I recently wrote an article detailing several tips for academic success -- it's in the current issue of the Irvine Review. These tips may be of interest to those who still have midterms.
1. Find A Reason To Excel
It is important to have a reason to excel in college, since one must be willing to sacrifice time in order to succeed academically. One reason is that higher academic performance usually opens doors to better careers. Don’t read the rest of this article without introspectively identifying a motivating reason.
2. Don’t Work & Don’t Party
Try not to let a mundane job take time away from college studies. In the long run, it would be more advantageous to excel academically during college and get a high-paying job once one finishes with a degree.
I realize that a majority of students need to work during the quarter due to financial constraints. In this case, seek to minimize other time-consuming activities, like unnecessary social events, relationships, parties, and video games. In order to do well in college, one needs to devote plenty of time to studying.
3. Ask Many Questions
If a concept is confusing, do not hesitate to ask a question in class. It is better to resolve each ambiguous point during class than to have a pile of confusing material to study right before an exam. If a set of questions builds up, it would be wise to visit the professor’s office hour or a discussion section in order to ask these questions.
In order to ask good questions, it is important to learn to think critically. Not every claim that an instructor may make is necessarily true. One must learn to analyze the reasoning behind each claim. Critical analysis and a skeptical eye will help one to gain a richer understanding of the material.
4. Prepare Rather Than Procrastinate
Keep track of the course schedule. Knowledge of each exam date and homework deadline will help one to manage time properly. It is also important to keep up with course readings in order to be fully prepared for the exam. And if possible, finish each project, essay, and homework assignment a day before it is due.
5. Make Personal Study Guides For Exams
Since tests comprise the bulk of the grade in many courses, it is crucial to cram hard before every exam. I would suggest devoting at least one full day of studying for each major midterm or final. I recommend making a checklist of necessary concepts to know for the exam.
When reading through all the notes, slides, handouts, homework solutions, and relevant book chapters, it is important to look out for concepts and formulas that absolutely must be memorized. Write these essential formulas and concepts down on a separate sheet of paper. Focus entirely on this sheet when the exam time draws near.
6. Think Strategically
It is important to keep track of the percentage values of each assignment and exam in order to know how to allocate one’s time. Also, it may be wise to invoke the pass/no-pass option when one is performing poorly in a class.
7. Learn to Communicate
Verbal and written communication skills are important assets to have in college. For essay tests, it is important to be able to develop cogent argumentation. There are many ways to develop one’s communication skills. For instance, if one wants to develop the skill of writing, then I would suggest that one contact the Editor of the Irvine Review and apply for a Staff Writer position.
8. Hang Out With The Right People In The Right Places
If one hangs out with people who care about excelling in college, one will also probably care about excelling in college too. It is good to utilize peer pressure to one’s academic advantage. It may be beneficial to join study groups or tutoring services like LARC. Also, one should identify places on campus which are good for studying and places which are terrible for studying. Avoid the latter place as much as possible.
9. Engage In Research & Apply For Scholarships
Getting involved in academic research is probably the single most effective way to enhance one’s academic career as an undergraduate. Research opens many doors in the academic world and is looked upon favorably by employers. Consider visiting the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) here at UCI.
Scholarships are available at the national, university, school, and departmental levels. One should try to apply for all the scholarships for which one is eligible. A scholarship not only assists in paying for tuition but also greatly enhances one’s resume. Consider visiting the Scholarship Opportunities Program here at UCI.
10. Maintain A Balance
Take college very seriously, but don’t take it too seriously. There is much more to life than academics. It is important to balance one’s time between work and relaxation in order to prevent getting burned out. Don’t take more classes than what is feasible -- 16 units is an ideal load.
Also, it is crucial not to get too stressed out if one receives a poor grade. Just attempt to do better the next time around.
Conclusion
Succeeding in college has little to do with how innately smart one may be. Rather, the amount of success is directly correlated to the amount of time that one devotes to college. One only needs a motivating reason and the mental endurance to make it all the way through.
