| College success is not as difficult for most young | | | | exploration, writing skills, note taking, problem |
| students as learning how to take on adult | | | | solving, and more. |
| responsibilities. Letting go of adolescence and | | | | 2. Work Ethic -- Good study and work habits will |
| becoming an adult is more challenging according to | | | | lead you to success in college and in the work |
| Carl Pickardt, Psychologist and adolescent | | | | force. Good study skills will only be effective if |
| specialist. If you take responsibility for showing up | | | | you apply them. They will be worthless to you if |
| to class regularly, turning papers and work in on | | | | you do not use them. |
| time, and sacrificing some of the time spent with | | | | 3. Motivation -- Without motivation you will not |
| friends in favor of more study time, you have | | | | consistently use good study skills, work habits and |
| won half the battle for achieving college success. | | | | your intelligence and potential. There are two |
| Being responsible for meeting the demands of | | | | types of motivation, the carrot (pleasure) and the |
| college (ability to respond and step up to the | | | | stick (pain). When you use these together you will |
| plate) is one of the keys to college achievement. | | | | have a powerful motivational combination. Keep |
| You already have been using some of the higher | | | | your long-range goals for achieving a college |
| level thinking skills needed to succeed in college. | | | | education in your mind's eye. For example, let's |
| You use these skills when you solve your life | | | | say you want a degree in secondary education to |
| problems and overcome obstacles. Your lack of | | | | become a teacher. Visualize and imagine yourself |
| success in college will not be because you are not | | | | as a teacher who is making a positive difference |
| smart enough. There are many different types of | | | | for your students. Enjoy the positive feelings that |
| intelligence and my experience in working with | | | | come when you see yourself as a great teacher. |
| hundreds of students has shown that practically | | | | This is the carrot and a reminder of one of the |
| every student is smart in one way or another. | | | | benefits (pleasure) you will experience by |
| For more information on different types of | | | | achieving your goal. Also remind yourself of the |
| intelligence other than IQ, you can read the | | | | stick (pain) or the consequences if you do not |
| theories of Howard Gardner (Multiple Intelligences), | | | | achieve your goal of completing a degree in |
| Robert Sternberg (Successful Intelligence) and | | | | secondary education. It can deprive you of |
| Daniel Goleman (Emotional and Social Intelligence). | | | | becoming a teacher. Reminding yourself of the |
| In addition to self-responsibility, there are three | | | | benefits and consequences will help you to stay |
| other factors you will need to succeed in college: | | | | motivated and persistent. Also break your |
| 1. Learning how to learn and study skills -- You | | | | long-range goals into small steps. Every step |
| need to learn how to learn effectively and the | | | | accomplished provides you with positive feedback |
| ways that you learn best. Most colleges offer at | | | | and will increase your motivation to reach your |
| least one college success course which can teach | | | | long-range goals. |
| you these skills. These courses also need to be | | | | You can succeed in college, in your career, and in |
| taught to high school students, but sadly few high | | | | your life. Where to begin? Start with college |
| schools provide them. A good college success | | | | success by taking responsibility, learning how to |
| course will teach you: how to study and learn, | | | | learn effectively and how you learn best, using |
| reading comprehension strategies, your best | | | | good study skills and work habits, and by fueling |
| learning styles and types of intelligences, how to | | | | your motivation to succeed. Use these four keys |
| set and reach your goals, time management, | | | | and you will open the door to college success and |
| discovery of your talents and strengths, career | | | | the gateway to your dreams. |