Note from the editor: Much as it is a skill to be successful in college, (it is important for you to have the drive to succeed, be motivated, and work your butt off…) it is also a skill to fail out of college.  This post discusses some techniques that you can use to fail out of college your first semester, if you have any other techniques that are useful in failing out of college please leave your comment at the bottom of this post

DISCLAIMER: Neither the author of this post nor We Compare Books condone failing out of college, this post is merely intended to be a guide as to what not to do

After being in elementary, middle, and high school for 12 years, you pick up some habits that can be difficult to undo. While good habits can undoubtedly benefit your college years, many students carry on their bad learning habits into their freshman year of college. After all, when you’ve been studying and doing homework for more than a decade, you inevitably pick up on ways to do the least amount of work possible in school. However, this can lead to an academic disaster, as college is no place for slacker behavior and a bare-minimum mindset, unless you want to demonstrate to others how one can fail college in the first semester.

Play hooky instead of going to class

In high school, you may have felt that attendance was voluntary. If you did not feel like waking up at 8:00 a.m. for class, you may have just played sick and spent the entire day lounging around in bed. The temptation to skip class when you had a car was even more difficult to avoid, as avoiding class and going to the mall only required you to drive right past the school parking lot. If you were a chronic class-skipper, you may find yourself falling back into those old habits once you are in college.

However, class attendance is a must for college students because it is incredibly difficult to catch up in coursework and lectures. Most college classes are at least an hour long, during which all students learn a great deal about the class topic as well as upcoming assignments. Missing one class could mean hours of make-up work later. To make matters worse, the more classes you skip, the more work you will find yourself needing to make up on your own time, as professors will not stop their lessons just for you to get back up to speed.

Daydream during class

You may have relied on your best friend’s notes after each class to study, but don’t count on encountering the same generosity when you are in college. Studying for class is stressful, and your classmates may not be as willing to share their notes if they see that you spend the entire lecture looking through Facebook.

Instead, learn to take good notes of your own and make sure that you are well-rested and well-fed before each class so that you will be less susceptible to distractions. Pay close attention to what your professor is saying and actively take notes to keep yourself engaged and interested. If necessary, move to the front of the classroom so that you have the added pressure of being close to your professor to prevent you from slacking off. You will thank yourself in the future for not only having a good study guide with your notes, but also for learning during class instead of just after it.

Procrastinate on assignments; do homework last minute, write essays day before the deadline

Procrastination is a bad habit that nearly all students fall into at least once during their studies. It is also one of the most detrimental ones to good grades. Putting things off until the last minute may have worked when you were in high school, but college professors (and their teaching assistants) are much tougher. An hastily written essay filled with long, flowery sentences that say nothing will not appease your English professor, and mathematical work that does not show how you got to your final answer will not make your calculus professor happy.

College work takes time to complete, and none of it is designed to fit within a single night’s worth of studying. In fact, you should count on spending at least two hours studying outside of class for every hour you are in class if you want to succeed in college. Do not even try to do all of your reading and assignments in a single all-night session chances are you simply will not be able to produce anything of quality in such a short amount of time. To prevent letting procrastination ruin your GPA, be sure to manage your time wisely to allow yourself plenty of time to get your work done.

There are numerous nasty habits that can carry over from your high school days into college, and these can ruin your first semester. Don’t let that happen and make sure that you buckle down and work hard from the beginning of your new college career.

This guest post was written by Alvina Lopez

Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez @gmail.com.

College is an exciting yet stressful time in young and older adults’ lives. While technology has made things easier, more time in front of the computer means more problems for our eyes. Plus, with many traditional classes making the transition to online courses we are spending a hefty amount of time in front of the computer. The following gives popular causes for eye problems among college students and what we can do to help our valuable eyesight.
 
It is probably the most important of school supplies in college: the computer. Gone are the days where we solely hit the reference books and handwrote our papers. Computers and the Internet are our main source of note taking, researching and completing homework assignments. With so much time spent in front of the screen, it’s only a matter of time before the eye problems start. These can stem from:
 
• Sitting in front of the computer for a long time
• Poor lighting
• Glare from the computer screen
• Viewing distance from your computer
• Bad posture
• Failure to blink enough
• Lack of sleep
 
CVS – Not a Convenience Store
 
In eye language, CVS refers to Computer Vision Syndrome. If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from CVS and should take steps to better your eye health.
 
• Eyestrain – redness and blurred vision caused by looking at something for a long time
• Headaches
• Dry eyes
• Head, neck and shoulder pain
• Fatigue
• Double vision
 

Care and Comfort
 
There are many tips out there to help you take care of your eyes while focusing on your studies. Continue to keep these guidelines in mind even when you have graduated – many jobs require long hours in front of a computer whether you’re in an office or telecommuting.
 
• If you are having constant eye problems, look into a pair of reading glasses or contacts.
• Take needed breaks – this means breaks AWAY from the computer. Go for a short walk outside to let your eyes adjust to natural light. Rest and place a cool gel pack, washcloth or cucumber slices on your eyes.
• Adjust your computer. Lower your screen to a comfortable height. Adjust the brightness settings on the monitor.
• Use artificial tears to lubricate the eyes. Try to remember to blink often.
• Rearrange the room. Don’t sit next to a vent or fan that may dry out your eyes. Adjust the lighting in the room to reduce reflections and glare.
 

