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The Success Equation
By Lynda Kessler
Additional reporting by Robyn Tellefsen
July/August 2003

The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- During freshman orientation at Penn State's Smeal College of Business (University Park, PA), eager students grab David Christy, associate dean for undergraduate programs, and ask what they can do to succeed in college. Fortunately 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's pretty good at high school math, [then] comes to college, struggles with calculus, doesn't find it interesting, but pursues a technology degree [anyway]," he says. The danger in this? "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." You must select a subject of study you enjoy and excel in.

Choosing friends is also a crucial factor in the success equation. "If you know what your goals are, you need to find friends who share them," explains Christy. "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." It's all about peer accountability -- if you never skip a class and your friends are like you, your sudden absence will concern them, he says.

In addition, be sure to become acquainted with your teachers during class time and office hours. "Even if you ask them how they ended up as a university professor, it can be interesting to you," insists Christy. It also humanizes the professor. "You realize that this faculty member was [once] a young person, too, and a student making decisions."

The biggie, says Christy, is avoiding "Slacker Syndrome." Don't take easy classes in place of those that challenge your knowledge and force you to step up to the educational plate, and don't become a couch potato but rather an active student.

"The problem is, you [can] develop habits like watching TV for three hours," he warns. "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 tube watching Friends reruns, or discussing a class project with your lab mate? The answer's a no-brainer -- especially since you've seen every rerun twice!