Study Tips for Success Plan Ahead Do the Work Communicate The secrets to success aren’t a secret any more! These study tips were given by your very own program directors. Plan Ahead Do the Work Write Down the Due Dates. For all of your courses, print out the student map and write in the due dates. This will help you keep track of deadlines. Set Your Own Deadlines. Set YOUR deadlines the day before an assignment is due. This builds a “buffer” should an emergency crop up. Check the rubrics or course distribution prior to completing your assignments. Find out what you need to do in order to get an A. Break large projects into smaller ones. Suppose you have to write a paper. Cut this big project into a set of smaller ones. Create a due date for the topic to be chosen, a due date for the research to be done, and a due date for the rough draft. Completing these smaller projects is easier than looking at one big one. Back It Up! Make sure you have backed up your work. If you use a computer, back up to an external disk, a CD-ROM, memory stick, or a second computer. Printing out a hard copy may seem old-fashioned, but if you lose your electronic version, you can always scan the printout or make another copy. Read carefully. Read the course content topics and the assigned textbook readings. Do the practice activities. How do you get better at something? You practice, practice, practice! Check to see if there are practice activities in your course, and if there are, use them! You can’t learn unless you practice. Take advantage of the preview dates for every assignment. This gives you an opportunity to see if you’re on the right track, and get your questions clarified before the final submission of your work. Spend some time thinking about exactly what you need to have answered. Your instructors can’t help you if you don’t ask specific questions. Communicate Talk to your instructor to see how you can score the most points on an assignment, quiz, or discussion. Don’t wait until you get your grade to find out what you could have done to get an A. Don’t be afraid to ask each instructor because the answers may differ. More study tips ►

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Take Care of Yourself When in Doubt, Use APA Mind over Matter. Keep telling yourself You CAN do it. Don’t concentrate on being overwhelmed. If you do, you will be overwhelmed. Be like the little train that could. I think I can, I think I can……. Learn to Say "No" Without Guilt When you are doing multiple things (working full time, raising a family, and going to school), it is OK to say no when people ask you to do extra things. Many people feel guilty for saying no, but it is OK. Get a good night’s sleep. Losing sleep is directly linked to poor focus and memory. Write a list of unfinished tasks and unresolved issues before getting into bed. Go to bed earlier. Set yourself a bedtime and stick to it. Wind down. Give yourself 45 minutes to relax before going to bed. Drink tea, read a book, or listen to music. If no other format is required, use APA format for proper format of references. Word 2007 has a reference tool that will insert in-text citations and create a bibliography for you. For help, go to www.citationmachine.net for proper. Remove Distractions Find a quiet place to study. Shut the door. Turn off the T.V. Close your IM, Facebook, and silence your phone. Give yourself uninterrupted time to study. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. - Abraham Lincoln