Top 5 must-know tips for college students by a Professor

About the author

Hi there. I am the prolific professor with 15 years of experience teaching online and in-person. I have a graduate degree. I have a passion for education. But I’ve also worked in the professional world (outside of education) too. Thanks for visiting.

Advice for new college students by a professor

When asked, Professors said college students should read their syllabus, come to class, get help, don’t ask for extra credit, and introduce yourself to them.

When I first started taking college courses, I was not prepared. I had no clue how to be successful in higher education, and I thought that I could do the same things I did in high school and get by.

I was wrong.

I failed all my classes. Every single one of them. But at the very end of the term, I tried to talk to some professors and find out if there was a way I could pass.

I had not talked to them all semester, but I thought I could charm them into letting me get a passing grade.

None of them obliged. And I am really happy they didn’t because I wouldn’t have learned the hard way what it takes to be successful in college. And in the real world.

I talked directly to Professors and asked them what they wanted their students to know and made a list for you. Don’t wait until the last day of class or until you have a failing grade to start doing these things. Do them now. All of the professors I walked to were happy to provide the extra help to students to get them in the right direction.

These are five simple ways you can improve your academic performance and get prepared for your first year at college.

And honestly, these tips will even help college seniors.

Chances are these things will help you in your college classes.

College tips for student success : What a professor wished college students knew

1.) Read every single sentence of your syllabus

Photo by Mari Helin / Unsplash

The Professors I spoke to said that they often get questions from students, via email, that could easily be answered in their syllabus.

The Professors cannot always respond quickly, and students don’t get answers right away, when they could have just reviewed their syllabus and got an immediate answer. And Professors like to think that you search for the answer first before emailing them.

Check in your syllabus first for answers to your questions as it might have been answered there.

Also, you might miss important deadlines if you don’t review the syllabus. Most syllabi contain due dates and a course outline so it’s important to review it.

One Professor I interviewed said that students don’t follow requirements in the assignment description that were in the syllabus and get some major points deducted. This could all be avoided by reading your syllabus first.

Another reason you should read your syllabus is because it usually contains college policies that might pertain to you like college deadlines for withdrawal dates or information about disability accommodations.

Definitely check it out and review it thoroughly before beginning the course and be ready to look at it during the semester too.

PRO TIP: Print your syllabus for quick reference. And if you cannot find the answer, email your Professor and tell them that you searched your syllabus and cannot locate an answer. They will think that you are responsible and did your due diligence first.

2.) Don’t ask for extra credit

When you ask for extra credit, you make it seem like you deserve it for not earning the grade you wanted. You’re telling your Professors that you did not put in the hard work, but you still want a decent grade.

A Professor I spoke to said they don’t give extra credit to ONE student on an individual basis because it’s not fair to all the other students who worked hard. And it’s not fair to the other students in similar circumstances who need the extra credit but don’t ask.

It’s like saying to everyone else that you’re special and deserve special treatment.

Instead, if you aren’t doing well in your course, talk to your Professor BEFORE the end of the term. Have an honest conversation about your struggles with their course, and ask them how you can improve. If you haven’t been attending lectures or doing assignments, now is the time to work hard and try to gain some traction.

Chances are they may even give you an opportunity to makeup some missed assignments, or help give you some pointers to do well on the remaining coursework. Keep a positive attitude.

One Professor said that a student visited them and said they were struggling with the course material and weren’t understanding the information.

The Professor had them come in during office hours to discuss the material and did a review with the student each week over the lectures. The student made major improvements and passed the class with the letter grade they wanted.

PRO TIP: Don’t wait until the end of the semester. Professors are swamped with work at the end of the semester and would prefer you come by earlier to show you’re serious about your academic career.

3.) Meet with your Professor

Professors should have office hours. Keep in mind that some Professors are part-time (adjuncts) or are graduate assistants, and may not have office hours.

But in almost all circumstances, you can schedule a time to meet them regardless if they have a physical location. Find their contact information in their syllabus and meet with them. It’s a great way to network and find out exactly what you need to do to be successful.

