What separates a mediocre 2.5 grade point average (GPA) college student from one who is always on the dean’s list and receiving accolades from various academic circles for his or her achievements? It is not necessarily that that the straight “A” student is smarter than the other; it could be that the dean’s list scholar has mastered the science behind exam taking. While there is no “one size fits all” approach to performing well on exams, there are recipes for success that have been proven to give an edge to those who utilize them. The purpose of this essay is to give the struggling college student a few more tools in their college toolbox to help them ace their next college exam. A solid strategy is key to performing well on exams.
So you’ve sat through the lectures, taken notes, maybe even participated in a few study groups. Now the time is fast approaching and that big exam is right around the corner. Are you prepared for it? Unless you have a concrete approach, the answer is most likely no. A study done in 2006 showed that poor study skills were directly related to low grades Proctor, Prevatt, Adams, Reaser & Petscher (2006). This does not mean that these students did not study, but rather did not have any kind of a strategy. Dr. John Grohol, the founder and CEO of Psych Central offers the following suggestions Grohol, J (2006). Develop a study plan. Take breaks regularly and treat yourself to a reward. Grohol writes “find a reward that is small but real…by setting limits on your behavior, your actually teaching yourself discipline, which will be a handy skill to have throughout life”. Set time aside every day that you devote solely to studying. Make it something that you can actually stick to, say 30-60 minutes...
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...(2005) you can do it! A Guide for the Adult Learner going back to School Mid-
Career.
Silver Lake Publishing.
Aberdeen, WA.
Grohol, J. (2006). 10 Highly Effective Study Habits. Psych Central. Retrieved on November 7,
2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/top-10-most-effective-study-habits/000599.
Jacobs, L. F., & Hyman, J. S. (2013). The Secrets of College Success.
Jossey-Bass.
San Francisco, CA.
Proctor, B. E., Prevatt, F. F., Adams, K. S., Reaser, A., & Petscher, Y. (2006). Study skills
Profiles of normal-achieving and academically-struggling college students. Journal of
College Student Development, 47(1), 37-51.
Turner, H. (2005) you can do it! A Guide for the Adult Learner going back to School Mid-
Career.
Silver Lake Publishing.
Aberdeen, WA.
What did you find helpful about her process of “waking up” and self-education? How is your process of “waking up” similar and different from hers? What are some next steps for you? Be sure to refer to things you’ve learned this semester that have impacted you in this process of “waking
According to current estimates approximately 75 percent of college students are now nontraditional students – older than 25, attending school part time, and having delayed entry or reentry into college for a variety of personal reasons. Post secondary education is needed by such students to develop their careers and to acquire new skills and knowledge in a global society where they are likely to have longer life spans than did workers in the past. This trend is not restricted to North America; it is a worldwide phenomenon.
Three years ago my life drastically changed when my husband of 19 years decided he wanted a divorce. I had always been a wife and a mother and only worked part time through the majority of my marriage. Having married at 19, I never thought too much about going to college. I always thought I wanted to be a stay at home mom and never thought too much about what my life would be like once the children grew into adulthood. Now, at 41 years old, I realize how horrible a decision I made by not getting my college education sooner. Trying to go back to school while working full-time and raising two kids on my own is not fun. It’s a struggle to find that right balance of being a good student but also being a good mom. I want to make my kids proud
This essay is a reflection on identifying, discussing and applying useful resources available to me as a returning adult student to help me perform and succeed in an online academic environment. There are three key areas of impact: stress, time management and wellness and throughout the essay I will reference two great articles on adult learning, my decision to join the gym and my results from the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory.5 By looking at stress, time management and wellness along with having candid feedback from my professor, helpful guidelines and support I will reflect on having resources on hand as an adult online student.
Downing, Skip. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life. Boston: Wadsworth , 2014.
In my interview I had the pleasure of conversing with an individual that was not only an adult learner but now also operates as an adjunct professor for adult learners at a university. Some might not realize the parallels of adult learners and yet still there are vast differences that impact both. It was refreshing to find an individual that was able to succeed as a professional, a student and most recently a professor at the same time. My goal is to introduce you my amazing interviewee and paint a vivid picture of his journey, his growth and through his challenges along the way. Surprisingly this interaction was able to take a lot of excuses and reasons of why a person would be to busy to go back to school.
I am conscious that returning to school, will accompany stress and anxiety. However I am also aware that my decision may encourage others to overcome the fear of returning to school. I can help my peers or leaving behind the “old way of thinking and behaving” (Bais and Hayes, 2011, p.5). The strategies that help me in this transition as describe Spencer and Adam were to find a mentor who can provide support when needed and accept help from family members when in doubt or overwhelmed.
Test taking is one of the most important things to have good skills at. Test usually have a significant effect on your grade. The more you are used to test and are prepared for different types of test, the better your grade will be. I know that when I take test, I get vary nervous and I cant concentrate, but when I have the feeling of being prepared for the test, I notice that I am not so nervous when I come to take it. You should always find time to improve your test taking methods, personally I try to devote one whole hour the night before a big test so I can remember a lot the next day. In school you will have various test that some will be easy and some will be vary difficult, you should always be mentally prepared to take whatever test they give you.
Being an adult returning to school is not an easy task. Sure I have cruised through my classes thus far, however it has never been simple. I work my butt off every day, putting in
I have found one of my biggest obstacles with staying on track has been the fact that I have been out of school for the past twenty years and out of the routine of learning in a school setting. At first I was a little intimidated by my fellow classmates due to our age difference. Once I started my classes I realized I wasn’t the only one who decided to go back to school. It was nice knowing
Most individuals are faced with difficult situations that require specific trainings or skills that most people do not have. Orientation of Adult Learning helps equip that individual with the basis of self-awareness and academic concepts to make sure that each individual is able to succeed. There are several academic concepts that were researched and discussed in this five week course.
An important question to address when attempting to identify effective study strategies and their relationship with academic performance is, “What are study skills?” The term “study skills” can be defined as proficiency in identifying, organizing, memorizing, and using information in order to succeed academically (Proctor, Prevatt, Adams, Hurst, & Petscher, 2006). Activities identified as study skills include “time management, setting appropriate goals, selecting an appropriate study environment, employing appropriate note-taking strategies, concentrating, selecting main ideas, self-testing, organization, and managing anxiety,” (Proctor et al., 2006). When studying, college students employ a variety of these study strategies that they believe
Being a successful student and achieving continued academic success is fundamental in order to complete an associate degree and become a successful professional. College is challenging, but it can be a rewarding growth experience and easier when setting up goals. Having educational and career goals helps students keep the focus and motivation. Besides, having knowledge of different learning styles can help students learn about themselves and increase efficiency while studying. Writing skills learned in college are also a powerful tool for both academic and career success. The campus is a great place to find tools to succeed and achieve continued academic success. It is also important to keep academic honesty as a good habit and as a value of integrity throughout college and later on in the professional environment.
A couple of years later I decided to go back to school. I was a young newlywed at the time, working to put my husband through college, but still convinced I should take the courses I was mandated to have what difference if I en...
Since returning to school, my educational path has been shaped by my academic and work experience. I was fortunate enough to obtain both concurrently which provided me with a so...