Success in school can be defined as a favorable or desirable student outcome. Academic
success is often linked to students’ performance on standardized test scores. The most
frequently cited indicators of student success in higher education include graduation rates,
retention rates, and academic achievement. Success can also be defined as understanding the
difference between needs and wants, taking care of oneself, and having friends. Therefore, in
this assignment am going to state key points which will help college or university students at
academic works. (www.achievethecore.org)
How there are many things that makes a student to be successful and this includes; Know your
goals and values, Acknowledging your goals can be one way to visualize your version of success.
Recognizing what it is that you are trying to achieve by pursuing an education can help illuminate
your values, and you can use those values to motivate yourself as you work toward your idea of
success. For example, if your goal is to secure your bachelor’s degree in order to get a job, then
you might note that you value independence and providing for yourself. Ultimately, your version
of success might be to achieve independence. Holding onto your values as you interpret your
success might help you stay focused on your individual version of success and avoid falling into
comparison traps.
Turn long-term goals into short-term plans: now that you have an idea of what success looks like
for you, you can start translating your vision into an action plan. Action plans divide large goals
into smaller, bite-size accomplishments. This helps make those large goals feel more
approachable and gives you the opportunity to check in with yourself along the way. One method
to distill long-term goals into short-term plans is to create smart goals. Smart is an acronym for:
specific; identify your task, measurable; determine how you’ll measure your goal,
achievable; Create realistic goals that you have some control over, relevant; Focus on goals that
will guide you toward your idea of success, time-bound; set a deadline for yourself to stay on
task.
Smart goals can help you stay focused on achieving your ultimate goal in a manageable way. So,
if your long-term goal is to earn your college degree, consider the individual requirements you’ll
need to meet in order to earn your degree. One of those requirements might include maintaining
a particular minimum GPA. Create smart goals based on elements you can control, such as the
time you spend studying for a class, which can read like this: “My goal is to start each weekday
with one hour of additional study for the first three weeks of class.”
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This goal can help guide you toward your target GPA by keeping you focused on one thing you
can control: the amount of time you put into studying.
Go to class and attend office hours: no matter your measure of success, one key aspect of
achieving it is by showing up. In terms of academic success, showing up to class and during
office hours can impact your overall success in a number of ways. First, class is often the primary
place of learning. If a professor is going to introduce a new topic, they’ll often detail that topic
in class and may include information not covered in the textbook. Attendance is your best
opportunity to get all of the information presented. At the very least, establishing yourself as a
constant presence in the class can demonstrate to the professor that you care about doing well.
Take your relationship with your professors and advisors one step further by attending office
hours. Many students use office hours to clarify confusing concepts, find out their grade, get
advice on future career objectives, or simply socialize. Professors and advisors have a wealth of
knowledge—use that knowledge to move closer to your goals. And later, as you prepare for life
after college, whether that involves grad school or applying for jobs, these are the people you
might one day ask for a letter of recommendation.
Build skills relevant to your coursework: as you work toward your degree, you may notice certain
types of assignments coming up repeatedly. An English major may have to write a lot of essays,
while a chemistry major may work through countless lab reports, and a math major may take sitdown exams that require memorizing complex equations. If your measure of success involves
academic achievement, you might consider honing those skills that you are most frequently tested
on. Take note of how you might leverage your strengths, and try not to judge your perceived
shortcomings. To help with your areas of improvement, your school or department might have
other peer-review resources available to students, like writing workshops or group study sessions.
The benefit of sharpening your academic skills will likely extend after you acquire your degree:
oftentimes, the skills that allow you to become academically successful in your major are also
the skills that will show up as you pursue a career in a related field.
Assess your learning style: everyone’s brain processes information slightly differently. Figuring
out how you learn best and the study habits that suit your learning style can help build confidence
in your ability to succeed academically. To help decipher when you work best, think about an
exam or a paper you did well on. What did you do to prepare? What type of environment did you
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complete your work in? How long did you spend on the assignment? Did you study alone or with
a group?
According to Huffpost (2022), try new things: academic success isn’t the only measure of
success in college. You might want to use your time in school to learn something entirely new or
pick up skills that aren’t fully explored in your other coursework. If you value adventure and
exploration, another measure of success might be experiential. Do you feel fulfilled by your
coursework? Are you challenging yourself in exciting ways? To benefit from the range of courses
that your school has to offer, here and there, take classes that sound fun. Use your elective courses
to broaden your horizons. Pick up a minor in a passion subject. It might do wonders for your
brain, helping you overcome fears, stimulate creativity, and get to know new sides of yourself
Maintain a social balance: along with academics and experiences, one more way you might
measure success in college is according to your social life. One benefit of college is that you are
surrounded by similarly minded people, who likely have some similar goals, even if their values
and motivations are slightly different. As you concurrently embark on your similar goals, you
may want to consider how you can help each other achieve them. In the short-term, you might
trade notes with a classmate or study together for exams. Meanwhile, the associations you form
in college study groups and by participating in clubs and co-curricular activities can evolve into
lifelong partnerships. Years after graduating, you might lean on those relationships as you seek
new job opportunities or consider other life changes.
US Survey (2019), manage your time with intention: time management is a daily practice. When
it comes to achieving success, use your goals to guide the way you manage your time by
prioritizing the tasks that will keep you on your desired path. Of course, it’s not always realistic
to expect your priorities to easily align. Sometimes, life happens, and other days, procrastination
can get the best of us. (One US survey of 2,219 people found that 88% of the workforce admitted
to procrastinating at least one hour a day.) If you can, it might help to build time in your schedule
to deal with the unexpected. Some people give themselves earlier due dates on major projects,
while others might schedule a few hours a week to sit with their thoughts.
If you find yourself struggling to prioritize your college goals, consider whether your lifestyle
and needs allow for you to achieve your goals in the way that you’re currently aiming to. Don’t
shy away from a course correct: there are a lot of options when it comes to getting a college
degree, and for some lifestyles, learning part-time or earning your degree online may be a more
productive fit.
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Forbes (2022), take care of your health: above all, you can’t achieve success without taking care
of yourself. Maintaining your mental and physical health are crucial to reaching your goals,
regardless of what those goals entail. For example, a lack of sleep can disrupt your body’s ability
to function if you are taking on responsibilities outside of the classroom, such as work or family
obligations, finding balance among your academic and social pursuits can be challenging. Hold
space for yourself to notice when you’re feeling off, reprioritize as needed, and seek professional
help if necessary.
In conclusion, in order to be successful in school specifically university or college one needs;
Know your goals and values, Turn long-term goals into short-term plans, Go to class and attend
office hours, Build skills relevant to your coursework, Assess your learning style, Try new things,
Maintain a social balance, Manage your time with intention, Take care of your health.
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REFERENCES
Huffpost (2022), "A Look at the Incredible Benefits of Trying New Things,
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-look-at-the-incredible-benefits-of-trying-newthings_b_59196b49e4b02d6199b2f129."
Forbes (2019). "New Studies Show What Sleep Loss Does To The Brain And Cognition,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2019/11/29/new-studies-show-what-sleep-lossdoes-to-the-brain-and-cognition/?sh=f1ee0b968e30."
Medium (2022), "How Common Is Procrastination? A Study, https://medium.com/dariusforoux/how-common-is-procrastination-a-study-80869467c3f3." Accessed May 12, 2022.
ADHD (2022), The Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services, College of
Applied
Health
Sciences
at
the
University
of
Illinois
https://www.disability.illinois.edu/strategiestechniques-adhd."
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at
Urbana-Champaign.