Now that the winter break is over and you’ve headed back to college to start a fresh semester, it’s time to start thinking about your keys to success. The semesters just seemed to come and go during my first two years of college but once junior year hit, I got it. The workload and subjects were tougher but my GPA increased. I didn’t suddenly have this wave of knowledge come over me–instead, I started working smarter instead of harder. I put together a list of things I did that really helped me to succeed. You probably do some of these already but implement anything you find that is new on the list below and make this your best semester yet!

Add Your Professors’ Email Addresses To Your Address Book

When studying and something doesn’t make complete sense, grab that list of email addresses and shoot a quick email off to the professor while the topic is still fresh in your mind. I’d often jot a note about my question, intending to ask during class, but I’d either be intimidated in the classroom setting or I’d simply forget what I was confused about in the first place. Emailing questions works really well for a number of reasons:

1. You will be able to ask a clearly thought-out question while the topic is on your mind.
2. Your professor’s response can be printed and stored away in your notes to study later.
3. You won’t forget to ask!

Purchase A Simple Organizing Device Of Some Sort

When the professor tells you about an assignment or a change to the syllabus, you will likely see a number of people frantically typing away at their laptops to record it in Outlook or a Word document. It’s great that they’re getting the information down somewhere but I encourage you to go a more traditional route. Buy yourself a small day planner (one page per day) or tiny spiral notebook. You need your assignments to be handy and either of these are very easy to tote around with you everywhere. I went with a sub-$1 spiral notebook and kept my daily notes on their own individual pages. With a simple solution, you’ll be more likely to jot down those things that you don’t want to forget and actually stick to staying organized.

Leave The Laptop Behind

Is the laptop a great tool for students? Absolutely! You do not need it for most of your classes though. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the laptop is hurting more student’s grades than it is helping. With wireless Internet, instant messaging, porn (if you’re in the back row) and so many other distractions, how are you listening to what the professor is up there talking about? Take your notes the old fashioned way and type them later when you get home. It gives you one additional run-through while the topics are fresh in your mind and will also provide a chance to email some questions.

Skim Through The Text Book Chapter Prior To Class

Too many professors will have a syllabus set up where they lecture on a chapter and then assign that chapter for you to read after class. There’s no mention of actually preparing for the lecture because it is simply assumed. Very few students do it! Be one of the select few and at least skim through the chapter before going to the lecture. A 30 page chapter can be skimmed in about 15 minutes. At this step you’re not attempting to learn the material; you’re trying to familiarize yourself with the material. Think of it as a trailer to a movie. You need to go in with some idea of what you’re about to see.

Keep Your Work Area Clean And Organized

Similar to the point above, don’t discount the impact that an organized lifestyle will have on your success in college. Keep your desk free from papers by filing them away. Make sure you have the supplies that you need within easy reach. Buy a box of pens and pencils and a supply of printer paper and toner so you won’t have to interrupt a study session with a run to Office Depot.

Pick Your Teammates Wisely For Group Work

A baseball team wouldn’t win a game if every player was a pitcher. Similarly, take some time to really consider who you’re going to work with when you’re assigned to choose a group. In groups of three or more, pick the person that knows the material really well already, the person that is a hard worker (and may not know the material quite as well) and the student that is incredibly charismatic. With this group, you’ll have the charismatic kid nailing the presentation, the hard worker getting everything together on time and the person knowing the material can clean it all up and make sure you’re ready with an accurate report.

So How Do You Do It?

It’s been a while since I was in college so let’s hear from you. What works and what doesn’t? Do you have that one idea where you said, “A-Ha! That’s what I’ll do to succeed!” Share it with the world in the comments below!

Good luck and study hard!