What Students Need To Know To Thrive In College

Personal qualities that support academic success
Students who have the following personal qualities are much more likely to thrive in college. You can read more detailed descriptions of the qualities that insure college success here.
Self-awareness and self-acceptance
Proactivity as opposed to reactivity
Perseverance
Skill in setting short and long-range goals
Use of effective support systems
Strong emotional coping strategies
Understanding a student’s rights in college
Individuals with special learning needs are guaranteed special supports in elementary and high school by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. However, in college, no such guaranteed protections exist. Therefore, students need to work congenially with colleges to obtain reasonable accommodations that will facilitate their success.

It is best to have psychological and/or educational testing that was completed less than 3 years before applying to college because colleges usually demand recent testing to support a petition for accommodations.
Students will need to inform the college of their educational needs by registering with the office on campus that is in charge of reviewing and granting accommodations. This office goes by names such as Disabled Student Support Services or Office of Special Services.
Typical “reasonable accommodations” that colleges may decide to grant include:
Extra time to take tests
Providing a note taker
Taking tests in a separate room
Test read orally to the student and/or the student’s answers transcribed or typed
Use of tape recorder to record lectures
Tutoring services (some colleges have tutoring geared for students with special needs, however, most colleges have tutoring available to all students—check both sources)
Taking a reduced class load
Requesting “full-time” status for purposes of qualifying for health insurance when taking a reduced course load
Instructors and professors have the power to make decisions that can help students be more successful. The following are some modifications a student may be able to negotiate on a case-by-case basis:
Obtaining the instructor’s permission to modify an assignment or getting extra time to complete the assignment
Asking for advice about selecting classes or instructors
Asking the instructor to award an incomplete rather than an “F”—but be aware of the college policy in regard to “clearing” the “I”
Action steps a student should take to build a solid college support network:
Think through what kind of support you’d like to have from your parents and friends and express your needs before you go to college
Think about the kind of academic support you’ll need (for example, will you need tutoring) and make plans to set this up
Don’t suffer in silence—speak out, reach out when you need to
Get professional, trained help when you need it: tutors, doctors, etc.
Self-advocacy steps
Successful students understand themselves well. They know their strengths and they have developed ways to minimize the effects of their weaknesses. They also have a clear idea of their short-range and long-term goals, and are committed to meeting these goals.
These self-advocacy steps will help students obtain the supports they need, not only from others but from themselves as well!
Have a clear plan to graduate in a certain time frame and set your schedule to realistically accomplish this plan
Logically plan the kind of support you need to give to yourself!
Meet with your teachers regularly
Don’t wait until things get bad to see you need a different approach; if it isn’t working—try another approach
Pause, think and reflect before diving in—avoid the “Opps! and regret”
Remember: resistance and avoidance stunt maturity; meet challenges had on and don’t be afraid to make mistakes
Evaluate and think through setbacks—they are the teachers of success!
Success is a consistent mindset that says “I can do this, I will do this!”
Everything goes better when you get enough sleep and eat more healthy foods
Plan ahead on how to manage stress, loneliness, and change
Seek balance in all things—academics, relationships, pursuit of interests, career development, spiritual growth
Seek out stabilizing forces (people, classes, work experiences, living arrangements, etc.)
As soon as you identify a problem surfacing in a class, figure out how to remove it from your path
Make better time estimates; after you figure out how long you think it will take you to do what you need to do, multiply that by as least 150%
Keep your long-term, personal goals front and center in your mind, guiding you through the tough times!
Reward yourself for meeting your deadlines and achieving your goals!
Study Skills
Students who master study skills and use their strengths to learn succeed in college. Try these tips:
Set up a realistic study schedule and keep to it!!!! Don’t let spontaneity ruin your completion of college
Frequently review and critique your study approaches to find what is working and emphasize that
Don’t put off the “boring” or unpleasant tasks; doing so will leave you unprepared and can destroy your grade; find a way to see the value it brings to you as a person or as a professional
Take frequent, short breaks when your attention fades
Keep a calendar and an assignment book; record all due dates, test and quiz dates, etc. and schedule study/work sessions by backward planning
Work with classmates who are strong students and stay on track
While reading, stop frequently to retell the main idea and details in your own words
As you read, take notes, jot down questions and related ideas, and make mental pictures of the material to increase your comprehension and retention
Read the material before you go to the lecture; bring notes or an outline and fill in added material as you listen
Ask for clarification in class if you miss details; increase your concentration during difficult listening situations

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