1. Find A Reason To Excel
It is important to have a reason to excel in college, since one must be willing to sacrifice time in order to succeed academically. One reason is that higher academic performance usually opens doors to better careers. Don’t read the rest of this article without introspectively identifying a motivating reason.
2. Don’t Work & Don’t Party
Try not to let a mundane job take time away from college studies. In the long run, it would be more advantageous to excel academically during college and get a high-paying job once one finishes with a degree.
I realize that a majority of students need to work during the quarter due to financial constraints. In this case, seek to minimize other time-consuming activities, like unnecessary social events, relationships, parties, and video games. In order to do well in college, one needs to devote plenty of time to studying.
3. Ask Many Questions
If a concept is confusing, do not hesitate to ask a question in class. It is better to resolve each ambiguous point during class than to have a pile of confusing material to study right before an exam. If a set of questions builds up, it would be wise to visit the professor’s office hour or a discussion section in order to ask these questions.
In order to ask good questions, it is important to learn to think critically. Not every claim that an instructor may make is necessarily true. One must learn to analyze the reasoning behind each claim. Critical analysis and a skeptical eye will help one to gain a richer understanding of the material.
4. Prepare Rather Than Procrastinate
Keep track of the course schedule. Knowledge of each exam date and homework deadline will help one to manage time properly. It is also important to keep up with course readings in order to be fully prepared for the exam. And if possible, finish each project, essay, and homework assignment a day before it is due.
5. Make Personal Study Guides For Exams
Since tests comprise the bulk of the grade in many courses, it is crucial to cram hard before every exam. I would suggest devoting at least one full day of studying for each major midterm or final. I recommend making a checklist of necessary concepts to know for the exam.
When reading through all the notes, slides, handouts, homework solutions, and relevant book chapters, it is important to look out for concepts and formulas that absolutely must be memorized. Write these essential formulas and concepts down on a separate sheet of paper. Focus entirely on this sheet when the exam time draws near.
6. Think Strategically
It is important to keep track of the percentage values of each assignment and exam in order to know how to allocate one’s time. Also, it may be wise to invoke the pass/no-pass option when one is performing poorly in a class.
7. Learn to Communicate
Verbal and written communication skills are important assets to have in college. For essay tests, it is important to be able to develop cogent argumentation. There are many ways to develop one’s communication skills. For instance, if one wants to develop the skill of writing, then I would suggest that one contact the Editor of the Irvine Review and apply for a Staff Writer position.
8. Hang Out With The Right People In The Right Places
If one hangs out with people who care about excelling in college, one will also probably care about excelling in college too. It is good to utilize peer pressure to one’s academic advantage. It may be beneficial to join study groups or tutoring services like LARC. Also, one should identify places on campus which are good for studying and places which are terrible for studying. Avoid the latter place as much as possible.
9. Engage In Research & Apply For Scholarships
Getting involved in academic research is probably the single most effective way to enhance one’s academic career as an undergraduate. Research opens many doors in the academic world and is looked upon favorably by employers. Consider visiting the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) here at UCI.
Scholarships are available at the national, university, school, and departmental levels. One should try to apply for all the scholarships for which one is eligible. A scholarship not only assists in paying for tuition but also greatly enhances one’s resume. Consider visiting the Scholarship Opportunities Program here at UCI.
10. Maintain A Balance
Take college very seriously, but don’t take it too seriously. There is much more to life than academics. It is important to balance one’s time between work and relaxation in order to prevent getting burned out. Don’t take more classes than what is feasible -- 16 units is an ideal load.
Also, it is crucial not to get too stressed out if one receives a poor grade. Just attempt to do better the next time around.
Conclusion
Succeeding in college has little to do with how innately smart one may be. Rather, the amount of success is directly correlated to the amount of time that one devotes to college. One only needs a motivating reason and the mental endurance to make it all the way through.
