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At college, your teachers might not be understanding, there won't be a lot of learning curves tossed your way, asking for an extension is laughable, and the list of what's expected of you as a student has grown much larger than what you're used to in high school. College is a whole different ball game.

After the first few assignments -- whether they be intimidating term papers or intense hands-on projects -- you may ask yourself, "I have to do what?!" Don't fret. We've asked the experts about writing stellar papers, acing classes, and studying the right way. Take these tips with you to campus.

College Writing Nuts and Bolts
You can say, "To satisfy her hunger for nutrition, she ate the bread." Or you can say, "She was hungry, so she ate the bread." Which is more clear and concise? It's obviously the latter, so why do so many students make the mistake of writing their term papers and essays in the passive voice?

Michael Harvey, professor at Washington College (Chestertown, MD) and author of The Nuts and Bolts to College Writing (Hackett, 2003), says this is a "pompous" writing style. You're so used to writing in a formal tone, you automatically think it's more effective. Harvey says that couldn't be further from the truth. "Simplifying makes the sentence shorter and stronger."

Harvey, who has been grading papers for years, notices common mistakes students make:

• neglecting to use active verbs and express bold opinions


• explaining in 30 words what could be explained in a dozen


• overusing big, "college-sounding" words.

Ditch the weak verbs, nominalizations, passive voice, and long, shapeless sentences, he asserts. Instead, use strong verbs, rhythm, and emphasis to your grading advantage. "In other words, write in a more natural, plain-spoken voice," he explains.

Harvey has also come across many essays with poorly organized paragraphs, weak transitions, overly broad or overly timid claims, and clunky use of quotations. "I came to realize that students write in what they think is an adult or collegiate voice," he says. Don't imitate textbooks or official documents, he advises.

For more writing tips, visit www.nutsandboltsguide.com or get Harvey's book at www.hackettpublishing.com.

How to Become a Straight-A Student
For Cal Newport, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) graduate student and Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH) alum, the key to becoming a straight-A student is simple.

After interviewing the country's best students for his book, How to Win at College: Surprising Secrets for Success From the Country's Top Students (Broadway Books, 2005), and inquiring how they were able to ace their classes, nail down leadership positions, win multiple awards, and still find time for activities, he's got the answers.

To become a straight-A student without taking away from your social life, he advises:

• It's not enough to do all your reading. Instead, Newport says to pay attention in class. "You'll pick up on the arguments you overlooked [in the text]," he explains. "Come exam time, your lecture notes will bring you up to speed on the material."


• Care about your grades, but ignore your GPA. Newport believes if you obsess about your GPA, every test stops being an opportunity to show off your ability to engage the material. Instead, the tests become a potential devastation to your overall academic standing. Don't stress so much.


• Never pull an all-nighter. Though this is deemed a part of college life, do you really expect to earn high scores after working on a project or studying for a major exam the day before? "When you know a test or paper is coming up, schedule in advance the days you need to work," says Newport.

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Ysolt Usigan is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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