Secrets to School Success
Tests, homework and major requirements, oh my! When it comes to being successful in school, many students don’t know where to start. Meeting deadlines, finishing projects and studying for tests require so much time it can feel impossible to conquer it all. Luckily, some University of Maryland students and advisors provided us with their top tips for being successful.
Amy Merritt, an advisor for the Robert H. Smith School of Business, recommends that students learn to recognize when they need extra help and to not be afraid to seek it out.
A photo of Amy Merritt. Image credit: Taylor Dove for The Campus Trainer
“If you aren’t used to getting help [...] it can be really hard to reach out and get it here,” Merritt said.
On campus, there are so many places for students to go and get the help they need.
“Advisors are really good resources,” Merritt said. “Even if a student comes and asks me ‘Oh, I have a weird charge on my account, what do I do about that?’ I can tell you where to go even if I can’t really fix it for you.”
Merritt recommends that students visit The Writing Center for help.
“You can get help with outlining, with different drafts of the assignment,” Merritt said. “I think sometimes students have the most problem just getting started, and they can help with that.”
Ida Chan, an advisor for the Mathematics department since 2006, advises students who are struggling to reflect on themselves and decide whether or not they’re in the right place.
A photo of Ida Chan. Image credit: Taylor Dove for The Campus Trainer
“I went to a very small college of 1,000 students,” Chan said. “I don’t think it would have worked so well for me if I had gone to a big university like Maryland.”
If students are struggling in larger classes, there are options to help make big classes seem smaller. Visiting professors during office hours, going to study sessions or meeting with a tutor are ways to get that extra one-on-one time some students need. Chan acknowledged that every student is different and that not everything will work for every person.
“Everybody has to find ways that work for themselves,” Chan said. “Understand[ing] yourself and figur[ing] out what works for you is part of success.”
While advisors are great resources, there are also options students can pursue in their daily lives to succeed in school.
Alexandra Servey, a senior English major, prefers to use lists to keep herself organized.
“I make to-do lists every week with everything for each of my classes,” Servey said.
To-do lists are often an overlooked method of staying organized. It seems like nothing special, right? But it can be one of the best methods for succeeding in school! Simply writing down assignments on a sticky note and placing it where it can be seen will be a huge help for students feeling overwhelmed by their workload.
Servey recommends that students get ahead on work whenever possible.
“I try to get most of my work done over the weekend,” Servey said.
While it may take extra time in the beginning, students will enjoy the free time that getting ahead on work offers. Not having to cram for an exam or pull an all-nighter to finish a project means students can have more time to review, ask questions and get feedback on their work.
When it comes to being successful in school, every student has to find what works for them. Some people keep planners, some go to office hours and some still don’t know what the best methods are for them, and that’s okay. Regardless of what resources students choose to use, Chan gave one piece of advice that all students can use on their journey to success: “stay curious.”
