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Tips for Academic Success


The Transition to College
You will face many adjustments during your first semester at Marywood University. Here are some tips to help you make a successful transition to higher education:

Be Prepared for Major Changes. For many Marywood students the transition to a university environment will be very different from anything you’ve ever experienced before. Your ideas, values and beliefs will be challenged by the people you meet and the new ideas with which you are confronted. Teachers will place more responsibility on you to take charge of your own learning. College freshmen often drop a full letter grade from their high school GPA because of some of these changes. You’ll have greater freedom but also more responsibility for how you spend your time.

Attend Class. Sounds like a no brainer but since you have more freedom, you may be tempted to skip classes. Don’t. Professors often provide information in class that’s not covered in the textbook. Attending class is also a good way of staying aware of schedule changes and then there's always the possibility of an unannounced quiz. When you attend class regularly your professor will have more of an opportunity to get to know you personally. When faculty are of aware of your individual interests and goals they can recommend coursework, internships and additional experiences to round out your academic program. Ultimately, faculty can also assist you by writing references for employment or graduate/professional school. So when it comes to attending class – just do it!

Know the Course Syllabus. The syllabus outlines information about assignments, grading policies, and deadlines for each class in which you enroll. The syllabus is your agreement with the teacher about responsibilities for the semester. When you enroll in a class you agree to the rules specified in the syllabus. If you don't agree with or understand a requirement in the syllabus talk to the instructor early in the semester.

Don't Procrastinate! Keep up with Class Assignments. The best students are the ones who manage their time well. They read required readings, complete assignments on time and start studying well in advance of the exam. Studies show the best thing you can do the night before the exam is get a good night’s sleep. Cramming can be dangerous to your academic health!

If You Need Help Get It Early. A low test score, poor grade on a paper or difficulty understanding concepts in class should be your signal to meet with the professor. Evaluate what went wrong and ask for suggestions on how to improve. Faculty members at Marywood truly do welcome questions from students about how to do better in a course. Quick action can make a big difference in your final grade. One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting too long to ask for help. Take advantage of faculty office hours or schedule an appointment when it’s convenient for you. Don’t be afraid to approach faculty or to seek help from an on-campus tutor through the Academic Excellence Center. Additional resources include Career Services to develop a career focus or the Counseling Center if personal concerns are interfering with your academics.

Making the Most of the Advising Process

Each Marywood University student is assigned an academic advisor to provide information and guidance in selecting, planning and completing their academic program. The adviser helps the advisee to understand the relationships among the courses, programs, undergraduate research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and other academic experiences provided by the university. Here are some dos and don'ts for a successful advising experience.

Do

  • Take advantage of the opportunity to talk with your advisor even though you've talked with friends.
  • Share information about educational and career goals. Report any problems & talk about important successes or failures. Your advisor needs this information to help you.
  • Share information about educational and career goals. Report any problems & talk about important successes or failures. Your advisor needs this information to help you.
  • Keep your own personal records about questions or concerns and bring them with you when you see your advisor including grades, special actions, etc.
  • Be assertive. Ask questions. Acquire the information you need to take final responsibility for course scheduling, program planning, and the successful completion of all graduation requirements.
  • Keep your own notes. Remind your advisor of what you talked about at your last meeting.
  • Take responsibility for reading about those rules and requirements which affect you. Most of them are published in the university and department handbooks.
Don't
  • Come to advising sessions unprepared. Prepare ahead of time by reviewing the master schedule of classes, reviewing requirements and giving careful consideration to questions you have about academic and career plans
  • Avoid academic advisement as long as possible.
  • Wait until registration periods to see your advisor.
  • Mislead or withhold information from your advisor.
  • Assume your advisor has all of your records.
  • Assume your advisor will tell you automatically everything you need to know.
  • Assume your advisor will remember what you talked about from one appointment to the next.
  • Assume that only your advisor needs to be familiar with the university rules and regulations. Become knowledgeable about the relevant policies, procedures, and rules of the university and your academic program. Ultimately, you have the responsibility of know the requirements to successfully complete your academic degree at Marywood University.

The Transition to College

Want to know what other college students think are the most important things to be aware of when beginning your freshmen year? Here's some advice from two groups of college freshmen from Wichita State University:

Personal responsibility "In college you have freedom to do as you please...to go where you wish...to do as you wish. Unfortunately, this freedom is easily abused. The student carries 98% of the responsibility and control."

Class attendance "As a college student, you will decide whether you want to go to class or not. Being absent will hurt you in the long run."

Teacher attitudes "Your instructors will not hound you to do your work. It's entirely up to you." "Get to know your teachers. If your teachers know you, it will be easier for them to look out for you and help you if you're having trouble."

Types of assignments "In high school we were given a homework assignment every day. Now we have a large task assigned to be done at a certain time. No one tells when to start or what to do each day. Once you get an assignment, start working on it right away. It takes a daily effort to keep up."

Importance of performance "Don't take your courses or studies lightly. The decisions you make in college will decide your future, in some respects."

Time management "The amount of free time you have in college is much more than in high school. Always have a weekly study schedule to go by. Otherwise, time slips away and you will not be able to account for it."

Amount of study "In high school I was a B student with out studying. In college I was a C/D student without studying. To succeed, you have to study!"

Difficulty of college work "College is probably going to be tougher than high school. Don't let that stop you!"

Social life "Sometimes it seems harder to make friends because of the size of the school. But there are a variety of organizations and activities. Get involved and meet the people!"

For information on academic programs at Marywood and specific course offerings visit the following web page: http://www.marywood.edu/registrar/registrarmenu1.stm

 

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Last update Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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