12 Steps to Becoming a Successful College Student

By Meghen Jones

Learning how to balance college life with regular life can be a difficult task. Stepping into your college career feels like you’re being pushed from your teenage years into full-fledged adulthood. This transition is not a joke and can be extremely overwhelming for almost anyone going through it. Studies have shown that general stress, insufficient preparation, and lack of motivation are the leading causes of college students dropping out before they receive a diploma. And, we know that you don’t want to become part of this statistic. Many students struggle with creating a solid routine and healthy habits to get through their educational endeavor successfully—but hey, it costs a lot of money to go to college, and you need to take it seriously!

If anything, think about it from this perspective: you’ve put in the work academically, gathered polished recommendations from high school teachers, and waited months for an acceptance letter from your school of choice. Don’t throw it all away over a few difficulties before looking at the big picture. Even though you’re going through a tough transition right now, it doesn’t mean that things will be turbulent forever. You can survive this, especially with these tips that uCribs has compiled as a resource to help you become the successful student that we know you can be.

1. Plan assignments and tasks ahead of time.

As a college student, getting by on a day-to-day basis won’t cut it. You’ll always have to layout your assignments, obligations, and responsibilities accordingly. If you don’t, you’ll risk missing important deadlines such as exam dates, in-class presentations, and student organization meetings. It’s crucial to have a general idea of your tasks and their due dates— doing so can be as simple as writing it all down in a planner. Planning ahead will keep you focused on the goals you need to achieve throughout the semester, ensuring that you meet every deadline and expectation with little no problem along the way. There’s nothing more fulfilling than getting things done on time without stressing. Maybe, you can even pencil in some “you time.”

2. Stay consistent on a daily basis.

Consistency is key to any college student’s schedule. Consistency may mean attending class on time, staying true to extracurricular commitments, or proving yourself as capable at a new internship.  However, there’s more to consistency than just sticking to a regular study schedule, engaging in weekly self-care routines, and making time for workout regimes. You have to actually think of how to structure everything in a cohesive way that coincides with the never-ending ticking time clock. We suggest creating a daily schedule to maintain all of your obligations. If you find ways to hold yourself accountable, you’re more likely to prevent common pitfalls that students experience in their educational journey, like procrastination.

3. Do not procrastinate and hinder progress.

Speaking of procrastination, this bad habit is a college student’s worst enemy. And yes, we do mean the worst. Not to mention, it can be a hard cycle to break, especially if it’s been a long-standing habit from high school. Just remember, college is a different ball game from your high school experience. Deadlines are actually deadlines, and professors won’t offer bonus points or curve test grades to make up for poor scores. To pass with the grades you need to earn your diploma, you must be on your A-game. Do not wait until the last minute to study for an upcoming exam, write a mid-term paper, or prepare for that much-dreaded group presentation. Map out what you must do well-head of time, according to your syllabi, and give yourself ample time to complete the assignment at hand. Don’t panic, just be on time with your work, and you’ll make it through alive!

4. Divide your large tasks into smaller tasks.

So, you’ve established a consistent schedule and have planned all assignments and obligations ahead of time in your personal planner. While these tactics are very beneficial, a long to-do list can still be discouraging, no matter how organized you are. You can end up spending more time focused on what needs to be done rather than knocking out tasks—and you don’t want to be stuck in this position by any means, trust us! Instead of focusing on tasks as one large assignment, divide each into smaller tasks to keep your stamina in-check, remain motivated, and feel less overwhelmed. By doing so, you will be less likely to suffer from burnout and a disappointing grade. Just take our advice on this one, and we know you’ll thank us later.

5. Communicate with your professors effectively.

It’s no secret that college students sometimes struggle when it comes to communicating with their professors. Professors can be very intimidating with their high level of education, hard-to-understand jargon, and endless expectations of you, the student. But, ultimately, your professor is a wonderful resource in your chosen field of study, whether you need source recommendations for a presentation you’re putting together, insight on the direction you’re going in for a paper, or just help understanding a concept they discussed in their most recent lecture. The key is to communicate with your professor effectively during the times that you need them most—that is a part of their job and why they’re required to provide office hours, so use it to your advantage!

6. Always strive to do your personal best.

No matter how many movies you have watched to prepare yourself for the college lifestyle, it’s not an easy experience to adapt to immediately. Because of the coursework’s intensity, in addition to everything else you’re responsible for, students can often be satisfied when earning a “C,” if it just means passing the class needed for their requirement. While we understand classes are tough and the workload isn’t always the easiest, you shouldn’t allow yourself to settle for mediocre grades. You’ve already come this far—don’t become complicit at this stage of the game. Our advice? For your challenging classes, give yourself ample time to prepare for tests and other assignments. Secondly, always use the resources available to you through your university, whether it’d be a math tutoring session or a trip to the student writing center. There’s always a solution to each academic struggle if you keep your head up and remain positive.

