3000 NW 83rd Street, Building S, Room 254, Gainesville, FL 32606 • 352-395-5582 • sdl@sfcollege.edu
Staying Power in College! Tips for Academic Success • SF is different from high school in terms of your responsibilities and expectations.
• Apply critical thinking in your attitudes and decision making.
• Clarify your goals, career, major and courses. However, don’t feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major.
• Find the ideal place for you to study. Take advantage of the study resources on campus.
• Get to know your academic advisor and other resources on campus for information, support and direction. • Time management is essential! Don’t procrastinate. Prioritize your life. Get organized. • Become an expert on course requirements and due dates found on the syllabus.
• For every hour of class you attend, study three hours. • Discover your learning style. Self-knowledge is power! • Make connections with students in your classes. Form study groups. Have study buddies.
• Attend every class. Strive for good grades.
• Meet with your professors. Get to know them, their office hours and their expectations.
• Take thoughtful notes; develop your note taking style. Review your notes early and often.
• Seek a balance between work, school, your personal life and social media. Make time for yourself.
• Reading is key. You will read a lot and often, so set yourself up for success by learning to read effectively.
• You will take a lot of tests in college. Learn what to do before, during and after the test. Seek help to manage your test anxiety. Don’t cut corners. College is all about learning. If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do well on tests, but you’ll learn very little. Maintain academic integrity. Don’t cheat on term papers or tests. The penalties are higher than the rewards.
• Writing well is essential. Seek help and tutoring to reduce paper writing anxiety. Cite your sources. Use technology effectively, but be careful not to plagiarize… plagiarism can lead to serious consequences.
View more >>
• Choose apartments and roommates wisely. Get to know your roommate(s).
• Take responsibility for yourself and your actions.
• Stay connected. Get involved on campus. Stay on campus as much as possible. You will meet many new people. Acknowledge differences; find support on campus; learn from the differences in others.
• Consider taking courses for improving your academic success. Academic Success Courses: SLS1101 College Success
• Stay healthy, eat right, exercise and take care of yourself to reduce stress.
Leadership Courses: SLS1260 Leadership SLS1269 Personal Leadership SLS2261 Leadership Development Study
Career and Life Management Courses: SLS1301 Life/Career Development SLS1601 Living Effectively SLS2352 Career Development in the Global Workplace
• Learn to cope with homesickness. Stay in touch with folks you know back home. Make friends here. Seek professional help when you need it. • Be safe! Going to parties is a part of college life. Don’t drink if you are under 21. If you are over 21, don’t binge drink. Socialize with people you trust; watch out for each other. • Sexual assault is a crime – let someone know if you have been victimized. • Keep track of your money. Learn to effectively manage your budget and credit cards.
View course descriptions at sfcollege.edu/sdl. • Lastly, enjoy the Santa Fe College experience!
Questions? Feel free to contact me. Kalpana N. Swamy Academic Chair, Department of Student Development and Leadership Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83rd Street, Building S, Room 244, Gainesville, FL 32606 352-381-3809 • kalpana.swamy@sfcollege.edu • sfcollege.edu/sdl Commitment to Equal Access and Equal Opportunity: Santa Fe College is committed to an environment that embraces diversity, respects the rights of all individuals, is o pen and accessible, and is free of harassment and discrimination. For more information, visit sfcollege.edu/eaeo or contact equity.officer@sfcollege.edu. CCS 10-2019