1. Sit in the front

One of the best pieces of advice I can give to you is to sit in the front of the class especially if it is a class with hundreds of kids. When you sit in the front you don’t get distracted by the kids on their phone in front of you and the guy behind you snoring. You will have a great view of the notes the professor is giving on the blackboard or on the projector. There is no way you will get distracted if you are sitting front and center.

2.) Record it

Everyone has had a class that once they finished it they had no idea what just happened and forgot to write down half the things the professor said. A great way to not have this happen is to record the lecture. You will have everything the professor said throughout the whole class and will be able to replay it whenever you would like to. It is a great way to re listen to the lecture and make sure you didn’t miss a single sentence the professor said.

3.) Get to know people sitting around you

The students that sit around you are going to be with you throughout the semester and will have the same questions that you have about the exam material. There may even be a super smart guy sitting next to you that will help you ace the next test. Getting to know the students around you helps a lot when you are not sure what the professor just said or need some help on the homework that is due by the end of the night. Everyone is better at some things then others and getting help from the students around you during and out of class always helps.

4.) Create study groups

Study groups are a great way to study because you can see how other students study and see if that is a way you should try studying. There are also helpful because maybe you are not sure how to solve a problem or are not sure of a definition, but the person sitting next to you in your study group knows exactly what it is. Sitting alone in a library is not always the best way to study because if you talk to other students they may have a better way to solve the problem that you are not sure of.

5.) Go see the professor or TA

You always hear from advisors and parents to go and see your professors and TA’s. Now you’re hearing it from a college student. The professors write the exams so they may know a few things that will be on them. Going to see a professor is a great way to connect with someone in the field that you want to go into as well. When you are stuck on a problem and you’ve asked your study group what to do and they have no idea to the next best option is going to see the TA. The TA knows what is going on in the class and knows how to help you solve that problem. The TA is one of the best options to go to if you need help with an upcoming exam. Most students don’t go to TA sessions so it is like having a free tutor for an hour. You can ask them to solve as many questions as you want and to go into as much detail as you need.

6.) Dress so you feel your best

One of the most important tips on how to succeed in a classroom is to dress so you feel your best. You might have heard this tip many times before, but it’s true. You might not always realize the difference that you might have when you take time to get ready before class and times you don’t. However, this makes a huge difference when you are in a class that you don’t feel as comfortable in. For example, if you aren’t particularly strong in Math, you might want to boost your confidence by looking your best in class. Or if you have an exam that day, it couldn’t hurt to look nice because it will help you feel more positive about the exam you are about to take.

7.) Ask Questions

I know this can be extremely difficult but ASK QUESTIONS. Many people might have that stereotypical view that no one asks questions in large lecture halls. If you believe this, you are totally wrong. Because large lecture halls can have anywhere between 200 and 500 students there is always someone that has a question. And remember, because your in a class with hundreds of people, someone is bound to have the same questions as you so ask. Don’t be afraid speak up if you don’t understand something.

8.) Get ahead

Ok, I know this is something that many people didn’t do in high school. I know I didn’t. But I didn’t understand the importance of getting ahead until I came to college. You will see within the first couple weeks of the semester that your schedules will be packed. Sometimes it feels like you don’t have a chance to breath and relax. This is why it’s great to get ahead. Once you get ahead, you feel like you are able to do and accomplish more things. You create a better schedule for yourself and have more time to relax and do what you want to do. And let’s be honest, in college you want to have fun so make sure you allow yourself to do that.

9.) Get organized

In college you have to be organized. There are no ifs, ands or butts. Mommy and daddy are no longer with you to remind you of your daily tasks that need to get accomplished throughout the day. The only person that will remind you of what you need to do is yourself. It’s extremely important to be organized because there will be many times when you want to hang out with your friends instead of doing your homework or studying, but if your organized and get ahead of the game you will be able to do that quite often. It is also important to stay organized because there are so many different due dates that you have to remember and it can be extremely hard. This is why I suggest keeping an assignment notebook with you at all times. Before every class, jot down any important due dates or information that is essential to helping you succeed in the class.

10.) Go to class

If there is nothing else that you take out of the article, I hope you take this piece of advice. GO TO CLASS. In college, it can be hard to stay motivated and focus because no one is there to remind you to go to class. However, it is very important to go to class because if you don’t there is a good chance that you don’t get a good grade. For example, professors announce many things at the beginning of class. They might announce extensions or push up deadlines as well as make changes to the syllabus or homework. I’ve heard horror stories of how people wouldn’t go to class because they thought it was a “joke” and then miss tests or quizzes because the dates were changed. Let me remind you, college is no joke. If you miss a test, you miss a test. No one will have sympathy for you and no one will let you retake it. So, if you want to succeed in college and get a good job after college, it pays to go to class.