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Set
some academic goals. For goals to work, they must be
specific, realistic, and written.
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Initiate contact with your instructor. Call, e-mail, or talk in
person. Ask lots of questions. Explain your
situation. Visit during office hours. Your
instructor may have 150 students; you may have 5 instructors.
Successful students initiate frequent contact with their
instructors.
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Schedule a counseling appointment to develop an Educational Plan
which lists the courses necessary to achieve an
educational/career goal. How do you know where you are
going without a map?
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Visit
the Career Center to take a DISCOVER career interest test to
help match careers and majors with your talents and interests.
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Maintain a planner or scheduler with all the test, homework, and
assignment deadlines. Student planners are available from the
Counseling Office for free.
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Visit
the TLC lab consistently for homework help and tutoring
assistance.
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Read
the syllabus for each class carefully and refer to it daily or
weekly.
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Register to take the COUNS 111 Introduction to College and
Strategies for Success, a 1-unit course.
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Register to take CIT
110 Keyboarding and Document Processing so that you can type at
least 30 words per minute without looking at the keyboard.
This is a skill that you will need in college and at a good job.
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Check
all important deadlines on page 3 of the Schedule of Classes to
keep track of add, drop, refund, and withdrawal deadlines.
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Do not
enroll in courses that require a lot of reading and papers if
your English placement is below ENG 091.
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Start
taking math courses right away. People forget math if they
don't practice it continuously.
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Be
aware and make use of
student services available on campus: EOPS,
Transfer Center, Career Center, Financial Aid, Child Care,
Library, Student Health & Wellness.
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Get
the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of at least 4
students in each class. They can answer your questions and
help you to study.
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Apply
for financial aid. You never know if you are going to qualify,
and if you receive assistance, you won't have to work so many
hours. The less money you earn, the more assistance you will
receive. You could end up with reimbursements for tuition
and books. Meal tickets are also available.
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Pace yourself.
Completing college is like a marathon. You cannot succeed
by taking 18 units while working 3 jobs. Carry an
appropriate load so that you can handle problems (family
conflicts, car breakdowns, health problems, etc.) when they come
without having to quit college.
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Read and explore
Study Guides and Strategies.
