Tips for Success

  1. GET STARTED! Meeting deadlines is crucial. There is no time like the present. Submit your application for admission today. See your advisor, sign up for Orientation, and register early.
  2. Get to know your academic adviser. This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, deciding on majors and minors. This person is a key resource for you -- and should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts.
  3. Buy & Use your own books. It is important to have the tools necessary for success. Read your book and get your monies worth. Shop early to find the best selection and prices. If you are lucky, your scholarship, loan, or grant will pick up the cost of books. However, even if your books are paid for, you should still try to find the lowest price so that you can keep the left over money. At the end of the semester...sell it back to the bookstore.
  4. GO TO CLASS! Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8 am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you'll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc. Going to class demonstrates to your professor that you care about your education.
  5. Get Organized. In high school, the teachers tended to lead you through all the homework and due dates. In college, the professors post the assignments -- often for the entire semester -- and expect you to be prepared. Buy an organizer, a PDA, a big wall calendar -- whatever it takes for you to know when assignments are due.
  6. DISCOVER what you want to be. The DISCOVER program is a computer based interest inventory assessment. Students interested in the DISCOVER program should contact Student Services at 318-473-6545.
  7. Don't procrastinate; prioritize your life. It may have been easy in high school to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still get a good grade, but that kind of stuff will not work for you in college. Give yourself deadlines -- and stick to them. Work on your hardest subjects one at a time when you are fresh. Putting them off until you're tired compounds the problem.
  8. Study, Study, Study! For every hour you spend in class, you will probably need to study two hours outside class. Study includes more than just doing your homework. You will need to go over your notes from by class, labeling, editing, and making sure you understand them. Study your syllabus daily to see where you are going and where you have been. Be sure to do reading assignments. Read ahead whenever possible. Prepare for each class as if there will be a pop quiz.
  9. Find at least one or two students in each class to study with. Studies show that students who study with someone routinely make better grades. You will probably be more motivated if you are working with someone toward a common goal.
  10. Don´t Be Afraid to Drop a Class Knowing your limits involves knowing whether a class or a schedule is too overwhelming for you. If the class you are in is required, then try it again with a different professor. Different teaching styles work with different students. Don´t overuse this option, but know that it is there for you. Remember to check with your advisor and/or financial aid department before you drop a class to make sure you are still within your scholarship or student loan requirements.
  11. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Don't look to place the blame on others for your mistakes; own up to them and move on. Being an adult means taking responsibility for everything that happens to you.
  12. Be good to yourself. It is important to take care of yourself. Studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food diet is a waste of time. Avoid food and drink containing caffeine just before or just after studying.
  13. Register Early!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To keep your educational plans on schedule you will want to register for courses as soon as possible. Popular courses and sections fill up fast.
  14. Seven Habits of Highly Effective College Students