23 Tips on How to Be a Successful College

Student
Need help surviving in the academia discourse? These tips will
provide you with ways to be that successful college student you
want to become.

1. Beware of the two different discourses within the academic

discourses
When you become a part of an academic discourse, it is
important to acknowledge that there are two different
discourses that you will participate in. One discourse is
with your professors and the other is with your peers. It is
extremely important to keep these separate in order to be
successful in your academic courses and in your social life.

2. Recognize that each course IS different

Just like how all majors require different skills, courses
require different ones as well. It is important to realize
each skill (writing, public speaking, etc.) you will need in
order to be the most productive in the class. Most courses
will be similar, but recognizing what you need exactly will
help you significantly to get the grade you desire.

3. Get to know ALL of your professors

Getting know your professors is one of the most important
factors for your success in your academic discourse. In
order to get personalized help or reference letters for the
future you need to develop a relationship with your
professors. Communication is key and you will be able to see
how you can contact your professors in the course syllabus.

4. Course syllabuses are your guides!!!

Read your courses syllabus. Not just one, but ALL of them!!
The syllabus will provide you the professors information, a
course description, resources, grading, and the courses
schedule. You will see exactly what is needed from you to
fulfill the professors expectations as their student.
Without knowing the course information, it is extremely hard
to be successful in that class.

5. Keep that pretty smile on your face

Your academic discourse is what YOU make it. Keeping a good
attitude will lead you into the right direction. College has
its struggles, but attacking them with the right attitude
will keep you on the right track to success. Also, keeping a
good attitude and a healthy state of mind will help you be
successful in your relationships with your peers and your
professors. This kind of attitude is required in the
academic discourse to achieve goals. Having a better
attitude will overall make a better you.

6. Set personal goals

Once you recognize your professors goals for you, it is
important to set your own personal goals. Setting
expectations for yourself will provide you will motivation,
keep you in the right direction, and it gives YOU control of
your future. When it comes to goal setting, you want to make
sure you include both of the discourses. This means to allow
yourself to have expectations for your social life and for
your academic world. Remember that your goals should be
obtainable and reasonable!

7. All of your effort + a little extra= success

The easiest way to succeed in your academic discourse is to
make sure you are putting 110% of effort into your work. It
is easier said than done, but in order to get the grade you
are wanting it is necessary. Your professors WILL notice all
the effort you put into your assignments and you will earn
that grade.

8. Priorities, priorities, priorities

In order to maintain success in both areas of the academic
discourse it is important to learn good time management.
Time management will allow you to find the happy medium
between your course work and your social life. One tension
you will see in the academic discourse is the struggle to
find out what is more important and what is more fun, but
take a step back and realize what your priorities are.

9. Organization is key!
Everyone has their own organization system, but once you
find what works for you make sure to keep it. Being
organized will help you tremendously in the academic
discourse. There are many obstacles when it comes to
surviving the college life, but organization is an easy way
to avoid little problems. If you want a way to reduce your
stress, get organized.
10. Do not be afraid to ask for help
Some classes will be harder than others, however there is
help available!! Get help when you need it before it gets
too late. Unfortunately, many students fail their classes
when all they had to do was find the resources to help them
out. Rather if it means to ask your professor or go to one
of the tutoring programs or even asking a friend it will
better you in the future.

11. Know where to find different resources

College is almost impossible without using resources. Dont
know where to ask for help? Find it. Even if you do not need
help, finding potential resources will help you in the
future. Resources could be found in the library, your
professor, and the internet. When it comes to finding
resources on the internet, you want to make sure they are
creditable. Remember if you are using outside resources on
assignments you are citing them the right way.

12. Know your campus

It is important to learn exactly where everything is on
campus in order to be successful. One of the first things
you should do after you move in is to learn where everything
is. Learn where your academic buildings are, the library,
the gym, the dining halls, and anything else that you will
use on a daily basis. Once you recognize where everything is
you will be more comfortable and more of an expert in your
academic discourse. Other people will realize that you know
where you are going and will take your word more
confidently.

