Ten tips toward being personally responsible for your success in college

Posted on June 29, 2020 by mena1969

Successful students exhibit a combination of successful attitudes and behaviors as well as intellectual capacity. Sometimes, it is not about how intellectual you are, but rather how smart you are about organizing yourself and being serious about your academic success.

Successful students . . .

1) . . . are responsible and active. It is important for you to get involved in your studies, accept responsibility for your own education, and actively participate in it.

2) . . . have educational goals. It is important for you to have legitimate goals and be motivated by what they state in terms of career aspirations and life’s desires.

3) . . . ask questions. It is important for you to ask questions to provide the quickest route between ignorance and knowledge.

4) . . . learn that a student and a professor make a team. It is important to know that most instructors want exactly what you want — they would like for you to learn the material in their respective classes and earn a good grade.

5) . . . don’t sit in the back. It is important to minimize classroom distractions that interfere with learning.

6. . . . take good notes. You need to take notes that are understandable, organized and review them often.

7) . . . understand that actions affect learning. Your personal behavior affects your feelings and emotions which in turn can affect learning.

8) . . . talk about what they are learning. You should get to know a topic/subject well enough that you can put it into words.

9) . . . don’t cram for exams. Divided periods of study are more effective than cram sessions.

10) . . . are good time managers. You should tackle a task head-on and not procrastinate

C.A.N. is here for you to ensure that you are up to the challenges that lay ahead. If you would like to discuss the transition to college and how C.A.N. can be of assistance, please fill out the contact us page on our website. http://www.canstudentconsultants.com/

Are you overwhelmed?

Posted on June 22, 2020 by mena1969

You’ve graduated high school. Congratulations! You are excited for summer, yet there is a nagging feeling of anxiety that is clouding the otherwise bright summer excitement. The college countdown is officially on! What should you do so that you can have a good summer yet also prepare for college?

It’s time to purge your closet
You’ll need some polished, internship-approved clothes, going-out items, and every day “I’m sitting in class” clothes. Get rid of the things you don’t need anymore. You can hand them down to siblings, sell them at a garage sale (and make some $$ for college), or give them to Goodwill.

Getting organized on the outside will help you be organized on the inside
You will need to pare down your possessions, as your college room that you share with one or more people probably will not be able to accommodate all of the stuff that you have in your room at home. If you begin to organize your current space now it will be that much easier as the summer comes to an end.

Update your resume
You may be applying for jobs and will need this. If your college has an equivalent of a first-year experience class they will most likely have you create one. Doing it in the summer will put you ahead of the game!

Set up your social media for your new school
If you haven’t already, start connecting with your new college friends before you get on campus.

Get informed
Surprise your professors by knowing about current events. Look into sites like The New York Times.

Spend time with your parents
As hard as it is to imagine, you may just miss them while you are away at college. Enjoy your time with them.

Connect with your new roommate
You may only be discussing who is going to bring the microwave or the rug, but this is the time to begin a, hopefully, positive relationship. The first days will be less awkward if you know something about their family and some of their likes or dislikes.

Make an appointment with your doctor
Make sure to get a physical and that all of your immunizations are up-to-date. Make sure to bring information, like the following, with you to college:

What’s your doctor’s phone number?

Where should you refill your prescriptions at school?

When should you make your next appointment?

Who should you contact if you need a doctor at school?

Get familiar with your college town
Although you have four years to know the ins and outs of your college town, do some research now. Get to know the public transportation system, restaurants, and where to get your hair cut.

Go to orientation
One of the most important parts of beginning your college career is attending Orientation. You may take placement tests, work with your advisor to register for fall classes and meet faculty, staff and other new students just like you. You will also receive valuable information on what to expect in the next few months.

Register for classes
Most orientation programs include class registration. Take a look at the requirements in advance so that you can ask questions during the registration process.

Buy your textbooks
Now that you have your classes selected, it is time to buy the cheapest textbooks. You can purchase the books at your college bookstore or search the web for deals. You may want to look at sites like Amazon, TextbooksRUs, Chegg, etc.

Get a makeover
Imagine a new look for this new chapter in your life. A new haircut and new wardrobe will begin the transformation of the new you.

Learn how to get ready, quickly
Have you ever overslept? Do you know how to get ready and to class on time? Take this summer to “train” yourself to streamline your morning routine (we will discuss the morning routine in an upcoming blog) so that mornings will be less stressful.

Take a self-defense class
Being on your own can be scary. Get trained to react in an emergency so that you can go away to college with confidence.

Like a champion

Posted on June 15, 2020 by mena1969

You want to be successful. You’re juggling your classes, family, and friends. How are you going to be an academic champion of your life?

