Freshmen have heard it all. Everyone from parents and friends, to YouTube influencers are offering their advice on how to have a great freshman year. At Academic Coaching Specialists, we have been actively working with students for years and are able to provide solid advice on how to make things a little easier for them during that pivotal transition.
COLLEGE
ACADEMIC COACHING
Our college academic coaching program focuses on supporting students through organization, time management, goal setting and accountability.
COLLEGE
TUTORING
Has your student found themselves on academic probation or falling behind in their college coursework? Our expert educators can help!
HIGH SCHOOL
ACADEMIC COACHING
Our high school academic coaches teach students how to organize, prioritize and utilize effective study, note and test taking strategies.
HIGH SCHOOL
TUTORING
If your high school student is stressed with their demanding course load or needs help getting back on top of a challenging subject, give us a call.
1. Attend every class.
Everyone will tell you this and you probably think it is a no-brainer. However, it will be tempting to skip classes from time to time, especially if they are early in the day or last thing in the day. It can become easy to rationalize with yourself that it is just one class, but the reality is that each class is designed with information and material that you will need to prepare for an exam/project or paper. If you are ill and cannot attend class, you need to email the professor ahead of the class time. Make sure any work that is due that day has been submitted online if possible. If it is not possible to submit online, ask for an extension or try to find a classmate to send it with. Showing a real effort to get work turned in on time goes a long way with professors. That, along with not constantly asking for extensions. Professors realize that things come up. They also realize the frequency with which things come up should not be excessive and will only give so much leniency.
2. You need to schedule study time each day
Just as you use a planner to determine when to go to class, likewise you should schedule your own study/work time for each class throughout the day. If you have it scheduled it is much more likely that you will follow through on it and treat it as an obligation like class. Just looking at when your next class is and thinking you might work on something is a sure way to procrastinate. Over time, this becomes a bad habit which will lead to stress and long study sessions/late nights.
3. You need to utilize the resources on your campus
Your campus is designed to be a supportive environment. Even if you commute, there are services and offices on your campus that are there for your use, free of charge and part of your tuition/fees. The writing center is a great place to visit even if you are confident in your writing abilities going in. Oftentimes, freshmen getting back their first paper are mortified to see a poor grade and so much red/correction on the paper. Instead of being surprised, take your efforts to the writing center for review BEFORE it is due. This is so that you have enough time to make the suggested corrections/edits before turning it in. Other offices to visit would be the student success or tutoring center, library (often they have librarians who will assist you in finding materials for research), career services, mental health counseling, recreation center, etc. Also, don’t forget to utilize your professors’ office hours. Even if it is just to stop in to say hello and ask one or two questions for clarification, they sincerely appreciate the time and will look favorably upon your efforts.
NJ D.
” The program has geared me up for success not only in the classroom but also in life. Having a dedicated plan day in and day out has helped me achieve so much. With the help and guidance from ACS, I was able to graduate college (which I never thought could happen) and have helped me land my dream job right out of college! Thank you ACS!! “
Joe D.
” I was able to improve my test scores, improve my overall grades and even make dean’s list. I also gained a new mentor, coach, and friend. I am using the skills I learned through ACS daily in my career such as planning, focusing, and prioritizing my tasks each day. “
Carolina B.
” I struggle with time management and I have learned that I need accountability to finish and reach my goals. Having someone who cares about my success, offering tools and strategies to get there, has been crucial for my professional and personal development. I am so grateful for this support from ACS in this journey. “