Tips and Supports for Academic Success | College of Human Environmental Sciences

Go to class

Going to class is the bare minimum for being successful in college. Missing a class should be a rare occurrence; something that happens at most once or twice a semester. If you must miss more than that due to extenuating circumstances, you should reach out to Student Care and Well-Being for assistance.

Should you encounter difficulties outside the classroom that affect your learning and performance, the University of Alabama provides numerous resources for assistance. Below are some examples. Should any obstacles hinder your optimal performance, do not hesitate to reach out to your academic advisor and HES Student Services for support.

Studies show going over what you learned in class at the end of each helps you retain information much better and makes preparing for exams easier. A study of students found at the end of a 9-week period those who reviewed their notes within a day recalled about 75 percent of the information. Those who did not review their notes were unable to recall even 50 percent of the information after one day, and only a little more than 20 percent of the information after nine weeks. This reference is a good starting point for determining how much time you may need to commit to studying each week.

Reading about what you are will be covering during class can make a world of difference in being able to keep up during lecture and the more you practice working with what you are learning, the quicker and more efficiently you will be able to do your exams.

It is vital that you check your UA email account at very least at the beginning and end of each day. This will help you avoid missing out on crucial course and university information and can help you remember important appointments and deadlines if you use the calendar tool.

Having a planner to look over daily serves as a great memory jogger for you and frees your mind to focus on your priorities. There are several mobile apps available that can assist with time management. Some examples include iHomework2, Todoist, Any.do, Studious, Evernote, and more.

Tutoring offers the opportunity to meet with peers who have successfully completed the course being tutored to discuss class content, ask questions, and share study tips and resources. Tutoring options available on campus can be found HERE. It is not exclusively for students that are on the border of passing or failing that can benefit from tutoring support. It can also be what helps push a C to a B or even an A.

This can help in a lot of ways. Having a group to study with can help in comparing notes which can allow for filling in any information or concepts that you individually may have missed during lecture. Sometimes hearing information from the perspective of another student can make information easier to understand. It is good to have a support system for motivation and accountability and if you miss class, you can get notes from the members of your group.

Studies show that people remember concepts that are studied at the beginning and end of study sessions. Study materials in different orders each time to avoid a situation where you are unable to remember information always covered in the middle of study sessions.

This helps you avoid burnout and makes the work you are doing seem more manageable. In those two weeks, prioritize each task as vital, important, and optional.

Putting things off until the last minute can create more stress than staying on top of them. If you tend to put off seemingly overwhelming or unpleasant assignments, try starting the process in the first week of being assigned and break the assignment down into smaller tasks that require less time commitment and give yourself specific deadlines for completing each task.

There are two areas that are crucial to improving concentration which enhances memory: the study environment and structure for study sessions.

You want to study in an environment that’s distraction free, comfortable, and where the materials you need for studying are present. The Capstone Center for Student Success, UA libraries, and Mathematics Technology & Learning Center, and HES Open Computer Lab are all examples of good options available to you.

You want to develop realistic goals for study sessions. Start studying far in advance of your exams, preview course materials and identify the main topics you will cover and what you are expected to learn first and pick one concept at a time to review. This will provide a framework for absorbing the details you will learn as you look over your course materials. Mastering each concept builds confidence and avoids the discouragement that can come from cramming prior to exams.

Academic coaching is the one-on-one process of helping you identify your challenges, opportunities for improvement and strengths while assisting you in building an action plan and skills to use throughout your academic career and beyond. Success coaches provide students with academic support in areas ranging from time management and goal setting to identifying resources and creating good habits. They work individually with students, assessing strengths and needs, and devising a personalized plan of action. Academic coaches are available to both on-campus and UA online students.

Studies have shown that multitasking can actually lead to a loss in productivity through losing time when switching from one task to another and it often causing difficulty in maintaining focus. One thing that can assist in that process is putting your phone away when studying and working on an assignment.

The care and attention you give yourself is important to success in all aspects of life. Affording yourself time to relax can help you recuperate mentally and physically which makes you more efficient when working on assignments. Plan to reward yourself when you accomplish a challenging task. Mobile apps such as Stop, Breathe, and Think and MindShift can be used to manage stress and anxiety.

There are online materials such as Chegg Tutors, MIT OpenCourseWare, and Khan Academy, and YouTube videos you can use to supplement your in-class instruction. Mobile apps like Quizlet and Brainscape-Smart Flashcards can be used to create flashcards for your classes.