These five tips can help you stay become that champion:

Know your strengths — It’s human nature to want to correct weaknesses. But knowing your strengths and how to use them effectively can have a much more substantial effect on success and well-being. So how can you reframe your thinking? One tool—the C.A.N. Academic Success Inventory can help you gauge your strengths and challenge areas. http://canstudentconsultants.com/survey. The test allows for an objective view into where you excel and where you may need a bit work.

Set specific goals — Achieving your goals depends on how well you can manage your time. Goal setting requires a strategic plan for the semester. Students who do better in general are the ones who take time to plan.

Prioritize happiness — Feeling good about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it is the best way to ensure success.

Be resilient — Even with a good plan, obstacles will arise. How well you deal with those obstacles depends on your perspective. Predict you’re going to make mistakes and make alternate plans to achieve your goals.

Make time to recover — Periods of stress can be positive and motivating if they expand your perception of what’s possible, but they can lead to chronic stress when you don’t build in time to recover. So, before you pull another all-nighter, think about the effects it may have on you the next day. Taking breaks, setting aside time for meals, and enjoying recreation can help fuel you and keep you on course to achieve your goals and be the champion of your academic journey.

Three+ months until the big day!

Posted on June 8, 2020 by mena1969

It’s happening. When you started high school, college seemed a lifetime away. Now, it is a little bit more than three months away! Whether you are anxiously dreading the summer’s end or excitedly counting down the days until your arrival at your chosen college, rest assured, you have an amazing four years ahead of you.

You will embark on an once-in a-lifetime journey that is sure to challenge and develop your already-proven capabilities and talents both academic and otherwise.Your time at college will be filled with exciting opportunities, life-changing lessons, and unforgettable experiences.

This is not to say, however, that the prospect of leaving home, choosing classes and extra-curricular activities may seem quite daunting at first. C.A.N. is here for you to ensure that you are up to the challenges that lay ahead. To get you started, you should make sure that you:

Register for Orientation as soon as possible so you can attend the Orientation date of your choice (you must deposit before you can register for Orientation.)
Apply for Financial Aid. You can do this prior to deciding where to attend, however be sure that once you decide, you have your information sent to the appropriate school. The FAFSA is free to apply. If you are asked to pay a fee, you are on the wrong site!

Apply for Financial Aid. You can do this prior to deciding where to attend, however be sure that once you decide, you have your information sent to the appropriate school. The FAFSA is free to apply. If you are asked to pay a fee, you are on the wrong site!

Listed below are blog topics that may be included on this website. These topics can also act as potential coaching topics to help you determine your challenges.

How to write an essay

How to write a professional email

How to proofread

How to study

Academic Reading

Time Management

Budget management

Self-advocacy

How to get organized

How to navigate the institution

How to become an active learner

Bridging the gap between what you know and the skills needed to be a successful college student

Setting roommate guidelines

Alleviating stress

How to find cheap textbooks

What to do if you receive a bad grade

Getting to know your professors

Problem solving

Risk taking/Resiliency

Study skills

Goal setting

Time Management

Learning style preference

Communication skills

Note taking

Academic Reading

Test taking strategies

Critical thinking

No Apologies

Posted on June 1, 2020 by mena1969

The problem is that we fall into an apology trap. By default and habit we apologize for our performance in school to protect ourselves, so people wouldn’t think we are an underachieving person.

When you apologize for your academic performance, you’re basically saying:

I am not good enough

I’m silently keeping score of what is good enough

I put great importance on how my grades appear and maybe, when I see or hear about others’ grades I’m keeping score, too.

When we apologize for what we have it makes others feel uncomfortable, it discredits the work we have done, and it reveals the true state of our heart. Ouch.

People caught up in perfection are usually much harder on themselves than they are on others.

No apologies necessary.

Explore

Posted on June 1, 2020 by mena1969

The first time you step foot onto a college campus the beautiful terrain, historical buildings, and the thought of taking that next step in your life may distract you from researching if this college is the right fit for you. Make sure you explore the city, check out local websites to find out how frequently the town holds events that you may be interested in, and investigate what the campus career resource office has to offer.

Know what you are getting yourself into. Don’t overlook other aspects of college life such as health and wellness, community and religious associations, travel costs to and from your hometown, and the climate throughout the school year.

Remember, your time at college will not only lead you toward the career you wish to pursue, but it will also help define the person you will become. Armed with your research, ambition, and hard work there will be no college town you won’t be able to make feel like home.

College Student Success Consultants

Monthly Archives: June 2020