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Do’s and Don’ts of College Classes

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Jasmin Lankford Student Contributor, University of South Florida
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Justine Figueroa Student Contributor, University of South Florida
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at USF chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

 

College life gives you the freedom to do what you’ve always wanted. Don’t feel like waking up for class? Then you don’t have to. But the key to college is knowing your limits, and knowing how to balance everything appropriately. College classes are certainly different than high school, but there are still some essential guidelines to follow. Abide by this advice and you’ll surely be successful.

Do: Go to class, take notes and pay attention.

Don’t: Skip every class until the review day before the exam.

 

Do: Make use of your professor’s office hours and email.

Don’t: Be afraid to ask your professor for help when you need it.

 

Do: Finish your work in a timely manner.

Don’t: Wait until 11:30 p.m. to start your homework when it’s due at midnight. Waiting until the last minute for any assignment on Canvas or Blackboard is a very bad idea because they are both known to crash at the most inopportune times.

 

Do: Study to retain the information for more than just test time.

Don’t: CHEAT!

 

Do: Make at least one reliable friend who you can depend on in each of your classes.

Don’t: Take a class and not talk to anyone because chances are that you can help each other out.

 

Do: Organize your schedule and plan ahead so you can get to class on time or with time to spare.

Don’t: Leave your room five minutes before class starts so you get there late. Most teachers take attendance at the beginning of class and you don’t want to miss that.

 

There is one pretty serious unspoken rule when it comes to college classes: don’t go to class just to sleep. If you want to sleep, you might as well just stay in bed instead of insulting your professor by sleeping through their lecture. Just don’t be surprised when they don’t round your grade up those two extra points you needed to pass. Professors may pretend not to notice, but they remember the sleepers

If you are a regular sleep-in-class-student or decide to skip class for whatever reason, plan ahead. Make sure you know how many classes you are allowed to miss before it lowers your grade. Pay attention to the class schedule for the semester so you know when exams are and when major assignments are due. The course syllabus will definitely keep you prepared for class, whether you decide to attend or not. Get organized with a planner, pay attention to the lectures and actually study the material outside of class so you retain the information. But obviously if you want to pass the class, then the easiest thing to do is simply go to class!

 

 

Photo Credits:

 

http://www.collegehaze.com/college-life/

http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-go-to-class-59/

Jasmin Lankford is a junior at the University of South Florida majoring in mass communications with a minor in creative writing. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus USF. Jasmin is also the Communications committee chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Student Leadership Society and the Media Coordinator of The Poets at USF. She loves to write about literature, fashion, art, student life and pop culture. She aspires to publish a bestselling book, write and edit for a newspaper or magazine, travel the world, and more. Read her blog here!
Justine is a recent graduate of the University of South Florida. She received her B.A. in mass communcations in spring 2014. She was the 2013-2014 Campus Correspondent for Her Campus USF.She was also a News & Feature Writing Intern for College of Arts and Sciences and the Public Relations Campus Rep for Rent the Runway at USF. She is currently seeking agency experience and would love to someday work for a magazine, become a novelist, poet, editor, host of a Travel Channel show and much more.  She enjoys writing about fashion, beauty, art, literature, pop culture and student life. She spends most days listening to Lana del Rey, calming her nerves with various types of cheese, being sassy and trying to figure out when she can take a nap.Check out her website and portfolio here.She'd love you forever, if you followed her on Twitter @tinafigs_.Contact Justine regarding business inquires only at justinefigueroa@hercampus.com.