10 Tips to Success in University

Hello Everyone! Here are some basic tips to success in university that can surely pay off.

1. Go to Class! - While seemingly simplistic and fairly straight forward, attending classes in university is extremely important. This is especially true in classes where you may have to cover one or more chapters per class (it happens, trust me) and where missing one class can easily put you behind. In my experience, some professors also take down attendance and make notes as to who's participating in class for participatory marks. While only around 5% of your overall mark is usually for participation, this can easily mean the difference between getting an A to getting a B. Also of note, some professors may bring up key points from the chapters and may go over things not in the textbook that could appear on tests and exams. Profs may also highlight key points to read or skip/exclude in the next chapter, as well as, any revisions to the textbook.


2. Study! Study! Study! - Another simple and straightforward one, but nonetheless still crucial to success in university. Pay attention the points in #1 regarding what profs want you to cover in the textbooks, they can make a difference and save you a lot of time. Backed by psychological evidence, studying the material prior to class only reinforces the ideas and knowledge that the professor wants you to understand. Also, reviewing the material before hand allows you to find any information you are having trouble understanding and allows you to prepare questions for the professor which they would gladly answer.


3. Take Notes - Taking notes is extremely useful when having to review and look up facts quickly and efficiently. Make sure to take clear, clean notes that are easy for you to read and understand. Remember, it's easier to look back on notes for crucial points mentioned by profs, then searching through an entire textbook.


4. Hand in Assignments and Papers on Time - Handing in your assignments on time in university is extremely important. Late assignments are typically receive late penalties (I've seen as high as 50%) or may not even be accepted at all, which could have a huge impact on your final grade. HARDLY ANY profs allow late assignments without penalties unless with good excuse.


5. Avoid Plagiarism and Improper Citation - Academic dishonesty can quickly get you kicked out of university and will follow you where ever you go to study. Academic dishonesty can not only cause you to be banned from a university for a set number of years, but also appears on your transcripts, affecting your registration in other universities. Make sure to properly cite your sources and put quotes where needed. NEVER take any information from somebody else and claim it as your own. Also try and stay away from using Wikipedia and Google, keep your sources academic and use the services at the university library.


6. Get to Know Your Professor - Getting to know your professor can be extremely useful. Not only can they be more willing to help you out and provide you with extra information that can prove useful, but getting to know profs can help you down the road if you need help in something related to their fields. A lot of university professors also do research in addition to teaching and specialize in certain areas of their field, because of this some profs may put more emphasis on their areas of interest in the field (especially if it's a intro course with a broad topic coverage).


7. Manage Your Time Effectively - Time management is key in university. Those who don't effectively manage their own time usually find themselves rushing to complete assignments or cramming for tests. You should try and allot certain amounts of time for different activities so that you're studying is kept consistent. Also don't forget to allot time in order to have fun and relax (it's healthier for you this way).


8. Take Breaks While Studying - Studies suggest that taking breaks while studying allows the knowledge and information that you have been studying to have time to absorb into your brain and give it time to relax. Also you should keep in mind that studying for extensive periods of time can prove to be mentally exhausting, so taking breaks is not only good for understanding information, but good for you.


9. Get Proper Rest and Stay Healthy - Important to your university studies is to stay healthy and to make sure you get proper amounts of sleep and rest. Lack of sleep affects your ability to study, stay focused and retain information. Allowing yourself the time to rest gives your body the energy it needs to be able to go to class and study afterwards, but keep in mind everything in moderation. Your own physical health and well being is also extremely important. You must take care of yourself and eat properly, while getting the right amount of exercise. Take out a gym membership at your university and go there on a regular basis, it can also help a lot with the stress university students sometimes find themselves facing.


10. Don't Forget to Have Fun! - Just as important as everything else here, is to keep in mind that you should enjoy your time spent at university. This will be some of the best years of your life and you should take time to enjoy it. Take advantage of any interesting and fun activities at university or go on an exchange program and study in another country. One thing that I have heard in my time at university is that some university grads regret that they didn't take the time to enjoy their university years. After all, you want to look back on your time spent in university and say you enjoyed every minute of it right?




I hope all this information proves useful to you and helps you wherever your studies take you. Whether it be in Cape Breton, other parts of Canada, or abroad, always try your best and don't forget to have fun!