What are some tips to survive and graduate college?

Answer 1

Surviving and graduating college actually isn't that hard. As long as you go to class, pay attention in class, do your work (without waiting until the last minute), and show the maturity to ask questions when you don't understand something (either in class or in a professor's office hours), then you'll be just fine. Also, limit the amount of partying you do; Friday nights are ok (I usually went out drinking with my friends during my senior year every Friday, and we always hung out and did something Saturday evening, like a movie or something), but if you're waking up Wednesday mornings with a hangover you know you're setting yourself up for disaster. Note that this is actually a good recipe for not only surviving college, but actually thriving in college (i.e. getting A's and B's). Good luck!

Answer 2

Put down the beer and *GO* to class.

It didn't occur to me that I could go to a bar on a Tuesday until the end of my sophomore year. I was a bit lucky (?) for that I guess. Many of my peers took themselves out the running quite early with what adults call "gross irresponsibility" that is to say they didn't do what they signed on to do.

Unless you are really bad at formal education, showing up, do the homework, and studying for 3-4 days before big tests will earn you a B in most majors. Cramming is given a bad rap, but it's often all the studying you'll need.

It's also wise to take classes that interest you as often as possible. With luck you'll actually enjoy the material and immerse yourself in it. Class requirements thus become secondary and rather simple.

Finally, an A in a 100 level class is the same as an A in a 400 level class. However, the 400 level class will typically take up more time. The lesson is to party at a constant rate rather than binging early and trying to make it up.... Taking an Econ 101 midterm with a hangover and residual drunkenness cannot be rectified by working harder on 30 page final report in a 499 seminar.

Answer 3

It is wonderful to see this question. I have been to graduate school and have completed two masters and a doctorate and am going back for an MSW.

In order to survive graduate school from my experience and perspective, one needs to have steller communication bothy written and verbal. Then you must have the patience and resolve to read many many journal reserach articles. We are looking at 10-20 per class.

Also, you must get a good command of statistics and research methodology.

Then you must be patient. Grad school can take 2-4 years. ALthough it can be done quicker than that. I finished my first masters in one year, the second one in 1 and 1/2 years, and the doctorate in three years.

Pace yourself and always interact and engage with the instructors of the course and other professors in your fields at that university. Build relationships with other graduate students and other professors as well.

Make sure you develop a relationship with your advisor. They can alway recommend you for positions and for doctorate programs.

All the best.

Answer 4

Actually GOING to class is a big one.I learned that the hard way my first semester.

I'd suggest not becoming a big partier (though it's ok to have fun every once in a while to blow off stress.)

Do your work! Know what your professors expect.

Read the syllabus.

Basically just keep your mind on the task at hand and if you see your grades suffering, don't be afraid to get help.

Answer 5

I agree with many things the others say -- go to class, etc.

However, if you keep up with the work, you will find that you don't need to study much for exams and will have free times to do other things.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I'm 44 and just finished my bachelor's degree, but finished my associate's degree in my early 20s.

It all depends on what motivates you and depends upon your age.

Here are some things I recommend, from the standpoint of a person who went to school to make a better life for my family. These ideas worked - I graduated with honors from my university with a 3.62 GPA.

When things get stressful in school and you want to cut class or drop out of a class, don't. Most classes are a maximum of 15 weeks. It's easier to finish the course than try to go back later on. The only exception for me was in my next to my last semester. I took one too many classes and I dropped a heavy homework class and extended my schooling one more semester. I ended up with better grades in all of my subjects by doing this.

Also, learn time management skills. It's very easy, especially if you live on campus to have friends who don't want to study or already have finished studying. Set up specific study times for each subject. Make up a calendar when you get the syllabus and figure out how much time you need each week for reading, researching, and writing papers, as well as studying. Then make sure you allow that time.

Also, allow study breaks, but limit the amount of time. It's really easy to take a break from studying for "just a minute" and find yourself on a website like this for 4 or 5 hours and you blew your study time. Set an alarm clock if you find yourself procrastinating.

If you are trying to stay up all night to finish a deadline, sometimes it's easier to go to sleep and finish the project in the morning. I found that when I stayed up to finish a project, it often took me 5 or 6 hours to finish because my brain got too foggy from being tired. In contrast, when I slept and got up early, I could finish the project in 1 or 2 hours at the most.

Make sure you talk with your advisors (or all advisors if you have to use a different one for each major/minor) so you do get the classes you need for graduation.

Make sure you know which classes you need for pre-requisites and if possible, find out how much studying will be necessary for each course before signing up. You don't want to find out that you have scheduled 3 killer classes in the same semester, especially if you are going to work a lot of hours or have family commitments as well.

Worse yet, you don't want to find out that a prerequisite that you have to have in order to take a mandatory class for graduation, only has limited enrollment, or is only offered certain semesters. More than one student has found out that they would have to extend their graduation date an additional semester because the class they needed was closed (enrollment was full).

In a group project for a class, if you can choose your group, try to work within a group that is like minded. There are two basic types of people: the ones who are in there to get an "A" or the ones that just want to pass the course and are not into the project. It's a deadly mix if you get both types in the same group. Also, if you are doing an ethics project, get people of various viewpoints in the group. It takes longer to complete, but you will have explored the project from all angles.

Free Riders (the ones that don't want to contribute to the group project) beware!! If you don't want to participate and expect the others to carry your project for you - the ultimate revenge is the group evaluation form. Those of us who worked for the "A" will mark you down on the evaluation form if you are late or you don't put in your fair share of the workload, and the teachers DO pay attention to those forms for the grade on the project. More than one free rider has gotten a "D" or an "E" on an outstanding project because they didn't get something done and the other person completed that portion instead.

The most valuable lesson I learned in college was to set goals. For me, what motivated me to finish at age 44 was picturing myself in cap & gown walking across the stage to get my diploma. The degree is the ticket to a better life for my family.

Answer 7

1. go to class
2.when studying, take midterms, finals very seriously.
3. get good at cramming and napping

Answer 8

the best tip i can give you is to pay attention in class. seriously.