Academics
Twenty-five Secrets to College
Success
Success in your college studies is the result of many factors.
Here are some practical things you can do to increase your chances
of success.
Why are you going to college? What do you hope to accomplish?
What career do you want to pursue? If you know what you want,
it is also often easier to endure what must be done to get there.
Enrolling in SLS 1301 Career Planning and SLS 1401 Computerized
Career Planning may be a good way to clarify your career goal.
If you would rather do it yourself, self-directed "Career
Options" booklets are available from any campus student success
office.
Academic advising is an important part of any student's success.
Your counselor or adviser can help you determine exactly what
courses you need to take for a given program, major and transfer
institution. For students planning to transfer to a university,
requirements often vary from one university to another and usually
involve certain prerequisite courses that you need to work into
your program of study. You should select a major and transfer
institution as soon as you can, since some programs of study have
many prerequisite courses. It is also a good idea to meet with
a counselor or adviser any time your plans change. You may make
an appointment in any campus counseling and advising center.
Without clear priorities, what is more important can sometimes
get lost in what is more fun or exciting. You should have a clear
sense of what comes first and should monitor your own activities
to make sure they reflect this set of priorities. Developing a
weekly schedule - with an appropriate balance between your priorities
- is one way to do this.
Twelve credit hours is a minimum full-time class load. If you
are employed 20 or more hours a week, you should probably take
three to nine credit hours (one to three classes), depending upon
the difficulty of the classes, the amount of time you have to
study, your GPA and other factors. If you are not sure, generally
it is better to take a lighter load rather than risking one that
is too heavy. Students who are not working and who have a high
GPA (3.0 or higher) can often take 15 (or sometimes more) credit
hours. Summer (six weeks) term class loads should usually be no
more than half as many credits as during a fall or spring term.
Your degree audit summarizes your progress toward your degree
and lets you see what you have yet to finish. The degree audit
does not include university prerequisites; see a counselor or
adviser for this information. To obtain your degree audit go to
www.FACTS.org.
The earlier you register, the better selection of classes you
will have. It is a good idea to seek academic advising before
the beginning of registration.
FCCJ has many resources that can help you succeed. You should
familiarize yourself with the assistance available within the
learning center (help with reading, writing, mathematics and other
subjects), the career center, the computer lab, the learning resources
center (library), the foreign language lab and the campus counseling
and advising center.
You should thoroughly familiarize yourself with the information
in your College catalog; the procedures for dropping or withdrawing
from classes, the grading system, deadline dates (listed in the
catalog calendar), the student code of conduct and grade appeal
procedures are some of the things you need to know about.
Many students have difficulty simply because they have never learned
certain basic study skills. Develop these skills by adding Living
and Learning in a Knowledge-Based Economy (SLS1103) to your schedule.
You'll gain a unique advantage in the classroom and in the workplace
with the survival and success skills taught in this course. Topics
include goals and priorities, maintaining commitment, teamwork
and decision making, learning skills, leadership styles and skills,
and much more.
No matter what your major or program, computer skills will be
helpful to you. Word processing, for example, can greatly increase
your efficiency with any kind of writing assignment. Computing
resources are generally available in the learning resources center
and the computer lab. CGS 1570 Microcomputer Application Software,
OST 1100 Keyboarding/Introduction to Word Processing (for those
without typing skills) and/or OST 2771 Word Processing can be
good courses to develop these skills. Non-credit courses are also
readily available.
Reading speed and comprehension are fundamental to college success.
No matter how well you presently read, you will benefit by increasing
your reading skills. By doubling your speed (often a realistic
goal), you can cut in half the time required to read certain kinds
of assignment. Such courses are often taught in continuing education
programs.
One of the ways
that college is different from high school is the degree to which
professors expect you to be able to think in analytical and creative
ways. These skills come more naturally to some people than others,
but anyone can enhance them by following certain guidelines and
through proper practice. Two particularly useful books on this
subject are "Brain Power" by Karl Albrecht and "A
Whack on the Side of the Head" by Roger von Oech.
This is the simplest way to get better grades. Many students fail
simply because they miss class and, therefore, fall behind in
their work. Also, some instructors have an attendance policy (outlined
in their course syllabus) that allows only a few absences before
your grade is affected. Other professors may not have an attendance
requirement, but do not be misled - they will still hold you responsible
for what is covered in class and for the work you miss.
This is an obvious but often neglected principle. Being prepared
for class means having your assignments done on time, completing
the required reading in your text and giving some thought beforehand
to the day's topic of discussion.
Your instructor is obligated to provide you with a course syllabus
that summarizes the requirements of the class, the basis for assigning
grades, any attendance policy and other relevant information.
Read this very carefully and ask questions about anything you
do not understand.
If you are having difficulty in a class, often the best thing
to do is to talk to your instructor. He or she may be able to
suggest better ways to approach the material or other ways to
get help with your class work. Be sure to ask about any class
assignments or requirements that may not be clear to you. Also,
if you are going to ask for an exception to an established class
policy or procedure, it is often best to make an appointment and
do so in private.
It is often helpful to study with a group of other students taking
the same class. This gives you a convenient way to ask questions
about assignments, share insights, compare notes and quiz each
other in preparation for exams.
Don't be afraid to ask questions when you are not sure about something.
Instructors usually appreciate questions as a way of clarifying
what they are teaching. Asking questions is the most direct way
to find out what you need to know. If you have a question concerning
College policy or procedure, the campus counseling and advising
center can usually be of some assistance.
If you are having difficulty following the material presented
in a text, you can often find another text covering the same material
in a different way. By doing a little research in the library,
you can locate another book that is more in tune with the way
you like to learn, that provides examples or presents the material
in a clearer fashion. Ask a librarian for assistance with this.
The best way to achieve your educational goals is to stay in school.
This sounds simple, but many people drop out before they have
really given themselves a fair chance to succeed.
There is more to campus life than just attending classes. Participation
in student activities, clubs and other organizations can make
you feel more a part of the College, help you develop leadership
skills and give you the opportunity to develop friendships. Stop
by your campus student activities office for more information.
If you are having a problem related to your school work, it is
wise to do something about it as soon as you can. If you are not
sure what to do about a concern, a counselor can often help you
clarify your situation and your options.
Learn to stand up for your rights. The College has grievance and
appeals procedures to help assure your fair treatment. If you
think you've been treated unfairly or unreasonably, make an appointment
to talk with a counselor or the campus dean of student success
to get some advice on how to best handle your situation.
The more accurate and realistic you are about your goals, abilities,
skills and circumstances, the better able you are to chart out
a wise course to college success. A counselor can also provide
you with information about personality testing if you think this
may be helpful.
No one has more to gain (or lose) than you. Every decision that
you make makes a difference - how you spend your time, how carefully
you complete your assignments, how hard you study for an exam
and how determined you are in achieving your goals - each such
decision will either bring you a step closer or further away from
your goals.
