who are already dealing with heavy coursework, and financial and social responsibilities.

5. Personal relationships

Finding yourself wrapped up in a college romance can be exciting, but intimate relationships can take a toll on already stressed out college students. Many students interviewed in these studies expressed concerns over how difficult it is to maintain their academic performance while in a serious relationship. On the other hand, many students claimed that having a significant other that appreciated the hard work and dedication involved in going to school was a net positive ? your success really depends on how committed you are to balancing these different responsibilities.

6. Campus Crime

Being away from home for the first time can be scary ? so it's perfectly reasonable that campus crime would be another source of stress for students. Crime statistics can be especially daunting if your campus has recently experienced a series of attacks or burglaries. If you live in an unsafe neighborhood or attend a college with a poor safety record, take appropriate precautions like not walking alone at night and locking up your room when you leave. You may also want to consider renters insurance if break-ins are a problem in your area.

7. Future Uncertainty

Anyone who's attended college has heard the dreaded question at least one hundred times ? "So what are you going to do when you graduate?" The scary thing is, no one really knows what they're going to do, unless they're one of the lucky few with job offers lined up and waiting for them. If you're feeling anxiety over your future plans, take a deep breath and try to let go of some of your stress. Uncertainty is a part of life, so worry less and try to enjoy the ride.

The Veteran's Administration is providing additional funding to encourage more veteran's to attend college. This is a great financial commitment but many veterans are intimidated by the thought of attending college. Most veterans fall into the adult learner category because most of them are over 24. Sitting in a class with much younger students can seem awkward. Some veterans have graduated from high school and they have right into the armed services. There was no time to think about college. One way that a veteran can prepare for college is by having a college success plan.

A college success plan is a set of activities that a veteran can use to improve their chances of graduating from college. Just the thought of submitting a college application can cause some veterans anxiety. It may not be fun to sit in classes where the students view you as an outsider. This is one reason why it is important to have a college success plan. Veterans need time to adjust to college life. They must work on their own perceptions that they are not ready to enroll in college. There is no need to be fearful about the amount of work that will be required for each veteran. Colleges have many resources such as advisors, tutors and counselors who can make the adjustment to college life a lot easier. You can call a local college to determine the different types of services that they offer.

One of the important things that a veteran can do is to work on study skills. This is one area where students of all ages have difficulty. Each veteran can benefit from learning how to study prior to starting first year classes. For example a good study habit is taking time to read all chapters before classes start. The chapters should be read several days before a class begins. It's important to get your mind ready to absorb the information you are studying. By studying early you eliminate the stress of needing more time to read your textbook. When you are listening to a lecture the important facts from your textbook will be familiar. If there is something that you don't understand don't be afraid to talk to your instructor.

Planning to manage your time is a vital element of a veteran's college success. Veterans who learn how to manage their time have much greater success. The management of your time will help you to set priorities for your week. Getting control of your time will enable you to do an accurate time management schedule. It is far better to plan your test preparation than to wait until the last second. If you have a plan to study several hours you can also put time in your schedule to enjoy yourself. You will experience less stress because you have a road map to meet all of your assignment deadlines.

Veterans should get ready for every test early. Students who have success on their tests know that starting test preparation early yields good results. Take time to clear up any missing information in your notes. Use 3 x 5 cards to memorize important facts. You can have a stack of cards for each class. Then set aside some time each day to memorize your 3 x 5 cards and important facts presented by the instructor. This is just one way to organize your study sessions. Recognize that you are in control of the amount of knowledge that you obtain each day.

Veterans need to spend time getting to know what the instructors require for each class. An important place to start is reading the syllabus. The syllabus is a guide to the important topics that your teacher is discussing. Compare notes with other students who are in your class. Creating time to form groups with other students is beneficial. Organizing a study group can be a very easy way to get to know people in your classes. During each session you can find out information that is missing from your notes.

It's important for each veteran to take time to identify which classes are interesting during the first semester of attending college classes. You can position yourself for success during your first semester just by dedicating yourself to learning and eliminating distractions. The fact that you have decided to go to college is a great accomplishment. More veterans need to take advantage of this opportunity. This country needs more veterans who will use their minds to improve the global competitiveness of this country.

Article Source : Pg. 14

About Author

Both Elisabeth Kuhn & Dr. Stephen Jones are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Elisabeth Kuhn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Entertainment Guide and Guided Meditation. And if you recognize yourself or the student in your life? Get your with 7 stress-reducing strategies Or get. Elisabeth Kuhn's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.

Dr. Stephen Jones has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mobile Phone Reviews, Education and Internet Marketing. For twenty-six years, Dr. Jones has delivered presentations on numerous topics including how to study, leadership, effective communication, and innovative management practices. He is the author of three books one is titled “Seven Secrets of How to S. Dr. Stephen Jones's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.