Accomplishing your scholastic goals in college is possible. You must first know what you want to achieve, however, to develop your plan of action.

Secrets to Success Stop Your College 'Get-Ahead' Stress!
By Lynda Kessler
December 2001

The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- During freshman orientation at Penn State Smeal College of Business, University Park, PA, eager students grab David Christy, associate dean for undergraduate programs, and ask what can they do to succeed in college. And, fortunate for them -- and you -- Christy's got plenty of information and inspiration to share.

According to Christy, your road to success begins with knowing who you are and what you're good at. "We'll find a student who is pretty good at high school math, [then] comes to college, struggles with calculus, and doesn't find it interesting, but pursues a technology degree," Christy admits. The danger in this, you ask? "The student is always going to be at a disadvantage -- he's never going to feel like a master at the subject he's studying."

Christy says choosing friends is also a crucial factor in the success equation. "If you know what your goals are, you need to select friends who share them. If you're anxious to get good grades because you want to go to law school, the only way that will happen is if you're around other students who are similarly motivated," he explains. It's all about peer accountability. If you never skip a class, and your friends are like you, your absence will concern them, says Christy.

Become acquainted with your teachers during class time and office hours. "Even if you ask them how they ended up as a university professor," he insists, "it can be interesting to you and it's a real positive discussion to have." It also humanizes the prof', too! "You realize that this faculty member was [once] a young person, too, and a student making decisions."

The biggie, says Christy -- avoid slacker-syndrome. Don't take easy classes rather than those that challenge your knowledge and force you to step up to the educational plate, or become a couch potato when you used to be an active student.

"The problem is, you [can] develop habits like watching TV for three hours," Christy says. "When you start college, you expect to have that [same] three hours to watch TV. Without your parents around, it's hard to break out of that."

In a nutshell, contends Christy, it's all about taking a proactive approach to your college experience in order to capitalize on your success. So what's it going to be: An afternoon in front of the couch watching Seinfeld re-runs, or discussing a class project with your lab mate? The answer's a no-brainer (especially since you've seen every re-run twice!).