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The Key to Academic
Success
Planning
for academic success is a process directed towards informed course
selection. Informed course selection means choosing
appropriate courses. In selecting appropriate courses, you
confront one of the most important tasks of your college
experience. The choices will greatly influence your (1)
satisfaction with college, (2) performance in classes, (3)
persistence in college, (4) graduation from college, and (5)
entrance into graduate schools and careers.
University
courses and professors vary considerably in their expectations and
requirements and thus their demands on your time and energy.
Therefore, you must determine what will be expected in each
course you plan to take. Moreover, to maintain your
motivation you should assess your level of interest in each course,
how it can be used for graduation requirements, and the course's
relation to your educational goals and career
aspirations.
Below are
11 factors to consider when assessing courses:
1.
Your interests in the topic and content of the
course
2.
Skills which you can develop in the course
3.
How the course relates to academic goals
4.
Opportunities for exploration afforded by the
course
5.
Requirements the course fulfills
6.
Suitability of the course and the professor's methods of
instruction to your skills.
7.
Availability of tutors, teaching assistants, study groups,
etc.
8.
Your readiness in terms of background experiences, knowledge
and/or courses necessary for understanding course
content
9.
In-class skills (listening, note-taking, participation,
etc.)
10. Course
requirements and your skills
Reading
level and quantity
Problem
solving and other assignments
Lab
experiements
Library
research
Term
papers and other written assignments
Studio
sessions, observations, etc.
11. Test and
grading system
Skills
required on tests
Level
of competition in the course and your readiness for it
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