What Does It Take To Succeed Academically and Where Can You Get It?

QUESTION: Which of the following is most related to academic success?


a) high intelligence
b) time management skills
c) assertiveness
d) studying with other students

If you answered (b), (c), or (d) you are more apt to be correct than if you answered (a). Research on high achievers indicates that it is not necessarily the most intelligent students who perform the best academically. What appears to be far more important is knowing how to make the most of the abilities you have, and knowing how to work and manage the academic system.

A recent Reader's Digest article highlights some of the "secrets" of straight-A students as demonstrated in educational research. Not surprisingly, 4 out of 11 of these "secrets" concern effective TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS:

• set priorities
• schedule your time
• get organized
• study anywhere or everywhere

Also to be expected, 3 "secrets" involve improving or implementing BASIC STUDY SKILLS:

• improve your reading
• take good notes
• quiz yourself

Making CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU is another theme revealed in the "secrets" of high achievers:

• speak up in and out of class
• form study groups

Another general "secret" is the notion of practice, practice, practice.

What is clear from this list of "secrets" is that they really aren't secrets at all. These ideas are basic, accessible-to-all skills and habits that most of us know about. The trick, of course, is putting them into practice. Achievers--those who succeed academically--are masters at putting these simple formulas into practice.

If you would like to become a high (or higher) achiever, you would do well to attend to your time management skills, basic study skills, and assertiveness skills. Many places on campus can help you:

Learning Assistance Service of The Counseling Center

- time management, study skills, assertiveness

Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education

- programs for multi-ethnic students

Counseling Service of The Counseling Center

- assertiveness, motivation, problem-solving

EDCP 108B- 1-credit course on Reading & Study Skills

EDCP 108G- 1-credit course on Academic Strategies for Transfer Students

EDCP 108N- 1-credit course on College Advancement for Multi-ethnic Students

EDCP 108T- 1-credit course on Time Management

Campus Tutorial Services

Books, handouts, and tapes on these and other topics are also available at the Counseling Center.

In conclusion, greater academic success is an equal-opportunity pursuit. If you start now to improve your time management, study skills and assertiveness, you can make a difference -- YOU MIGHT EVEN REALIZE A CHANGE THIS SEMESTER.

Written by Dr. Kathy Zamostny, a staff psychologist at the Counseling Center.