Know What to Expect in College

Varying class sizes

Class sizes vary, depending on the college and the course.  While most classes have fewer than 30 students, college classes can have anywhere from 15 to 200 + students.

The need for critical thinking skills

 In college, you have great deal of reading to do, and you are expected to understand and remember what you read.  You are also expected to be able to draw conclusions, form opinions, and evaluate the ideas of others.

The need for personal responsibility 

In college, you have a tremendous amount of freedom.  No one monitors your progress, no one checks to see if you are going to class, and no one knows whether or not you’re doing your assignments.  You are responsible for your own academic progress.

Consequences for low grades

All colleges have academic standards that students must meet in order to stay enrolled.  Students who let their grades fall below a certain point are generally put on academic probation.  Most colleges require that students on probation bring their grades up by the end of the following term, or they are withdrawn from school.

Less time in class and more emphasis on independent study

In college, you are expected to do most of your learning on your own.  For every hour you spend in class, you should plan to spend two hours out of class reading, studying, and completing assignments.

Attend every class

The importance of regular class attendance cannot be overemphasized.  When you miss classes, you miss lectures, notes, class discussions, homework explanations, and assignments.  Without meaning to, you may also miss quizzes, and even tests.

Be organized

Use a planning system that works for you. When you're given a large assignment, break the assignment down into smaller parts.  For example, if a research paper is assigned on Feb l and it’s due Feb. 21, give yourself deadlines like the ones listed below. 

Example:         Feb. 5 – Complete research

                         Feb. 9 – Finish outline

                         Feb. 15 – Have rough draft done

                         Feb. 21 – Turn in final draft

Many instructors hand out a course syllabus at the beginning of the semester.  A syllabus will list all of the assignments for the course, along with their due dates. 

Try to connect with classmates

If you have a question about an assignment or an upcoming test, or if you miss a class, you’ll then have someone that you can contact. 

Maintain a neat and organized study space

Set up a desk or study area with everything you need. Keep this area neat and organized so that materials can be easily located.

Don’t overextend yourself

The first step in time management is to look at your life to make sure that you’re not overextended. If you feel that you are doing more than you can handle, look for ways to make your life more manageable, and try to make some changes.

Make efficient use of your time

Consciously make choices about how to use your time.  You could, for example, decide to limit yourself to one hour of TV or socializing on weeknights.

Look for ways to streamline and combine tasks.  For example, studying while you’re doing your laundry.  

Learn to say no

In college there’s so much to do and so much going on that it’s easy to get “sidetracked”.  It’s also easy to tell yourself that you’ll have time to study later.  Know what you need to do and prioritize what's important that week. 

Adapted from Frender, G. (2004). Learning to learn. Nashville, TN: Incentive Publications