Tackle harder work first. Yes, tackle the harder stuff first so that you are sure to
have enough time to complete it. You'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment
completing the work in this order.
Take breaks as reward for work. Reward yourself for completing a major task by
taking a break and chatting with a friend or watching some television. Not only are the
breaks good motivation to help you complete something, you'll also be more refreshed
to tackle the next bit of work after a break.
Break larger projects into smaller, easy-to-accomplish pieces. If you have a massive
term paper due at the end of the semester, break up the work into smaller chunks and
assign deadlines to each part.
Do not overextend yourself; learn to say no. Besides all your academic work, you
will also be asked to get involved in all sorts of clubs and organizations while in college --
and at some point, you will have to learn to say no to some requests of your time.
Work hard to play hard. One of my favorite students used to say that she worked
hard so that she would have the time to play hard -- and that's a good balance. Just
make sure you do the work FIRST.
Study early and often. Breaking your studying into shorter periods of time will
make less of a chore -- and give your mind time to absorb the material before moving on.
Develop and practice good study habits. Make it a habit and studying will become
second nature to you.
Know how you best study, learn material. Some people need complete silence to
concentrate while others like a little noise. Find what works for you and stick with it.
Study with friends to gain support, but... don't turn it into a social event. A study
buddy can be a great tool, as long as you actually get some studying accomplished.
Make sure work is done before socializing. Studying is critical to learning, which is
critical to better grades -- so do the work before heading out to have fun.
Know what to expect on exams. Every teacher has a style of test development,
so obtain old copies or ask the teacher directly. Know the types of questions that
will be asked -- as well as the content that will be covered.
Read questions carefully and plan answers. Take your time at the beginning of the
test to read through all the instructions and make a plan of attack.
Pace yourself so you have plenty of time to complete all parts. And know the point values of questions, so you can be sure to complete the most important ones first in
case time does run out.
Ask questions. If you don't understand something, or need clarification of the
question, ask the professor. Don't wait to get the exam back and find you answered a
question the wrong way.
Be an active listener in class. Don't read the newspaper, gossips with friends,
or text your friend during class. Instead, listen attentively and actively -- and ask
for clarification when you need it.
Take good notes in class. Whether taking notes from scratch or following a teacher's
outline, the key for you will be to get the most important details down so that you can
refer back to them when you need them.
Rewrite or organize notes on your computer outside of class. This suggestion may
sound a little extreme, but the writing-to-learn literature shows that you can increase your
understanding and retention of material by rewriting it.