Knowing how to be successful in college begins with examining the student experience. What are the habits of successful students?
1. Be organized
It is good to have different notebooks for each subject and extra pencils, pens, and bookmarks. If something is not needed in your backpack, take it out!
Unorganized students have been known to keep old and crumpled assignments in their backpacks, so remember to put your backpack in order periodically. Good organization is a common habit of successful students, so make sure your lockers are clean and easy to access!
2. Have a planner
Successful students usually plan their assignments in advance, especially for long-term projects. Using a planner or day planner is a widespread habit among successful students, as it keeps assignments and homework in mind. Also, teachers almost always provide a syllabus at the beginning of the school year.
If you know you have an extensive research paper to write in two months, don’t wait! Successful students plan their work process (research, outlining, outlines, drafts) well in advance. As we always say, it is best to avoid procrastination and spread the work into small chunks of time.
3. Actively participate in class
Raise your hand, participate voluntarily, and ask questions! Teachers not only love students who participate in class, but they also remember more information and end up understanding the material better. Ultimately, these same students will develop a more positive attitude toward education by actively participating.
4. Don’t be a perfectionist
When talking about “learning process,” highly motivated students sometimes forget the second word in that phrase: process. No one expects to do something perfectly on the first try!
In addition, the habits of successful students include knowing when it’s time to ask for help rather than getting even more frustrated. As we said earlier, teachers do not expect perfection in most classroom areas. Homework is designed to improve students’ skills, and mistakes are perfectly normal.
5. Use additional resources
As mentioned earlier, successful students know when to ask for help. If a concept isn’t clear, use the school’s syllabi, do assignments for extra credit, and of course, find a tutor!
If you don’t have the energy to do any written assignments, you can seek help from an essay writing service to hire an essay writer. It’s much better than if you’re overworked and starting to burn out. Allocate your internal resources wisely.
6. Get a good night’s sleep
Too many students go to bed late and attend class without getting enough rest. Students who do their homework early and get a good night’s sleep are more alert during class.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that teens (ages 14 to 17) get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night; the figure is even higher for younger children. Successful students will plan their schedules responsibly to go to bed at a reasonable time. Getting a full night’s sleep is crucial to a teenager’s development, so giving your brain time to recharge is another good habit for successful students.
7. Have a place to study
Many students try to do their homework with various distractions around them, from cell phones to TVs. This is not ideal, and successful students know to do their homework in a quiet place without distractions. Instead of sitting at the dining room table, we recommend that students find a special place to do their homework (such as a desk in their room) that will help them stay focused.
8. Participate in extracurricular activities
Successful students have a positive attitude toward the learning process and value education. These values are engendered when students connect closer to the learning environment.
Whether they sign up for a band to learn to play the saxophone or volunteer after class at the chess club, students who participate in extracurricular activities are happier and more motivated throughout their academic careers. Developing such deeply held values about the benefits of educational programs (and the opportunities they provide) instills lasting respect for education and ultimately levels the path to success.
9. Use technology to your advantage
Students have access to the Internet in this age, an incredible resource that provides us with a wealth of information. Gone are the days when you had to run to the library and flip through file cabinets to find the research paper you wanted!
You can find tutorial videos and lots of useful articles like this: 10 Best Writing Help Online Resources Every Student Must Know. In addition, most institutions today offer online portals where students can access class schedules, resources, and often their grades. Teachers themselves often have their websites with class resources and helpful links – successful student habits include using these resources!
Good luck in your study and use these habits to be a successful student!
