What Successful College Students Know

• Treat their college experience as though it were a paid job. They realize their career starts right now, not when they are first hired.


• Understand that keeping a positive attitude helps them move forward. If they fail at a task, they pick themselves up and continue on having learned from their mistake.


• Strategize. They get help with which classes to take and when; they use all available resources ; they track their GPAs and always know where they stand.


• Know that talent will carry them only as far as their desire to work. Talent without effort leads nowhere.


• Deliver assignments on time and to the best of their ability. They don’t make excuses. They push themselves to excellence.


• Are curious. They don’t just wait for ideas to be fed to them. They take on the responsibility for learning new ideas on their own.


• Take on challenges. The more difficult the obstacle, the more they feel they have the opportunity to learn.


• Always try to produce work of substance. They don’t value cleverness over substance. They are creative but they also know the “rules”.


• Appreciate constructive criticism. They understand that they are there to learn and do not take criticism of their academic efforts personally.


• Are critical thinkers. They know how to analyze information by gathering information from all sides, questioning and assessing.


• Strive for balance in their lives. They know how to prioritize. They not only pay attention to their studies but also to their physical and mental health; their families and friends. They endeavor to have fun; they equate their college experience as a trial run for a new life ahead.