Successful vs. Struggling Students & Strategies for Success

Successful vs. Struggling Students

• A struggling student is someone facing difficulties but can potentially recover with assistance.
• Key is for struggling students to:
  • Recognize and admit they are struggling.
  • Actively seek help.

Personal Responsibility & Motivation

• Successful students take personal responsibility for their education.
• Owning your education means:
  • Taking responsibility for choices that determine your path.
  • Acting like an adult and avoiding blaming others.
• Motivation, self-management, and interdependence are crucial.

Campus Familiarity

• Chapter one emphasized becoming familiar with the campus using the Smart Start Guide.
• This involves:
  • Knowing locations of buildings, resources, and food.
  • Understanding campus layout to access help and navigate effectively.
• Each semester, locate classrooms in advance, including summer/fall.

Course Preparation

• Syllabi are often available online a week before classes.
• Review syllabi to understand:
  • Workload and assignments.
  • Required materials.

Organization & Preparation

• Treat being a student like a job:
  • Arrive on time with necessary tools.
  • Lack of preparation can lead to negative consequences (failure instead of being fired).
• Get organized by:
  • Acquiring textbooks and supplies.
  • Creating a schedule.
  • Addressing transportation and childcare needs.
  • Communicating work schedule with employer.

Technology

• Ensure necessary technology is available for the semester.
• Utilize resources like laptop loans.
• Plan for technology needs at home, including internet access.
• If a laptop is borrowed, return promptly at the end of the semester and re-request if needed for the next semester.

Goal Setting

• Set goals for the semester. Examples:
  • Attending class regularly.

Class Attendance & Completion of Assignments

• Instructor expectations vary regarding attendance.
• It's important to understand each instructor's expectations and align with them.
• Complete assignments on time.
• Late submissions can create extra burden on instructors.
• Communicate proactively about difficulties instead of waiting until the last minute.

Example of Late Assignment Request

• A student requested to submit multiple missing assignments from early weeks at the end of the semester.
• This puts the instructor in a difficult position due to workload constraints.

Work Ethic

• Approach school like a job by meeting deadlines.

Understanding the Environment

• Understand the environment that you're in.
• Surface culture and deep culture.