The document provides tips for academic success including setting goals, choosing courses, using resources, meeting instructors, active learning, time management, reading skills, note-taking, involvement in extracurricular activities, specific note-taking skills like using a separate notebook for each class, sitting at the front, pre-reading, identifying main points, reasons to take notes, identifying important content, study skills like using flashcards and study groups, creating study guides, quizzing oneself, getting enough sleep, and test-taking skills like arriving early, confidence, following directions, planning time, and reviewing answers.
2. Ten Steps to Academic
Success Set individual academic and personal goals.
Choose courses carefully, especially during the
first year.
Know and use resources.
Meet and get to know your instructors.
Learn actively.
Manage your time well.
Know and actively use reading skills.
Develop strong listening and note-taking skills.
Get involved in co-curricular activities; learn
3. Note Taking Skills
Use a separate notebook
for each class.
Put a heading and date
on notes each day to
remember when you
discussed the topic.
Sit near the front of the
class to have direct
communication with the
professor.
4. Note Taking Skills
Continued Attend all lectures, even if
attendance is not necessary.
Listening to the lecture helps to
reinforce the material.
Pre read material in text to be
better prepared for what the
lecture will cover.
Learn to identify main points
and summarize information in
lecture.
5. Reasons To Take
Notes Making yourself take notes forces you to listen
carefully and test your understanding of the
material.
When reviewing, notes provide a gauge to what is
important in the text.
Personal notes are usually easier to remember than
the text.
Writing down important points helps you
remember them even before you have studied the
material formally.
6. What Is Important
Material written on the board,
overhead or power point.
Repetition – anything that the
instructor repeats.
Emphasis - can be judged by tone of
voice or the amount of time the
instructor spends on the topic.
Summaries given at the end of class
Reviews given at the beginning of
class.
7. Study Skills
Study for the test over several days
– don’t cram the night before.
Use flash cards to memorize key
words and definitions.
Create a review sheet or study guide
with all of the important facts.
Quiz yourself.
8. Study Skills
Continued Form a study group to review
with.
Find a comfortable, quiet place to
study for best concentration.
Take breaks to regroup and give
your brain time to retain.
Get a good nights sleep so you are
more alert.
9. Test Taking Skills
Be prepared. Arrive early
and review notes.
Approach the exam with
confidence. View the exam as
an opportunity to show how
much you have studied.
Read and listen to directions.
Skim the exam and plan your
time wisely.
10. Test Taking Skills
Continued
Answer the easier questions first to
build confidence and create
momentum.
If you don’t know an answer, skip it.
Another question may trigger your
memory or provide the answer.
Save a few minutes to go back over the
test and review your answers to look
for careless mistakes.