How to be a Successful College Student A) College can be an overwhelming experience, with so much to do and seemingly little time to do it all. In order to make the most of your time in college, you will need to do well in class, take advantage of extracurricular ( 课外的 ) opportunities, and prepare yourself for life after graduation. Going to college can be a fun and exciting time, especially if you are committed to being successful. B) Here are some top tips for you to make the most of your college: C) Go to class. Don ’ t rely on a “ magic number ” of classes you can miss and still do well. Each missed class represents missed content and missed discussion. Some professors weigh participation into your final grade calculation. Even if attendance isn ’ t required, however, you will make a good impression on your professor if you show up to class. D) Take notes. Your memory is never as good as you think it is. There will probably be plenty of things taking up space in your mind while at school. Taking good notes will keep you engaged in classroom activities (lectures and discussion) and give you a good basis when studying for exams. E) Participate in class. Ask questions of your instructors, give answers if they ask questions, and contribute to discussion sections. Taking an active part in the class will keep you involved with the material, and help you better understand what the instructor needs you to know. F) Take time to study. Success in college relies on you preparing outside of class, so spend time reviewing your notes and reading the textbook for each session. When you study, find a quiet space and cut off outside distractions. A good rule of thumb is to spend two hours studying for each hour you spend in class. G) Avoid procrastinating ( 拖延 ). No professor ever complained about her students finishing an assignment early. Setting aside time to complete one task will give ease your stress level, and make it more likely to complete others on time. H) Communicate with your instructor. Your professors want you to do well in class, so feel free to ask questions about the material. Every professor has open office hours, so stop by to introduce yourself, ask about the class, or discuss your grades. This can allow them to learn more about you, your strengths and weaknesses, and provide better feedback ( 反馈 ) for improving your work. I) Be confident. Most students ’ attitude towards a class dictates ( 命令,指挥 ) their success. Believe you can learn the material and be successful, and you will increase your chances of succeeding. Don ’ t think about how difficult things are, but how you are going to overcome those difficulties. J) Get involved in a team or club. You won ’ t always be able to follow your passions in the classroom. Find groups and activities that you enjoy, or maybe involve practical applications for your academic work. These events are also a great way to meet new people and make friends. K) Attend on-campus events. Colleges have access to a nearly unmatched variety of cultural, intellectual, and athletic events that are available to students. Take advantage of these, and take part in the cultural life of the school, some of which you may never have the opportunity to do again. L) Organize your time. Unlike in high school, no one will be tracking you and your activities in college, so you will have to do that yourself. Give each event and assignment a priority based on timing, and its importance to achieving your ultimate goals. Your schedule should not just be about academic work, so include time for personal activities and interests. M) Make friends. Studies suggest that being a freshman is incredibly stressful. It can do a number on your mental health. One of the best ways to make sure you ’ re successful in college is to make friends with a variety of diverse ( 各种各样的 ) people — and to commit to hanging out with them. This doesn ’ t mean you should spend every night partying and ditching ( 放弃 ) class and homework. Instead, strive for a healthy balance. You can even get your friends involved in class and other school activities, such as a sport or debate team. N) Choose the right classes. Pick courses that interest you, and make you excited to learn. This will lead you to interesting and rewarding work, rather than simply chasing easy classes. O) Keep track of your progress. You want to graduate on time, so make sure you have fulfilled all requirements for the school and your major. You will need to have enough credit hours, and high enough grades. Keep an eye out for non-academic items like physical fitness requirements. P) Don ’ t go for the “ easy A ” . College should be difficult, and you should be prepared to deal with failure, or at least not succeeding as much as you did in high school. Your life after college will not be about the grades you got in school, but the ways you learned to deal with disappointment. Q) Find internships and other professional work. If possible, find something that will let you apply what you are learning in a work environment. You can gain valuable professional experience for afterwards. Statements: 1. One symbol of success in college is to make friends with a variety of diverse people. 2. Colleges have access to many events concerning various aspects available. 3. Pay attention to non-academic items like physical fitness requirements. 4. Going to college can be fun and exciting, especially if one wants to succeed. 5. If possible, find a chance that you can apply your knowledge in a work environment. 6. Setting aside time to finish one task will decrease your stress level, and make it possible to complete others on time. 7. Don ’ t think about how difficult things are, but how you will overcome them. 8. Your life after college will mostly be about the ways you deal with disappointment. 9. Every professor has open office hours, so you ’ d better stop by to introduce yourself, ask about the class, or consult your grades. 10. A good rule of thumb is to spend two hours studying for each hour in class.