Academic Success Strategies

Create a Plan

The most beneficial thing for you to do is to create your own academic strategies based on your personal and educational goals. Working with an academic advisor can help you develop an educational and personal growth plan.

Start by defining exactly what you want from your Western experience. By having direction, it's more likely you'll get there.

Of course, how you discover what you want from college may be the problem. There are resources across campus that can help you make decisions about your experience at Western. Until then, use the following questions to help define your goals: What do I want from the college experience? What are my academic goals? What are my personal goals? What are my social goals? Answering these questions will take some time, but the process of deciding your goals will help your create a plan.

Tips & Strategies

Successful strategies require action on your part. Some of the following ideas may be helpful to you. But again, be realistic. If you're not committed to trying something, don't say you will.

• Study in small groups with fellow classmates; quiz each other.
• Re-write notes from class to assist in understanding materials.
• Evaluate your time and prioritize. Get time management assistance
• Work fewer hours or take less credit hours!
• Find employers who are willing to be flexible in your work schedule so you can be academically successful. 
• Attend class and pay attention.
• Read the next class meeting's topic so you already have an idea on what will be covered.
• Bring textbook to class; refer to it throughout the discussion to supplement your notes.
• Eat well, exercise, and get quality sleep.
• Visit Counseling and Consultation re: personal issues and concerns, test anxiety, roommate issues, time management tips, career counseling etc.
• Choose a major. If you have a career/academic goal, it is easier to stay on track.
• Seek tutoring and/or Study labs - Math Lab, Writing Center.
  • Make use of the  Academic Resource Center
• Visit your instructors during his/her office hours at least once a semester.
  • Take class notebook, tests/quizzes and papers along to go over.
  • Determine what is unclear and bring a list of questions to ask your instructor.
• Attend a workshop through the Academic Resource Center.

Of course, none of these strategies will be helpful until you have decided how you will implement the ones you have chosen. Saying you will choose a major is not the same as saying how you are going to choose a major.