How to Succeed at Rose
Tips from Learning Center Tutors to future or fellow students
Class Time
"Get to class on time and be ready to take notes when the bell rings. Pay attention and ask
questions when you don't understand something. Students often feel that they don't need to
pay attention or take notes. This is a critical mistake, since most classes cover new material
every day."
"Never skip class. Skipping classes is one of the easiest ways to fall behind."
"Keep legible notes. Try to avoid sloppy writing or multiple scratch marks. If you review your
notes the same day that you took them, you will remember the lecture better."
Study Strategies
"It is also important to have a good study environment. If you need some peace and quiet to
study, people will respect that need. Everyone here has to study, so they can empathize with
your needs."
Time Management
"You will find that there just aren't enough hours in the day sometimes. To avoid feeling so
weighted down, keep a daily to do list."
"Another thing is to take advantage of the time between classes. Make photo copies of your
notes, and keep them in your backpack. That way if you have five to ten minutes before a
class, you could read over those notes."
"Try to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night. Homework is important, but so is your physical
well being. At times, staying up late to finish an assignment and as a result being too tired to
function the next day can be more destructive than beneficial."
"Don't put off your homework/studying until the evening. Often the best time to get
assignments done is during the day. No one is around to distract you and there's not too
much else exciting to do."
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How to Succeed at Rose
Humble Yourself
"Even the brightest students have to put forth huge amounts of effort in order to succeed at
Rose. It would be wise for every student to humble him/herself and to expect to have to work
hard and spend hours on homework (literally) each night upon arriving on campus."
"Not everyone can be the best. Being an average student at a school where only the elite are
admitted, is nothing to be ashamed of."
Get Involved
"The best way to save yourself from becoming a nervous wreck is to get involved. Join a club.
Become involved in Greek life. Play intramurals. Most importantly, meet lots of people and
make friends. Remember, college is the best part of your life! You are here to learn and gain
experience for a successful career, but while you do that, it is important that you enjoy the
opportunities available as a college student. If you do, you will be more happy, which will
make you a more productive student."
"Being involved will introduce you to many people and probably help make some
friends. There is always some event going on, like the football, basketball, or baseball/softball
games or open mike night, that allow students to express themselves in a way they may not
be able to in the classroom."
Residence Hall Life
"For many people, living in a residence hall is the first time they have ever had to so intimately
share their living space with so many people. RESPECT is the most important key to happy
residence hall life. You need to respect other people's things and privacy. TOLERANCE for
the differences between you and your roommate is important. Learn to appreciate the
differences between the two of you. Maybe you can gain some insight and learn something
new."
"Get to know your RA and SA. They are invaluable resources. They serve as tutors, advisors,
stewards, and friends. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or help - that's why they're there!"
Get Help When Needed
"To put it plainly, you will not know all of the answers. Rather than just getting frustrated with
the problem, go ask somebody else. Everybody will have times when they just will not know
how a specific concept works or how to do a problem. When this happens, there is no shame
in asking help from a professor or going down to the Learning Center."
"Don't be afraid to go to the professor's office and ask for help. They have office hours
specifically set aside to help students."