With a little TLC your eyes can be healthy and an asset to achieving your academic goals. It’s important to maintain your physical health in college, primarily because the stress can take a toll on both your mind and body. Allow yourself time for rest, relaxation and recreation. Not only will your eyes be grateful but the rest of your body will be too.
 

This guest post was contributed by Sara Roberts
 
Sara Roberts is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, a prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses retailer.

The meaning of college has changed much through out the years, from the days of our grandparents and great grandparents, when few attended college, and where college was reserved for the children of the privileged and very rich, to the days of our parents (60’s-70’s) when many were able to attend college, and many more chose to attend college in order to avoid going to Vietnam… In addition the G.I. Bill helped many to afford college. These increases in education throughout the 20th century allowed for a great increase in prosperity and lead to much innovation and benefited the world as a whole. But college today is different, not only is it far more costly than it ever was, but the value of education (even an Ivy League education) is not up to par, and it is up to individual students to take control of their own education!

The issues I bring up here could never be fully tackled in a single article and I do not claim to have the ultimate solution to these issues, my goal here is simply to state my opinion on these issues and to underline some of the facts so that students can make more informed decisions about their future.

We are all aware that college today is ridiculously expensive and that most of us must take student loans in order to pay for the privilege of attending an institution of higher learning. The sad reality is that most of us who choose to major in a liberal arts field, or who choose to work in a non profit following graduation will never be able to pay off these loans (a good friend of mine graduated college with a N.A. in theology and close to $100k in student loan debt! The earning potential of this degree is at most $30k-$40k per year that is if she is lucky enough to find a job in her field!) To give another example, I graduated with a B.A. degree in philosophy (one of the least employable degrees in the world! But my plan was always to attend grad school, and by majoring in philosophy I was able to follow other interests, such as starting cheaper college textbooks; additionally I was able to get a number of scholarships and I lived at home, so I finished my undergrad with $0 in debt). Oh, and in case you are wondering I did go to graduate school and I got 2 Master’s Degrees, but those degrees did not increase my ability to get a well paying job, and most of my friends who graduated with me are currently making under $50k, although a few who had previous experience or were able to get a job in the government are doing a bit better. The point I am trying to make here is that each student must think long and hard about what to major in, and for those of you who wish to one day pay off your student loans I recommend majoring in a science degree.

In terms of the value of an Ivy League education I once asked myself the following question, “What is the difference between an MBA degree from The Wharton School (top business school in the country) and Seton Hall University (my alma mater, a 2nd tier university)?” And being the curious type I decided to compare the two programs, there was of course the difference of cost, and of exclusivity, but the fact was that many of the textbooks used in both programs were the same, and both groups had the same case studies. The quality of professors differed, mainly in that the Wharton School paid their professors many times what professors at my school earned; and of course the earning capacity of the students was different, at the time the average starting salary of a Wharton grad was around $125k! (That is close to double what a full time PhD professor in Seton Hall was earning!). In examining the reasons for these disparities I found the answer to be pretty simple, for one thing, the students who were able to afford the tuition of a school like Wharton had parents with high power, high paying jobs and had friends in similar jobs who they could always call up and ask to hire their “kid”; secondly, schools such as Wharton encourage students to network with Alumni and thus many students are able to form connections that lead to future employment (I have been out of college for a few years, and although both of the colleges I attended have invited me to alumni events, neither school has made an effort to court me to attend such an event. And when I made the effort to be a guest speaker in my alma mater, I was shunned, being told that “you do not have anything to offer current students” [I paraphrase, but this was the jist of what I was told])

The main point that I wish to make to students is to not drink the Kool-aid that is being preached by teachers, admissions counselors… Think long and hard about what you want to major in and about the type of job you want to have one day and follow the most cost effective route to get to your goals! Take AP courses in high school; spend a year at a community college… Once you graduate college and get your first job no one will care that you went to a community college.

This is a guest post by Julie Manhan

Author Julie Manhan is an independent college counselor and blogger for myUsearch.com, the Honest College Matchmaker, a site dedicated to helping students make the right college choice.

Making the right college choice is potentially one of the biggest decisions a person will ever make. Contrary to popular belief, the importance of the decision has little to do with a college’s name or prestige, but rather because it is the place that will likely shape your perspectives and relationships for years to come. For those reasons alone, you need to look carefully at more than just the info you can find on a website.

