How to Succeed in College and University

How to Succeed in College: Tips For The Adult Learner

By Aloma M. Mendoza, Ph.D.

Copyright 2012 Aloma Mendoza

Published on Smashwords

Formatted by eBooksMade4You

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Know Your Professors

Print Your Syllabi

Grading and Attendance Polices

Conference Time

Attending Lectures is Mandatory

Get to Know Other Students

Time Management

Disability Services

Reading

Journaling

Classroom Participation

Note Taking

Institutions’ Resources

Studying

Taking Tests

Academic Resources

About the Author

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Introduction

Making a decision to attend any post-secondary institution as an adult learner is a very important step. To make such a major decision you would have had to think seriously about the pros and the cons of what becoming adult college or university students entail. The moment you began thinking of attending a post-secondary institution, many questions may have popped into your heads such as: How is this going to affect my life? Is college necessary for me at this time? Could I make it in life without attending college? Am I too old to start studying again? What will happen if I cannot understand what the professors are requesting of me? You may even have a list of self-identified deficiencies such as not being able to use the computer, not being able to read fast, having been out of school for many years, not being a good writer, and so on. The excuses could be endless because your concerns are genuine. In addition, being afraid of the unknown is quite normal.

As adult students, you are not simply enrolling in college to get an education, but you are on the path to enhancing your status in American society by achieving a degree. In fact, there are many more important and practical reasons for your decisions to return to college and earn degrees. Whether your plans include career changes, increases in salary, promotion, lifelong dreams, or job transfers, your reasons are important and will involve serious planning. To many of you, this decision to attend college may be because you will be the first member of your family to obtain a degree; therefore, such a decision will be of paramount importance to you, your family, and generations to come.

This eBook is designed to assist you with overcoming your jitters about making such a critical decision. Although this eBook focuses on the adult learner, traditional age students could benefit from the information provided. In this eBook, you will find some of the answers to your questions about returning to the college classrooms after being out of school for many years. This eBook is dedicated to introducing you to the college or university classroom setting and environment, whether you are planning to complete your degree in institutions offering on-line or traditional classroom learning models. Make sure you understand the differences between the two models. If you prefer to have contact with the professors and other students, then completing online courses may not be ideal for you. Fortunately, you could learn to adjust, so do not rule out on-line education all together. In addition, not