You may have to get out of your comfort zone. But this is a good time to come with important questions for the faculty member. They may also provide you with some tips for good study habits too.

If they have a physical location on campus, check their office hours. I recommend contacting them first to make sure they will be in their office. Sometimes they have meetings, another scheduled meeting, or a planned vacation or sick time, and won’t be in their office. So schedule ahead in case.

Otherwise, stop by, schedule an appointment and talk to them. It doesn’t have to be about any concerns you’re having, but just introduce yourself, let them know who you are, and what you’re interested in (career, education, etc). This helps them put a face with a name, and it could help you out later.

One Professor I interviewed said that when students come by and talk about their education or careers, it lets them know they’re serious and dedicated. This is the perfect time to let your professor know more about you and your goals.

And if they know enough about the student to help them network, write a letters of recommendation or serve as reference for a job, it is possible because they know that student better.

PRO TIP: Introduce yourself to your Professor at the beginning of the term. Let them know your name, what are your goals, and a little bit about yourself so that they recognize you. It may help you out later.

4.) Get help

The Professors I spoke to said that students are not often aware that the college has free resources that they should use.

Colleges often have centers for writing, math and science, disability accommodations, library assistance, technical assistance, etc.

Let’s take a closer look at these.

Some college students might have had disability accommodations in high school and think that they automatically transfer to college, or they think they cannot get accommodations in college, but the Americans with Disability Act requires post-secondary institutions to provide accommodations to qualified students. Check with your college and find out who to talk to about accommodations. They usually have an office for this purpose.

You can typically get accommodations for things like medical issues, ADHD, vision problems, seating preference, etc. But you will have to back it up with documentation to prove you need the accommodations.

Professors have to abide by these accommodations, with some variability, but it’s the law in America. But you have to ask for them first and get approved. Do this before the semester starts. It might depend on the type of university you attend too.

Not only can you get accommodations, but the resources are endless.

A lot of colleges have counseling services where you can get free help. One professor we spoke with said that their college has a counseling center for personal and career counseling. And it is FREE. They said that the counselors are licensed professional counselors and would typically costs students $100 per hour or more in the real world. Take advantage of it if your college offers it.

Other resources might include library assistance. Most colleges have large libraries and you could visit with a reference librarian. They could assist you with locating resources for an assignment. Or help you navigate the library or library website. Don’t forget that some college have access to resources via the internet. Ask them about these options.

Explore what your college has to offer and make sure you use those resources. It’s almost always FREE. Well, I am sure you are paying for it somewhere in your tuition, so you might as well use them.

And if you need help with anything, ask your professor for some help.

5.) Come to class

Make sure you attend your classes. If you are attending in-person, show up for every lecture. Even if attendance isn’t counted, GO. You paid for the course, and you want to get your money’s worth.

One Professor told me that they would occasionally offer extra credit to students, but only during selected classes and if the students did not show up, they wouldn’t get the extra credit opportunity.

Also, you want to learn the material. I mean, I know it may not really serve a purpose in your life later, BUT you are making yourself have structure by attending class.

You also learn responsibility. You show dedication to self-improvement when you attend class.

Get engaged in class discussions and show your professor that you are listening to their lectures and want to engage in scholarly discussion.

If you are taking an online class, make sure you login to the class everyday to see if you are missing anything. A Professor told me that they can see when students logged in to the online classroom, as well as see their level of activity and page views. So it pays to get online and browse around at what the course has to offer.

Don’t look like a slacker. And get additional support from the Professor. Even if they are not a Professor for your college major, make an effort to communicate with them and let them know you care about their class.

And if you can’t make yourself go to class, I have some amazing tips to help you get motivated here.

I hope this list of things helped you. Remember, this is college. But this is preparation for your future too. Take advantage of the opportunities in college to set yourself up for a better future. One Professor I interviewed said that these tips are exactly what they’ve seen some of their most successful students do.

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