A campus visit is essential before enrolling. Only by experiencing the campus firsthand can you tell if you will feel comfortable there. It’s also probably the best way to get a sense of what kind of students choose to go to school there, as well as experiencing what student-faculty interaction is like. Make sure you visit every department you may be interested in to see what’s going on both inside and outside of the classroom. These are the things that you really need to pay the closest attention to because they will end up affecting everything in your college experience.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few important questions you should ask yourself before you begin your college search or make your final college choice:

1. What qualities do I look for in my friends? Finding classmates you can relate to and who share your values is an important factor in feeling comfortable and being successful at a school.
2. Who are the best teachers I have had? What made them different? The relationships you form with your college professors can make a huge difference in your future plans.
3. What subjects would I like to know more about? Identifying what sparks your interest right now can help you find a school where you can explore all those interests.
4. Where do I feel most comfortable? Are you a city kid or a country kid or do you just need a change? Never underestimate the impact your surroundings can have on your overall learning experience and sense of wellbeing.
5. How do I learn best? Figuring out why you have done better in some classes than others may provide a valuable insight for you when considering schools that use some teaching styles more than others (i.e. lecture vs. cooperative learning).

Of course, there are other factors that need to be considered when making your college choice, such as cost and availability of any special services you may happen to need. However, the answers you give to the questions above should figure prominently in your list of qualities a college must have in order for it to be a good fit.

By Corey Bobco, University of Texas

You’ve been on the college scene for a few weeks, having the time of your life and wondering what all the university hype is about. So far, all you’ve had to do for your grades’ sake is skim some course readings and listen to a few professors babble in the lecture hall. But then … BAM! After an enlightening series of classes one fine Monday, you realize you’ve got a biology exam and two 1,000-word essays on Homer and Joyce due — all by the end of the week.

Uh-huh. This scenario is all too common, even among seasoned students.
Sure, you can survive it, even if it means pulling a few all-nighters. But if you always let everything pile up until crunch time, your grades will eventually suffer. And so will you.

So how can you avoid epic battles with tests and deadlines so you don’t become a scholastic casualty? Stop stressing. Now. You can tackle time management and stay organized so your course work doesn’t get the better of you. Here’s how:

•    Stay on top of things! May sound like a no-brainer, but no kidding: If you don’t want schoolwork to pile up, you need to actively be aware of when it’s due. Pick up a portable planner — or if you’re computer-oriented, try an app like Google Calendar, which also conveniently syncs with your Gmail account — and copy the entire semester’s worth of assignments, exams and due dates into it from each class’s syllabus. And while we’re on the subject, be sure to carefully read all your syllabi. You may find sneaky stuff hidden in there, like “one full letter-grade drop for every unexcused absence” (true story). It’s better to know sooner rather than later.

•    Got notes? When you’re trying to figure out what’s crucial to know for a test or how to arrange course content into a viable essay, having good notes can be a real lifesaver, so pick up a few loose-leaf notebooks for jotting down info. We don’t recommend taking notes on your laptop — you risk getting distracted by the Internet and missing most of what’s said. Besides, paper provides a much more harmless way of keeping you entertained during idle moments (i.e., doodling).

•    Beating writer’s block When it comes to writing essays, getting those first couple of sentences down — or even just making an outline — can be a challenge, especially if it’s your first assignment. David Uskovich, a writing consultant at the University of Texas-Austin’s writing center stresses the importance of research: “It can put you in conversation with the material you’re trying to cover, which will help you make some connections so you’ll have something to start from when you actually sit down to write the paper.”

Freelance writer Lauren Brown, whose first young-adult novel is due out in the fall of 2010, offers this useful tip: “When I was in college at University of South Florida and had a paper due, there was nothing worse than staring at a blank computer screen and feeling like I had no thoughts in my head. The secret is to slowly condition your brain to start flowing by simply taking a few minutes to write via stream of consciousness. Just write down anything that comes to mind, even if you literally keep writing over and over, ‘Nothing is coming to mind.’ Eventually, your brain will warm up and more fluid sentences will emerge. After maybe 15 minutes or so of doing this, try again to start your paper. You’ll notice that you feel a bit more focused, way more relaxed, a little more creative and a lot less overwhelmed. Anytime you get stuck, just take a break and repeat this exercise.”

•    Outwit exams College tests come in many shapes and sizes, but as a general rule, liberal arts classes usually stick to short-answer and essay-oriented exams, while math and sciences often lean toward a multiple-choice format. For essay exams, it helps to find out beforehand from your professor or T.A. what the test will cover. It never hurts to ask them point-blank a couple of days before the test.

Third-year UT-Austin biology major Ben Cox points out that you can sometimes find many multiple-choice test questions from homework of previous years: “Math and science professors often take the basic idea of homework questions, even optional homework, and tweak only a few figures, leaving the concepts tested by the question intact.”

If you can get your hands on exams from previous semesters, these can also be helpful. Just ask around to find out who’s taken the class before you, or find out if your professor posts old exams on the course Web site. (Note: As long as you’re not memorizing answers, we don’t count this as cheating, but check out your school’s policy to avoid things like, duh, expulsion.)

“While the questions and even content might vary some from year to year, knowing the way your professors format their tests will do wonders for your preparedness,” says Cox.

So there you have it. Just by being organized and putting forth the effort to adequately prep for tests and assignments, you’ll be able to get more z’s … and more A’s — which is sure to put you on good terms with the parentals. And that always comes in handy, of course, whenever you want an “extra something.”

This post was copied from realcollegeguide.com