5 Tips for College Success

Whether you are an incoming freshman straight out of high school or a more seasoned learner, academic success is essential.  Of course, you shouldn’t let your education consume your life—grades aren’t everything—but here are some relatively easy ways to get the most out of your college experience.

Introduce Yourself to Your Professors

This tip is the easiest one on the list. At the beginning of the semester, stay after class for a couple of minutes and talk with your professor. This is not only the perfect opportunity to ask questions about the syllabus and assignments, but it is also your chance to introduce yourself to your professor. By doing this, you are no longer just another student to your professor: you are an individual. This is important if you would like a letter of recommendation from your professor or, perhaps, even more direct feedback on assignments.

Talk with an Academic Adviser

It would help if you didn’t think of college as a necessity to get meaningful work but, instead, as an opportunity to form necessary skills that will qualify you for your desired career path.  You can take numerous classes to fill certain requirements, so you should meet with an academic adviser to find ones that interest you and teach you the skills you need to learn for your specific career. If you’re unsure what skills you’ll need, check out the “duties/responsibilities” section of job postings for your intended career. 

Put in the Effort

If you put in the effort and meet the course objectives, you will graduate with a well-rounded skill set for your resume.  If you can impress an employer with your resume, you are more likely to get an interview.  Additionally, putting in the effort will not only aid your education, but it will also increase your intelligence and critical thinking.

Take Summer Classes

Although summer classes are often fast-paced and can be more stressful, summer courses are beneficial.  Not only can they help you graduate sooner, but smart planning can help you find time for the specific courses you want.  If you’re coming out of high school, you’re probably used to summer vacation, but you shouldn’t immediately write off summer classes.

Find Work Opportunities

It is in your best interest to establish professional experience before you graduate.  You might be able to find internship postings online, but another great option is finding a student-worker position at Arizona State University.  ASU offers many different student-worker positions in virtually every field imaginable.  By graduating with some work experience, you will have a significant advantage over your peers who don’t.