Idea of College Student Success

Zachary Marcum
EPE 174
University of Kentucky

Idea of College Student Success

Abstract
For my research, I chose to study the topics of collegiate independence and student involvement. For the
concept of independence, I chose conduct my research biased on the articles provided by my teacher at the
beginning of the year. For the concept of time management, I chose to conduct my research based on online
articles with credible sources. I also used examples from our class discussions throughout the year and my
own discussion with my instructor. I chose to use these sources due to the lack of coverage in the assigned
readings. For my second concept, the concept of school involvement, I chose to use the works of Austin
(1999) and Levine (2005). These two authors provide different but accurate views of the benefits of being
involved on campus and how it can lead to the overall benefit of a student. For this concept, I also used
several websites and ideas that were discussed over the school year.

Idea of College Student Success

As a first year freshman, I honestly had no idea what to expect when I came to the University of
Kentucky just 4 months ago. I had only a small idea of college molded by the stories of my family and the
media. I had just assumed that college was an easy time where people just have fun and party. As anyone
who has actually been in college could tell you, this in not the true experience. College is a dynamic world
where different people, ideas, cultures, and experiences come together all in the pursuit of a higher
education. This new world that I suddenly became a part of was very difficult to adjust to at first, but then I
began to learn how to create my own success in school. College student success has so many variables and
is very difficult to achieve. Although there are so many concepts that lead to student success, I would have
to say in my experience I have found two specific factors that are the most crucial. The most paramount
concepts that contribute to college student success are school involvement and time management. If a
student has the ability to master these concepts, then success at their university is well within reach.
Student organization is debatably the most important factor for any college student from a day-today standpoint. In high school, the workload was much smaller and class times were set back to back. This
is completely different than the scholastic layout in college. Classes for a college student can span from
8am to 5pm on certain days and the course load is far from light. As college students develop, they also
begin to participate in extracurricular activities like jobs, intermural sports, clubs, or Greek life. With all of
these time consuming activities, there becomes a need to set aside time to take care of the schoolwork and
still have time for extracurricular and sleep. It is also using all of the activities and advantages offered to
improve as a student. This is what student organization, budgeting your time and effort to accommodate all
of the activities without drowning.
Time management is important for college student success simply because it is necessary to
accomplish any scholastic feat. Without the ability to manage time, student would be unable to balance all
of their activities and classes and certainly do poorly in one or more part of their college life. Time
management is what allows a student to study for their tests and still attend their club or fraternity meeting;
it is the glue that holds a students life together. In class, we had several discussions on how to be a
successful student and how to achieve and maintain good grades in every class. Every single time this topic

Idea of College Student Success

was brought up, time management was one of the first proposed concepts. Students would explain how
setting aside time to study has been helpful for their grades and led them on a path of success.
As a student, I find the concept of time management to be the most crucial to my current student
success. In my first year of school, I am left with many different activities to juggle. I am a member of
various clubs ranging form student government to swing dance. I am also employed at two jobs and work
over 40 hours per week. Being left with all of these extracurricular and 17 credit hours of classes has made
time management absolutely essential for any remote success as a student. Every weekend I have to create
a schedule based on my assignments and test for the following week. This system has led me to a
reasonably successful first semester.
I plan to use time management in my future for all of my time consuming tasks, especially my
schoolwork. There is never a point in a students life where time management is not essential. There will
always be classes that will require budgeting and there will always be a need for organization. I plan to
continue with my current strategy for time management and to hopefully gain an ability to create a plan of
my time without so much preparation. Hopefully with the time management skills I am learning, I can
achieve all As in my undergraduate classes.
The second most paramount concept for my idea of college student success is student
involvement. Student involvement can easily be defined as being an active member of some of the many
organizations offered on college campuses. This involvement can vary from being a member of a club,
study group, or even a member of a Greek organization. Most students on college campuses find some way
to get involved with one or more of the schools organizations but there are some that choose not to. I have
found that student involvement has only benefits and is needed for true and exceptional success in school.
Student involvement is important for student success for many different reasons. Student
involvement allows many young adults to feel like they belong to a group and they belong at the school. I
know that some may feel that this boost of confidence is not needed for student success but I know that a
student who feels they belong is much more willing to put their best foot forward and try harder to achieve
in school. Astin (1999) found that In certain respects the concept of student involvement closely resembles
the Freudian concept of cathexix. This is the concept that people can invest psychological energy in things
other than themselves, so if someone were to invest time in the school, they would be more determined to

Idea of College Student Success

succeed academically. Student involvement in study groups and study organizations can also lead to
achieving better grades which directly contributes to the overall success of a student. Student involvement
is also important because extracurricular activities look great on resumes. If a student is looking to get hired
for a job, the potential employer will not only view their grades, but also how involved they are as a
student. Employers like to see not only if a student can learn course material, but rather if they can juggle
school with other activities as well.
In my personal experience, I have found school involvement to be crucial to my success in my
brief time here. My involvement in the student government will look excellent on my official resume and
will set me above others with similar GPAs when applying for careers. My involvement with study
programs like the STUDY have also allowed for me to obtain better grades and form more productive study
habits. I have also been able to participate in intermural sports, which has allowed me to make social
connections with those who share my interest and at the same time relieve stress and have fun. I would say
that these activities have truly made me feel like I belong at UK and helped motivate me to be a better
student.
I will use campus involvement throughout my time on UKs campus. I plan to participate in
intermural sports all three years of my undergraduate education and I also plan to move up in the student
government. Programs like the STUDY will also be something I would like to stay involved with when I
need outside assistance for my schoolwork. I would have to say my main goal would just be to maintain my
current level of school involvement and hopefully be put above the rest when it becomes time to find a
career.
College student success is so difficult to explain in two concepts, but I believe that there are only a
few necessary factors that make a successful student. Time management is so crucial to success because it
is what allows a student to stay successful while being involved in other activities. It is a lifelong skill that
will be necessary in college and many years to follow once people begin to work. Student involvement is
also significant because it can help boost grades and set students above the pack so to speak. The
mastering of these two concepts would create a successful college student and I recommend that all college
students, current or new, should work on improving in these areas to further their success.

Idea of College Student Success

Work Cited:

Astin, A. (1999). Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher

Education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518-529.
1
Levine, A. (n.d.). WORLDS APART: DISCONNECTS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND
THEIR COLLEGES. 155-167.
0