This document provides tips for college students on utilizing academic resources, setting goals, time management, assessing strengths and weaknesses, and adjusting to the increased independence of college life. It recommends students find out about library resources, guest speakers, professors' office hours, tutoring centers and counseling services. It also emphasizes setting specific, timed goals in a planner, doing a SWOT analysis of skills, and taking responsibility for one's own schedule, homework, and communicating with professors.

1. *Note! These are JUST the BASICS! For thorough ASP know-how:
attend workshops/check out the website/see us in-person in 012 Memorial!

2.  Find out what resources are available to you
on campus, like….
▪ Library & research databases
▪ Guest speakers
▪ Professors – especially during office hours!
▪ The University Tutorial Program, the Writing Center, the
Counseling Center, etc!
 Resources = Not just for academics! Often
you can get food, entertainment, rides to the
mall, and other freebies through Hofstra’s
many events & activities!

3.  Set specific goals*
 Make deadlines for yourself
 Get a planner to keep things together
 Do this: “Have math homework done by
Wednesday”
 Not this: “Math homework ugh, fml”
*

4.  Do a SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threat
s) assessment of your own academic skills
 Know what your strengths are so you can use
the skills you already have – and build on your
weaknesses until they become strengths!
▪ If you don’t know how, that’s ok! There are tons of
resources on this website – and on campus – to discuss
this with you! We are here to help!
▪ Not sure where to go first? See CUA/ASP in Memorial
Hall

5.  HUGE for getting good grades*
 Your planner is your new BFF!
 It’s a universal basic skill that will get you
employed (eventually)
*

6.  Nobody will be telling you what
(how, when, why) to do. It is all on you.
 You make your own schedule and choose
activities outside of the class.
 Technically, you don’t HAVE to do your
homework. But it WILL affect your final
grade.

7.  Studying in college is different than what you are
used to.*
 You have to be prepared beforehand. You may not
be reminded so it’s up to you to figure out when to
do what.
*

8.  Professors expect YOU to initiate communication if
you need help
 You are supposed to keep track of all the due dates –
HINT: they’re on the syllabus!
 Tests are less often but cover larger amounts of
material