Whether you’re a freshman or a graduate student, everyone wants to make the most of their classes and earn an “A.” Collegiettes™ can follow a few guidelines to help them achieve success.
Sit up front: If you’re one to immediately take out your phone and scroll through Twitter while your professor drones on about Chapter 5, sit up front. Sitting up front will force you to stay more focused on the professor because there are less people in front of you to hide behind. More than likely, the other people sitting up front are paying attention, so you’ll be less inclined to take out your phone.
Write it down: Trying to remember a paper due in this class, a test in another and a project due for next week can make your head explode. Save yourself a migraine and write down your due dates. Writing things down allows you to visualize what you need to do. It also helps you manage your time better because you can see how soon a due date actually is. Buy a cute planner, type it on your phone, or write it on your hand – whatever works for you!
Go to the library: We all know the story; you’re at your apartment or dorm and you really need to study for your midterm. It’s hard to concentrate though, because your roommate has the TV blasting and the other one is pre-gaming with her friends for a night out. How can you possibly study with all the commotion? Go to the library. Pack up your books, grab a coffee and find a quiet place where you can focus on your studies. When you buckle down and actually study, the end result is usually a good grade on your midterm.
Don’t be afraid of office hours: Every professor at UCF is required to have office hours (Even online classes!). Those office hours are for your benefit. If you don’t get your trigonometry homework or you want to discuss the upcoming exam, seek out your professor’s office hours. Going to office hours could offer you one-on-one time with your professor, which is normally a rare occurrence at UCF. Office hours will allow you to ask those questions you may feel shy asking in a lecture hall and give you a clear sense of what is going on in class.
Make some friends: Having a friend in a class can be a huge benefit to you. You can compare notes to make sure you both have the important information. You can also study together and help each other memorize and practice. If there is a day you can’t make it to class, a friend can be there to fill you in on what you missed. Next class, be friendly with the random girl or guy next to you. Odds are, they’re looking for a study partner too.