Start the Semester Off Right

It’s important to start the semester off right, whether a student is just starting, or almost completed college. Hitting the ground running and in a productive way can make all the difference in the world.

Accentuate the Positive

“Accentuate the Positive” was a popular song in the 1940s. The point of the song was to focus on the positive, and not dwell on the negative in any situation. That’s a great mantra for college students. Some students focus on how to start the semester right primarily because they didn’t perform well during their previous semester. But for most, dwelling on poor grades from the past won’t help them develop the proper attitude for success. Sure, bad grades aren’t good, but they also aren’t the end of the world, and both students and parents should recognize that. Grades are indicators of performance at a specific point in time, and students needn’t and shouldn’t dwell on them forever.

Having the right attitude going into a semester plays a significant role in student success. That said, encourage your student to start the semester with a smile and a determination to make the best of this term, regardless of the challenges ahead. But determination isn’t enough: they have to have a plan.

Making a Plan

Students who start the semester with a plan—a realistic one—are far more likely to succeed or earn higher grades than those who move mindlessly from semester to semester. An effective plan includes items such as a realistic study schedule and consistent class attendance. My friend and former associate director and I gave our students two rules: “Go to class, and turn sh*t in.” Faculty and staff are always amazed when students don’t follow these two simple rules.

Another feature of an effective study plan is using their time wisely, a particularly tough challenge for newer students. That’s what I struggled with in college, not only managing time, but using every hour most effectively. One of my former students as a senior told first-year students: “you have enough time in your day to get everything accomplished, as long as you are clear about how to use it.”

Learning How to Study

While this may seem obvious, many entering college students don’t have effective study strategies. Sure, they can read, but may fall into the trap of reading to get through the reading, rather than reading to understand. I’ve often told students “study the text so you could teach the lesson the following day.”

Experts suggest that studying in shorter, more intense sessions results in better knowledge retention than studying for extended periods of time. (I wish I knew that back in college!) Short sessions of 30- 45 minutes that include self testing—often by answering the questions included in the text—help students retain knowledge and also maintains their attention better than prolonged sessions. Cramming was never an effective strategy, and we have lots of evidence to support that.

A final suggestion I have about studying is selecting a study space that allows students to focus, which may not be in total silence. It’s best to designate a space that’s used for nothing but study. Experts suggest removing most distractions from the space, and assembling everything they need before they start. Proper lighting is a must, too. And while studying with a friend or study group may be helpful at times, most students need a bit more privacy for their regular studying. Noise cancelling headphones are also a great investment if students can’t otherwise block out distractions.

Using Their Resources

Students should also start the semester resolving to attend office hours and connect regularly with faculty. Every college I know of employs folks dedicated to student success. They may work in the tutoring center, wellness center, or in academic departments, but students committed to starting the semester off with a bang aren’t strangers to these offices.

Another great resources is a planner to keep track of assignments, study time, etc. It doesn’t matter if the planner is a fancy one or simply a calendar notebook in which students place their assignments, having a physical book often helps. Of course, students may prefer to rely on their phones for the same information, plus, they’re unlikely to lose a phone the way they might misplace notebooks. In any case, help them create or use a tool that will help them put their plans into effect, and hold themselves accountable.

Encourage Them To Be That Student

You know the ones I’m talking about: the student who always asks questions in class, even right when the professor is ready to dismiss class five minutes early. The student we groan at when they raise their hand, not because they dominate the discussion or they’re bad, but because they’re always on point, even when we’re not. Those students are maximizing their time in class, getting everything they can from their professors, and often excelling academically. They’re also the ones who receive excellent recommendations from their faculty for jobs or graduate school. When these students start the semester, you know they’re ready.

And isn’t that the student you want yours to be?