Objective: Learn about specific ways to be a successful student Plan for a realistic career Get organized Learn to persi

1. Part One, Motivational Skills Learning Survival Strategies • Objective: • Learn about specific ways to be a successful student • Plan for a realistic career • Get organized • Learn to persist • Be positive • Open yourself up for growth © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

2. Be realistic about how college will help you get a job. A college degree in itself isn’t enough. Prepare while you’re in college to make sure your degree is a marketable one. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

3. Get organized right at the beginning of the semester. • Take responsibility for your own behavior. • The first meeting of any class is crucial. • Bring pens and a notebook with you. • Many teachers not only distribute basic information • about required texts and materials, • they also start lecturing the very first day. • Don’t put off getting your books. • You will need them right away if you don’t want to get behind. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

4. Find out the names and numbers of some students in the class. • If you miss class, it is your responsibility to go PREPARED to the next class. • You can find out from your classmates what you missed, • including any notes and assignments. • Have a specific place at home for all your school materials. • They should be kept somewhere convenient for you. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

5. Decide right from the start how much • work you can handle. • A good rule of thumb: • For every ten hours per week you work, deduct one course from a full-time college course load. • Be sure to consider your family responsibilities • and • the difficulty of the courses, as well. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

6. Have a professional, mature attitude about being a student. Remember that college teachers aren’t baby-sitters or disciplinarians. They want to teach adults who meet them halfway and take responsibility for themselves. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

7. Know how you learn. • Many people prefer one learning style over another. • Auditory learning style: emphasizes hearing • Tactile learning style: touching things helps learning • Visual learning style: emphasizes seeing or reading • If you recognize your particular learning style, you can • take advantage of it, whether it emphasizes hearing, sight, • touch, or another sense or combination of the senses. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

8. Persist. • There are going to be times when any student must simply • determine, “I am going to persist.” • Be positive. • Refuse to use self doubt as an excuse for not trying. Do what it • takes to overcome difficulty. • Get a tutor. • Take notes • Go to the learning center • See a counselor. • DON’T GIVE UP. Use college as an opportunity for personal growth. © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

9. What kind of work do you want to do after college? • Have you visited the counseling center to take a vocational • interest test? • How can you actively investigate possible careers? • Have you found out whether there will be good job • opportunities available in your chosen career by the time • you graduate? © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies

10. What courses would you like to take just for the sake of • learning, whether or not they fit into your career path? • What specific things can you do to stay organized through • this semester and the rest of your college career? • What is your favorite learning style? • What specific activities can you do to make the best of your • learning style? © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies