Be prepared – It’s time to go back to school
It’s that time of year again, the end of summer is near and the beginning of school is here. Over the past several years, we have provided helpful tips and information about how to achieve success while in school. In this article, we will share our best tips for back to school success.
Talk to Your Professors
The saying is true, “communication is key”. One of the best ways to achieve success is to talk to your professors. They provide office hours, phone numbers and emails so their students can discuss questions related to class. When meeting with your professor, be sure you have a purpose. If you have questions regarding your grade, make sure you know their policy before asking questions. If you have questions about class materials, write those down before your meeting. Most importantly, do not be afraid to meet with them, they are there to help you. If you cannot make their office hours, be sure to email them requesting a different time. To learn more, check out Talking to Your College Professors: Improve Lines of Communication.
Balance – Things will be different once you get back to school
First, acknowledge that life will change once classes begin. You will have to learn how to adjust your daily schedule with classes, projects, work, and family. Once you realize that, then you can figure out to how to balance your priorities. Consider finding ways to create study groups where you can also work on projects, block certain times to spend with your family and be sure to communicate with your employer/supervisor that you are taking classes. Check out Balancing Life, Work and Graduate School for additional information.
Institutional Resources – there are several resources available to help ease the tension of going back to school
Take advantage of the resources your college offers. There are tutoring services, writing centers, libraries and other academic services that you can take advantage of. You can look for resources on your college’s website, as well as asking your professors. When using writing centers, the services are often complementary. In addition to institutional resources, you can also reach out to Teacher Assistants (TA) for help if needed.
Budget
We can all agree, college is not cheap therefore a budget is necessary. Even if you have help from scholarships, grants or loans, there will still be other items that are needed. Consider budgeting your living costs, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, food and other necessities. If you have to pay for books out of pocket, be sure to shop around for the best prices and consider renting them. Along with renting books, you can take advantage of student discounts! There are many retailers that offer discounts for college students on various items such as laptops and software. For additional suggestions, review Five Financial Tips to Save You Money When Going Back to School.
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