13. Get involved

Participating in something more than your academic studies
will give you something to look forward to outside of your
school work and will help you will your relationships with
your peers. Join clubs, fraternities, or sororities.
University campuses offer tons of different activities that
you can take part in. Even if it is just cheering on your
football or basketball team! It is important to stay
involved with your campus and imbed yourself in the culture
of the academic discourse.

14. Meet with your advisor often

One person you might not recognize is a part of your
academic discourse is your advisor. Your advisor is someone
who will guide you throughout your college career. Your
advisor can help you with any classes you are struggling
with, goal setting, accomplishing goals, schedule making,
and any academic or career advice. It is important to meet
with your advisor often and not only when you NEED to. They
are there to help you and have plenty of resources to do so.

15. Networking!!!
Some say the relationships you make in college are some of
the most important relationships you will make in your life.
When it comes to your future career it is important that you
recognize your relationships within your academic discourse
could lead to future networking. Make sure to keep in
contact with those who are in the same career field.

16. Be adventurous
Venture out to new things. Venture out to things that will
make you happy. Attend different events, and apply for
different jobs. This is the time of your life to experiment
to find what you really want. You wont know if you like
something until you try it. It is especially important to
adventure out to new careers within your career field.
Having a bold attitude when starting out your discourse will
allow you to be successful and it will make it clear on what
your dreams are for the future.

17. Get out of your comfort zone

One sticky feeling you have when being adventurous is being
uncomfortable. Uncomfortableness is okay!! This takes a lot
of effort, but get out of your comfort zone to find new
things. If you never get out of your comfort zone you will
never have the opportunity to meet new people, experience
different experiences, and find things that might actually
interest you. There is plenty of opportunities in the
academic discourse, you do not want to miss out. It is weird
at first, but it is worth it in the long run!

18. Do not restrict yourself

Once you step out of your comfort zone and find new things
do not restrict yourself to them. Still continue to venture
out to new friend groups, new internships, and new
experiences. It is easy to find a new kind of comfort, but
if you keep stepping out of it you will realize how much you
are missing out on still. This also applies to grades. Once
you get a bad grade in a course, it is not the end of the
world! Do not restrict yourself to a mindset of you being
poor in that subject. Restricting yourself is a dangerous
way to overlook experiences and opportunities.

19. Keep an open mind

Open mindedness is an attitude that you will need to master
if you want to be successful in college. Not everyone on
campus has the same views or believes, however if you keep
an open mind and see different perspectives you will learn
so much more. If there is one way to gain knowledge about
any subject or person it is by keeping your mind open.
Having a closed mind can keep you from obtaining information
about a subject you may be struggling with or keep you from
building stronger relationships. Open mindedness will make
you a better student and a better person.
20. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Just like in kindergarten, treat people the way you want to
be treated. If you want respect from someone, be sure to
give them that same respect. One tension in the academic
discourse is the variety of beliefs, but it could be avoided
if we add respect into our differences. It is not easy to
understand everyones beliefs and values and they do not
expect you to change yours to fit theirs, however by just
giving them respect you will be able to move past
differences.

21. Be culturally aware

Personally, one of my favorite features of my academic
discourse is the different cultures that surround me. In
order to be culturally aware, you need to be able to accept
peoples different backgrounds and cultures. In college,
this is especially important because not everyone speaks the
same language, wears the same clothing, or believes in the
same religion. Instead of discouraging those who are
different, embrace the differences and learn new things!

22. Drop the stereotypes!!

Stereotyping is another tension in the academic discourse.
It is an unhealthy way to confuse the differences between
individuals and a group you think they belong in. It is
unfair to those who you are categorizing and to yourself as
well. Once you fall into believing a stereotype you could be
making wrong accusations and assumptions of other people and
you will miss out on what those people have to offer in your
life.

23. Fake it until you make it

When it comes to not knowing on how to do any of the things
above, you need to learn how to mushfake your way through
it. Mushfaking is when you fake it until you actually learn
how to do it. You will need to mushfake to learn your
campus, behave in class or with other people outside of
class, learn the differences between your high school
courses and your college courses, and of course on how to
impress your professors! Master mushfaking and you will be
on your way to be an expert in your academic discourse.