Want to be on the Dean's List? Here's how.

You've heard the stories...some exaggerated, some real...about students at the top of their high school classes who found college extremely difficult. The truth is that most college freshmen do need some time to adjust to the increased demands of college academics.

But, the adjustment to college academics need not be too lengthy or traumatic if you follow ten pretty straightforward rules.

1. Don't miss classes. And, if you're a betting man or woman, bet that your classmates who continually cut class will wind up with the kind of grades you hope to avoid. This should probably be rule number one and two.

2. There are no days off. Don't get behind. Don't procrastinate. Never. Catching up in high school may be fairly easy; that's not so in college.

3. Take clear, comprehensive class notes (and revise them later). Listen for clues about what your instructors think is most important (and highlight those areas for use when reviewing for exams).

4. Don't be shy about asking questions or getting help if you have a question or are having trouble understanding something. Visit with your instructor after class or during his/her office hours, ask a classmate for clarification, seek out help in the campus learning center, or turn to Google or Yahoo. Just don't delay.

5. Put together a calendar which includes the dates of all of your exams and the due dates of projects and papers. Then, schedule the times and dates when you do the necessary preparation.

6. Never do a reading assignment without having a highlighter handy. The better you highlight when reading, the more efficiently and quickly you will be able to review later.

7. Your exams can tell you a lot about your instructor and what to expect on future exams. Review and analyze them.

8. Talk to students who have been successful in courses taught by your instructors. They may have some helpful tips. A simple, "be sure you know your graphs" or "she likes to focus on the contributions of women" can be very helpful when preparing for an exam.

9. Study groups can help motivate you, discipline you, and expose you to the insights of others. If you work well as part of a team, consider them seriously, especially in courses in which you think you might struggle.

10. In college, faculty (especially good faculty) continually challenge students; it's a big part of the learning process. Don't get ulcers worrying about it, and don't despair if you occasionally get blown out of the sky by faculty (or other students). But, be prepared to defend your statements, particularly those you make on exams and papers.

College academics, like life, can be an up and down ride. You'll almost certainly experience some highs and at least a few (hopefully short lived) lows. But if you have a reasonable amount of ambition, manage your time well, and follow the suggestions above, you have little to worry about.

Article Source: http://www.articlesboard.com

Daniel Z. Kane is a university dean with websites on scholarships, college admission, financial aid, online degrees, and online colleges.
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