Going to college can be a little overwhelming because there is so much to do and so little time. To make the most of your time in college, you need to take classes, take advantage of extracurricular opportunities, and be prepared for what comes next. If you are determined to be a successful college student, college can be an exciting and fun time.

Listen Carefully to the Lecture

Come to class on time. Don’t believe in the so-called “magic number” that will allow you to do well on the exam even if you skip so many classes. Every time you skip class, you miss out on some knowledge and discussion. Some professors will factor your attendance into your final grade. Even if you don’t miss school, not skipping class will leave a good impression on your professors and teaching assistants.

• If you are really sick – so sick that you can’t attend class, then you can skip class.
• If you need a little incentive to take classes, consider the cost of tuition per class hour. The average annual tuition at public universities is US$9,139 (approximately RMB 57,944). If it is a 15-week semester and there are 4 classes per semester, the cost per class hour is more than $25 (approximately RMB 158). Not going to class is basically throwing away $25. Will you do this?

Take notes. Your memory is not nearly as good as you think. In school, there may be many things occupying your mind. Taking good notes will help you concentrate on lectures (lectures and discussions) and will help you when you are reviewing for exams.

• For courses with clear and logical knowledge points, such as history or biology classes, the Cornell note-taking method can help you record the most important information.

Speak actively in class. Ask questions to the teacher, answer the teacher’s questions, and actively discuss with classmates. Actively speaking in class will help you think and better understand the knowledge points that the teacher wants to impart to you.

• Sitting in the front row, or at least not in the back, makes it easier to concentrate. Teachers are also more likely to notice students sitting front and center.

Take the time to study. Doing well in college requires you to prepare outside of class, so take the time to review your notes and preview the material for each class in advance. While you are studying, find a place that is quiet and free from outside distractions. The rule of thumb is that if the class time is one hour, about two hours of off-class study is just right.

• Study groups—studying with other students in the class—can be helpful, but they can also be more distracting. Make sure you find a study group that reviews the material and that the students in it spend most of their time studying, not chatting.
• Don’t memorize by rote! Passing exams is only part of being a successful college student; you also gain knowledge that will be useful in the real world. If you memorize by rote, you may remember what you need to pass the exam, but you’ll probably forget it in two days. It is wise to spend so much money to study at a university and accumulate knowledge that will be useful in the future.
• Taking a few days between each study session is the best way to ensure that you remember what you have studied for a long time. Instead of marathon studying for 9 hours straight before a test, start studying for 1-2 hours a day for 3 or 4 days a few days before. It would be better if you could plan and schedule study time within a few weeks.

Don’t delay. No professor would complain that his students completed their learning tasks ahead of schedule. Setting a time to complete one task will help you feel less stressed and will make it easier to complete other tasks on time.

• Sometimes, you may need to stay up all night to complete an assignment. Procrastination makes this more likely to happen. Completing study tasks early will help you sleep more regularly.
• Set learning goals for yourself regularly, such as completing 200 words of a paper or solving six math problems every day. These small goals may seem simple and won’t make you procrastinate easily, but their results can accumulate quickly.
• Try to avoid guilt over grades. External motivation, such as “I should do this so that my parents won’t criticize me”, is not as strong as intrinsic motivation, such as “I hope to do well in the exam, which will help me get into medical school.” Setting positive goals for yourself and reminding yourself that studying will help you achieve those goals can help you avoid procrastination.

Communicate with your teacher. Your teachers definitely want you to do well, so feel free to ask them questions about the course. Each professor has office hours, come to their office to introduce yourself, ask study-related questions, or talk about your grades. This allows them to get to know you better, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and make better suggestions for your improvement.

• Don’t forget your TA. Many teaching assistants also have extensive knowledge of course content. When there are large student populations, teaching assistants often grade papers on behalf of the professor.
• It would be best if you can lay a good foundation for communication with the teacher in advance. If your professor doesn’t find you out until the night before your midterm exam halfway through the semester, she won’t be as impressed by you as she would be if you approached her earlier and asked questions more frequently.

Have confidence. For most students, their attitude toward class determines their success. Believe that you can learn and succeed, and you’ll have a greater chance of success. Don’t just think about how difficult the course content is, think about how you will overcome those difficulties.

• If you are shy and have trouble speaking up in class, think about what your teacher wants you to learn. Classrooms are often a “safe space” to speak up, ask questions, and engage in discussion. Don’t worry about sounding stupid when asking questions – chances are, many students have the same question but don’t dare to ask. You are their vanguard!

Participate in Social Activities

Join a society or club. Classrooms cannot satisfy all your passions. Discover clubs or activities that interest you, or get involved in the practical application of learning content. These events are also a great way to make new friends.

Participate in on-campus activities. At the university, you can participate in various cultural, intellectual, and sports activities organized for students. Participate in these activities and experience the cultural life of the school. Some events are so rare that you won’t get a second chance to attend them.

Schedule your own time. Unlike high school, in college, no one makes arrangements for your life and activities, you have to do it yourself. Prioritize activities and learning tasks based on time and importance to achieve your ultimate goal. Your schedule should include not just study, but also time for personal activities and interests.

• You may find that your schedule is full with classes, homework, clubs, and other activities. Managing your own schedule sometimes means knowing your trade-offs.

Make more friends. Research shows that college freshmen are under tremendous mental stress, which can have an impact on mental health. The best way to ensure that you are a successful college student is to make friends with different people and hang out with them.

• Building a broad social network in college is also associated with good job performance later in life.
• This doesn’t mean you have to ditch your classes and homework and party every night. It’s about finding a good balance among them. You can also make friends in class and other campus activities, such as sports or debate teams.

Decide if (and when) you want to join Greek life. At many colleges, Greek life—the fraternities or sororities in which students join—is an important part of student life. While there are many benefits to joining Greek life, such as socializing and networking, it also takes a lot of time. Joining Greek life during your freshman year can be especially stressful as you try to adjust to the many aspects of being a college student. Some experts recommend waiting until your sophomore year to join a fraternity or sorority when your academic foundation is more solid.

Preparing for Graduation

Choose the right course. Take courses that interest you and really want to take. This will give you rich results instead of just taking easier courses.

• Don’t choose a major right away. Unless you are already very sure about the specific field you want to study, there is no benefit in choosing a major right away. Take introductory courses in multiple fields to learn what you need to learn in each major.

Keep track of your progress. If you want to graduate on time, be sure to complete all school and major requirements. You need to complete enough credit hours and obtain passing grades. Pay attention to non-academic items such as physical fitness requirements.

• Most colleges have online “progress to degree” calculators, if not, ask your counselor.

Don’t just get an “A” grade. College is supposed to be difficult and you should learn to deal with failure, or at least not have to deal with it like you did in high school. Life after college is also no longer about the grades you achieved in school, but about how you learned to deal with disappointments.

Visit your school’s career services office for help. Every university has this institution. Find out what kind of jobs you can get after graduating from your school and your major. The agency can also provide helpful advice on resume development, filling out job applications, and other workplace issues.

Find internships and other professional jobs. If possible, find a job that matches your major. This can accumulate valuable professional experience for future work.