What makes a successful student?
The future depends on what we do in the present – Gandhi
Everyone will approach university life differently and have different experiences of study and current life responsibilities such as family and work. There are times when it is relatively easy to be a student (before assignments start rolling in!) and times when it is particularly difficult due to general life struggles.
Let’s be clear what we mean by “success” here. Whilst there are many measures of success; social, relationship, career etc, for the purposes of this short article, “success” is limited to academic success. But remember, university life should be so much more than just engaging with study – thank goodness!
Sometimes life deals out circumstances that make it just too difficult to pursue a university career at that time. Sometimes you may feel that you need an extra helping hand to get over a few rough patches. There are characteristics though, that are associated with being a successful university student. These characteristics give us some hints about how to handle the rough patches. There have been several studies to show that certain factors make success more likely.
The factors identified include taking an active attitude towards your studies, identifying challenges early and taking effective action to address them, setting clear and achievable goals and balancing external demands. Other studies have demonstrated that it isn’t the number of competing outside demands you have which makes the difference but the way in which you approach those demands. Sometimes life can confront you with multiple demands and it can very helpful to seek counselling.
Habits of the Successful Student:
Attend your lectures, tutorials and labs
There are always times when it becomes difficult to attend classes. You may be sick or having to care for someone who is unwell. Missing the occasional class when you are determined to catch up is understandable. Missing classes to have a coffee will become a problem. Successful students try to attend all of their classes.
Effective time management
Develop a study planner or weekly schedule to map out your classes, study time, and other commitments. You may be surprised by how much time is being spent on activities such as Facebook or in front of the TV! Don’t forget to schedule in some time for reviewing notes each week, and preparing for tutorials. A successful student also organises their travel, work hours, babysitting, appointments, and family commitments.
Don’t leave things until the last minute
Many students say that they work best under pressure. However the reality is that often the work produced under stressful circumstances is not always of a high quality. Little mistakes may cost you marks and be the difference between a pass and a credit etc. By managing your time and preparing for assignments ahead of time, you may avoid unnecessary stress. Successful students begin preparation for assessment tasks in Week One, and work steadily on their goals throughout the semester!!!
Ask questions
Answering questions is one way that lecturers can determine whether they have taught their course properly. You are doing them a favour! You can almost guarantee that there will be someone in the class who will be grateful that you asked that particular question. Challenge yourself and ask one question in your next class.
Keep up with assignments
Playing constant catch-up is no fun. If you think that you are going to need extra time to complete an assignment, keep your lecturer informed about what is going on. If necessary, they will encourage you to apply for an Extension of Time. For more information about applying for extension of time or special consideration for your assignments, click here.
Take time to be proud
It’s easy sometimes to ignore the completion of one assignment because there are more due just around the corner. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge each achievement. Take time to be proud. Each of those completions brings you a step closer to getting your degree.
Set realistic goals
A successful student knows why they are studying. What are your goals for being at university? Develop some realistic short term and long term goals to help you through each semester. The best goals are SMART goals; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timed; “I will complete each of my set readings by week 8 of semester.”
Know your degree requirements
Being clear about your chosen career direction can help you to stay motivated. Some students attend Uni just because they enjoy learning and have no particular career ambitions – and that’s fine too. However, having a clear career direction can help to give focus to your studies and assist with goal setting. Consider consulting a University Careers Advisor who can assist you to identify strengths, interests and skills and help you to determine an appropriate academic pathway.
Use the resources available to you
Complete the Connect 2 Success quiz to explore available support options. Successful students access support services to improve their grades and wellbeing. You may also benefit from the "My Journey" website which offers ideas and tips to help you negotiate life as a student.
Learning Development is an excellent resource and available to all students throughout their time at university - from commencing students to PhD researchers. Learning Development staff work with students on a range of issues to help improve academic success. You may wish to attend workshops or make an individual appointment to discuss an assignment or prepare for an exam. For appointments, workshop registration and an extensive range of academic resources on Blackboard visit the Learning and Development webpage.
Talk to student mentors
Make contact with a student mentor who is doing (or has already done), the same course. They have the experience and may give you some valuable practical advice which relates specifically to that course. Mentors‟ email addresses are available from this website.
Take care of your physical and mental wellbeing
Successful students make the adjustments necessary to achieve a balance in their lives (See “Work / life balance‟ tip sheet). You need to ensure that you are caring for your physical and mental health too. Be sure to get sufficient sleep so that your brain can download all of the stuff that you are learning each day! Doing an activity such as meditation or yoga might also help you to focus when you are studying and to manage academic pressures. Exercise and a balanced diet also help with maintaining good mental health. The counselling service runs a free meditation program throughout the semester. You can access information about this program plus meditation exercises on the counselling service website.
