Many freshmen flounder their way through their first semester because they do not know what to do or what to expect. They get worse grades than they should and they do not live up to their potential. However, it does not have to be like this, whether you are going to a physical university or virtually studying, such as with a school like the Monash online. With this advice, you can easily make the transition from high school to college.
1. Remember that no one is going to push you.
In high school, teachers are often responsible for giving students motivation and pushing them to succeed. They have to teach them, but they also have to make them want to learn. In college, the professors do not care if you want to learn or not. If you choose not to do an assignment, they will just fail you and move on with their lives. You must know that the motivation comes from you.
2. Go to class.
Another thing that students are surprised by is that they do not technically have to go to class. They are so used to being forced to go to school by their parents that they start skipping classes as soon as they can. This is the fastest way to watch your grades dive. You need to go to class. You are going to learn far more than you think just by showing up. You will never be surprised by tests and quizzes, and your professors will like you. All of this helps you get better grades.
3. Study outside of class.
You may have been able to get by all of your life just by studying when you are actively in class. From kindergarten onward, you spend a lot of time in school. In college, you may only spend two or three hours in classrooms each day. The rest is up to you to study during your free time.
4. Learn the grading system.
Most college classes do not have a lot of projects and busywork like high schools. You may only get two exams and a paper to do during the semester. Your whole grade is based off of these three things, along with your participation. Learn how it works for each class so that you know what you have to do to pass the class.