McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Objective: Learn about specific ways to be a successful student Plan for a realistic career Get organized Learn to persist Be positive Open yourself up for growth Part One, Motivational Skills Learning Survival Strategies

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Be realistic about how college will help you get a job. A college degree in itself isn’t enough. Prepare while you’re in college to make sure your degree is a marketable one.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Get organized right at the beginning of the semester. Take responsibility for your own behavior. The first meeting of any class is crucial. Bring pens and a notebook with you. Many teachers not only distribute basic information about required texts and materials, they also start lecturing the very first day. Don’t put off getting your books. You will need them right away if you don’t want to get behind.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Find out the names and numbers of some students in the class. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to go PREPARED to the next class. You can find out from your classmates what you missed, including any notes and assignments. Have a specific place at home for all your school materials. They should be kept somewhere convenient for you.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Decide right from the start how much work you can handle. A good rule of thumb: For every ten hours per week you work, deduct one course from a full-time college course load. Be sure to consider your family responsibilities and the difficulty of the courses, as well.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Have a professional, mature attitude about being a student. Remember that college teachers aren’t baby-sitters or disciplinarians. They want to teach adults who meet them halfway and take responsibility for themselves.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Know how you learn. Many people prefer one learning style over another. Auditory learning style: emphasizes hearing Tactile learning style: touching things helps learning Visual learning style: emphasizes seeing or reading If you recognize your particular learning style, you can take advantage of it, whether it emphasizes hearing, sight, touch, or another sense or combination of the senses.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Persist. There are going to be times when any student must simply determine, “I am going to persist.” Be positive. Refuse to use self doubt as an excuse for not trying. Do what it takes to overcome difficulty. Get a tutor. Take notes Go to the learning center See a counselor. DON’T GIVE UP. Use college as an opportunity for personal growth.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. What kind of work do you want to do after college? Have you visited the counseling center to take a vocational interest test? How can you actively investigate possible careers? Have you found out whether there will be good job opportunities available in your chosen career by the time you graduate?

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. What courses would you like to take just for the sake of learning, whether or not they fit into your career path? What specific things can you do to stay organized through this semester and the rest of your college career? What is your favorite learning style? What specific activities can you do to make the best of your learning style?