You and Your College Experience

“Even if you are on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there.” 

-Will Rogers

Image of Tech Students walking to class

Figure 1.1 – Tech Students walking to class

 

 

 

Where Are You Now?

Assess your present knowledge and attitudes.

Yes Unsure No
1. I understand all the benefits of a college education for my future life.
2. I am aware of how my previous educational background has prepared me for college work.
3. I have all the personal traits of a successful college student.
4. I know how the learning process functions and make an effort to maximize my learning at each step in this process.
5. I know my personal learning style and use it to my advantage when learning new things.
6. I know how to pay attention to gain the most from my classes.
7. I am aware of my college’s policies for academic honesty and behavior on campus.
8. I know where to find all the resources of my college that can help me succeed both academically and personally.
9. I am confident I can earn the grades I need to achieve success in my college courses.
10. I know the first year of college will be the most difficult, but I am fully prepared and take responsibility for my own success.
11. I am taking steps every day to ensure I am successful in every aspect of the college experience.

Where Do You Want to Go?

Think about how you answered the questions above. Be honest with yourself. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your present skills for succeeding in college?

Not very strong Very strong
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

In the following list, circle the three most important areas in which you think you can improve:

  • Being prepared for college-level work
  • Developing a positive attitude for college
  • Successfully using each step of the learning process
  • Adapting and broadening my personal learning style
  • Getting the most out of classes large and small
  • Following all college policies
  • Taking advantage of all college resources
  • Getting the best grades I can get
  • Successfully transitioning to college and completing the first year
  • Doing everything I can every day to ensure I succeed in college

Are there other areas or skills that need more attention in order for you to succeed in college? Write down other things you feel you need to work on.

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How to Get There

Here’s what we’ll work on in this chapter:

  • Recognizing the importance of making a commitment to succeed in the first year of college
  • Understanding the obstacles students like you may have to overcome when transitioning into college
  • Figuring out how to learn best in each step of the learning process
  • Using your personal learning style effectively while also expanding to include other forms of learning
  • Staying motivated and succeeding in large lecture classes as well as small discussion classes
  • Working with your academic advisor to select courses and plan your program
  • Discovering what resources your college offers students to succeed not only in classes but also in their personal and social lives
  • Understanding why grades matter
  • Understanding why the first year of college is so critical and how to ensure you make it through
  • Knowing what steps you can take starting today and every day to ensure your success in college

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Welcome to College!

The reason for this book, and for almost all college courses, is that college does require commitment and effort. Like everything else in life that leads to meaningful results, success in college is not automatic. But when you apply yourself to your studies using the skills you’ll learn in this book, you’ll find you can succeed.

What Will I Learn From This Course?

  • Develop positive relationships and practice effective communication with peers, staff, and faculty.
  • Identify and use resources available at Texas Tech to support academic success, safety, and wellness.
  • Integrate and apply academic success strategies (e.g note-taking, study skills)
  • Identify and apply strategies to effectively manage time and priorities.
  • Examine and develop strategies that promote wellbeing.
  • Explore sense of purpose, goals, and direction through self-awareness and self-reflection.

License

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RaiderReady: Unmasking the Possibilities of College Success Copyright © 2018 by Texas Tech University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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