1. SUCCESSFUL HABITS AND WHY THEY MATTER
 Myths and Misconceptions:
o “I’ve got time between now and the assignment due date, so it can wait.”
o “I did poorly on one test. What’s the big deal? We have more!”
o “I understood what the professor was saying in class, so I don’t need to
study as hard outside of class because I already understand it.”
o “I crammed and procrastinated in high school and that worked out alright,
why change a ‘winning’ formula?”
o “I don’t really understand the course material, but it’ll come to me
eventually. Besides tutors and outside help are for ignorant people, I don’t
need to be babied!”
 Problems with these myths and misconceptions
o 1) They treat academic excellence as if it were just a single act.
o 2) They unreflectively establish habits that lead students away from
academic excellence, not towards it.
 Every decision you make, even the ones that appear to be “no big deal”
determines the type of student you are and will become.
 Habitual high achievement (repeatedly doing well) and consistently meeting
your obligations as a student are signs of excellence, not getting an “A” on
one assignment alone.
 Don’t aim to receive a good grade on your next assignment and then coast the
rest of the semester. That strategy doesn’t produce consistent success. Strive
to be excellent, to repeatedly do well in all that you do.
 Use a calendar (like a bookstore planner or Google Calendar) to
keep track of all of your study times, appointments, and all
responsibilities Fordham related or otherwise.
o Start each week by scheduling study and homework times.
o Specify how many hours you plan to study and work on each
assignment (Example: mark 1 ½ hours on both Tuesday and
Thursday to complete an assignment for Friday.)
o Add meetings with advisors, professors, and groups as soon
as they are scheduled, even if tentative.
 Plan to spend 2 hours outside class for every hour spent inside
class (Example: If you have a course that meets for a total of 4 hours
a week, plan 8 hours of study).
 Give yourself at least one week to prepare for small assignments,
such as:
o Quizzes, précis, reflection papers, readings, etc.
 Give yourself at least two weeks to prepare for large assignments,
such as:
o Tests, midterms, research papers, finals, etc.
Successful Academic Habits
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not a single act but a habit. –Aristotle
Successful Habits and Why They Matter Time Management and Organization
Study Skills

2.  Go to your professor’s office hours as soon as you experience
difficulty and explain your concerns.
o Office hours are listed on the syllabus. If not, ask.
o Email or stay after class to request a time.
o Come prepared with detailed questions and concerns.
o The “see how things go” approach rarely works, and causes regret.
 Set a specific range of time to work on material if you have problems.
 If you do not notice improvement after the end of that time, then seek
outside help as outlined above and below.
o Example: If you are struggling, give yourself a week to focus harder on
the material. Allot at least two extra hours of study time in your calendar,
and by the end of the week if you are still struggling seek outside help as
outlined in the “Study Skills” section. If you notice improvement, make the
extra time part of your usual schedule.
 Use the tutors that each department offers for support.
o If you need a tutor, ask the professor or the department associate chair as
soon as possible how to secure a tutor.
o Contact information for department associate chairs can be found here:
http://www.fordham.edu/info/22218/essential_resources/6163/departmentp
rogram_contacts_for_fcrh_students
o The tutor resource page can be found here:
http://www.fordham.edu/info/20316/academics/3085/tutoring
 Have a dedicated study space. The library is optimal for studying. It is
quiet and has plenty of work space. Avoid studying in lounges, residence
halls, and food courts as there are many distractions in places like these.
 Go to the Writing Center for help on writing assignments (It’s
located in the reference area of Walsh Library. For more information
and to setup an appointment go to: www.fordham.edu/wc).
 Go to the Math Help Room for help with math assignments (It’s
located in John Mulcahy Hall (JMH) room 410).
 Read actively. Don’t merely highlight and copy mindlessly from the
text. Ask questions such as:
o Why does the author think this is important?
o What is the main thesis and/or argument presented?
o What is the meaning of this passage?
o How does this relate to what I read earlier in the semester?
 Summarize the material to yourself in your own words in your notes
rather than copying material down word-for-word.
 Set specific goals for yourself to reach for by the end of the
semester (Example: Strive to get at least a ‘B’ in all of your courses).
o Make your goals S.M.A.R.T.:
 Specific, Manageable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely
o Analyze your past performance in courses and on specific
assignments and set goals that reflect your needs and abilities
while also pushing yourself to improve upon past performance.
 Do not be hard on yourself for needing help whether related to course
material or your physical/psychological well being. This may include:
Motivation and Mindset

3. o Needing to see tutors, professors etc.
o Seeking meetings with the Counseling and Psychological Services Office
o Seeking meetings with the Health Office
 Everyone needs help and support. It doesn’t mean there is something wrong
with you if you ask for help. It simply means you’re human.
 Be alert to certain warning signs that may suggest you’re experiencing difficulty
in a course and/or with your time management. These may include:
o Two or more absences in a class
 FCRH attendance policy follows the ‘2x’ rule. X is the number of days
a class meets weekly and 2 is a multiplier. If a class meets once a week
then ‘x’ is 1 and 2 times 1 is 2. So, you can have 2 absences in that
class. If you have more, the professor can fail you for non-attendance.
 Check with your professors to see how they interpret the policy.
o Habitual tardiness
 Be sure to always be on time for class and notify the professor as
soon as possible if you will be late or absent.
 Professors can count tardiness as absence which will hurt your grade.
o Not clearly understanding assignments or instructions
o Repeatedly receiving low grades on assignments
o Reluctance to participate in class since you feel behind
 If you notice any of these warning signs, seek the proper help as outlined in
the “Study Skills” section above.

4. Academic Habits Log Sheet
Math Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade
English/Literature Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade

5. Science Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade
Language Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade

6. Business/Economics Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade
Philosophy/Theology Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade

7. History Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade
Art/Music Courses:
Course Title Lateness(date) Absence(date) Assignment Grade