7. Constantly challenge yourself throughout the semester.

Every successful student must be open to challenges that push them beyond their comfort zone. Honestly, it is what college is all about! Thankfully, there’s something so fulling about conquering a task that felt impossible. In these moments, you’ll be able to realize how much you really are capable of and grow your self-confidence for the job market. If the thought of a challenge overwhelms you, simply think of it as trying something new. Challenges can look different to everyone, as well. For you, a challenge may be registering for advanced courses, joining an honors program, or crossing out another academic goal on your bucket list. But, challenges will teach you how to follow through with your commitments and overcomes failure. In life, you must learn to take the good with the bad and college helps you begin accepting this inevitability.

8. Reflect on both your strengths and weaknesses.

Have you ever beat yourself up over something you can’t do? It’s fairly common in today’s fast-paced world, and it’s hard not to do when you’re always striving for perfection, especially as a dedicated college student. As a student, you’ve come to accept that you’re not going to digest every subject easily or ace every class. Like anyone else, you have your strengths and weaknesses, or those places where you really shine versus the places where you struggle to keep up. Even though you choose your degree trajectory and coursework in college, core classes still exist, and at some point, there will come a subject on your schedule that you absolutely dread. Just do the best you can, and remember, you have just as many as strengths as you do weaknesses.

9. Participate in a group study or prep sessions.

If you ask any college student, they will tell you that they have dedicated a large portion of their time in college to their coursework every semester, whether that means studying, writing, researching, or simply digesting the material. There is a secret to handling all the assignments you have—and you don’t have to do it alone! Team up with other peers for a group study or prep session. A group will hold you accountable and help you avoid any last-minute studying or preparation. With a group, you can also adopt new study techniques, gain a new perspective of the material, and even divide the material to expedite the study or preparation process. Additionally, you will find comfort in knowing that your colleagues have your back when it comes to preparing for exams that you all are feeling rather anxious about.

10. Spend your free-time with successful students.

“You are who you hang out with,” says almost everyone—especially your parents. As much as you try to rebel against their instinct, their intuition has proven to be true in many instances throughout your short life thus far. In college, you will undoubtedly have to make a new set of friends. In this process, it’s ideal to stick to productive venues, like student organizations, sports teams, and other positive outlets to meet the type of people you’d like to surround yourself with for the next four years. If you are hanging out with a group of people that prefer to slack off, then this behavior may rub off on you and set you back—and who has time for that? So, take our advice and find a group of friends that will motivate you to flourish and thrive during these next few years that are so imperative to your future.

11. Establish a solid morning routine.

If you’re not a morning person, college will definitely whip you into shape. And by “whip you into shape,” we mean transform you into a successful, productive adult. Just because high school is over, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to sleep in as much as you thought you would as an independent college student. Sure, your time spent in classes and lectures has reduced significantly, but it doesn’t mean your workload has. Even without the heavy load of coursework, you’ll have class offerings that are only available during the early morning hours, so it’s preferable not to become completely nocturnal. Establishing a morning routine will do you justice—now and when you land your first “adult” job down the line. Morning routines can include listening to a podcast, grabbing a cup of coffee, or doing a quick yoga session before heading off to class. It will leave you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle the day, despite all the challenges ahead.

12. Take care of your physical & mental health.

Although school is very important, it’s nearly impossible to survive if your well-being isn’t intact. College students are constantly under a lot of pressure that stems from academics, commitments, and obligations. When you’re in the middle of it all, it can be easy to overlook how it’s affecting your body. Studies have shown that stress can cause cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and obesity—all of which can become serious health problems. No matter how much pressure you’re under, it’s important that your physical and mental health is prioritized above all else, since it’s not unlikely for stress, depression, and anxiety to take its toll on you in multiple ways. Of course, everyone experiences these sensations at some point—but, you must make sure that it doesn’t become a regular occurrence. By maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise schedule, and self-care routine, you will be able to combat the pressures of student life in a mature and responsible fashion.

No obstacle is unbeatable, including graduating from college. Granted, college isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It will come with difficult course material, sleepless nights, and days that leave you feeling hopeless in your educational venture. Don’t fret—what you’re experiencing is completely normal, but you do need to learn how to deal with the expectations and responsibilities of a college student in a healthy, productive manner. Sure, these next four years are going to be a headache, but college is essential to your career goals and future well-being. You don’t want a few minor difficulties to derail you from succeeding, and with that, uCribs has provided 12 tips that will help you become a successful student in college.

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