Spooky Secrets of Successful Students

Registration for spring semester opens November 8th. Which makes Halloween the perfect time to book an appointment with your College of Science advisor, Corinne Bigler, or me, Monica Linford, and don’t face the grim prospect of trying to register when classes are full! 

If you come see us—we’ll have candy and you can play "Batty Bingo" for a chance to win either an A2 parking pass for spring semester or $100 to Amazon, your choice! We have your bingo cards and the details of how to play in room TY201.

But wait... we know fall is only halfway done and getting through it seems like a deep dark mystery! Don't worry, we got your back and want to share how students can succeed.

Here is a list of ten things successful students do:
 

Secrets to Success:

See an Advisor Every Semester! They don’t bite! Don’t be afraid to make an appointment with an advisor.   Advisors can answer almost any question and can connect you with the information you need.

Register Early & File FAFSA Early: Don’t wait until midnight on the last day to register. You might just turn into a pumpkin! Check the Registration Time Check app on e-Weber to know when you can register.  Make sure to waitlist on any full class that interests you. This sends the message to the department that they may need to offer another section.  Free Application for Federal Student Aid needs to be completed each year and is the 2022-2023 is open now!

Go to Tutoring: Don’t wait until you are already struggling. You don’t want to get lost in the woods with a course you are not understanding. Decide to schedule tutoring from day one. Just make it part of your schedule.  You can find tutoring on the e-Weber portal on the TutorTrac app. Ask if your course has a Supplemental Instructor (SI). SI’s offer study sessions and help with course content.  Make use of the Writing Center. You can bring in any written document—it doesn’t have to be from an English course. Let the experts look it over and shed some light on the shadows of your writing.

1:2 Study Rule: This rule is as old as the musty mummies in the museum. For every one credit hour, you should plan to study 2 hours.  In case you didn’t know, a “credit hour” means “1 hour per week of class.” A 3-credit hour course consists of class time three hours per week. So you will need to study 6 hours on top of that, for a total of 9 hours of effort, every week, for a 3 cr. hr. class.  Are their cobwebs in your brain? Do you feel you don’t know how to study? Studying is a learned skill. If you don’t know how to study (be honest with yourself), make an appointment with the College of Science Learning Strategist, Brian Pilcher. He can teach you how to study more efficiently and effectively.

Take Notes: One of the best kept secrets of student success is notetaking. Taking notes can make the difference between sweet success or frightful failure in your courses.  How to take Cornell notes. How to take neat and tidy notes, if that's your thing. How to take creative notes, because that might be your thing.

Visit Professor During Office Hours: Some students would rather visit a cemetery than meet one-on-one with a professor. Trust me, they’re just regular people—not monsters.  All professors (including adjunct) set aside time to meet with students.  You can get information about a professor’s office hours in your course syllabus, or from the administrative specialist for the department. (Find departments on the A-Z index in e-Weber or visit COS Departments).

Self-Care: Don’t be a zombie—take care of yourself! Get enough sleep. Sleep, or lack thereof, strongly impacts student success. Visit the Counseling Center sleep-related help site. Eat healthy food! Your brain needs frequent healthy fuel to learn. Scholars are not built from treats (or energy drinks) alone—you need real nutritious food. Weber Cares is a food pantry—just waiting for you to visit! For tips on self-care check out the Counseling and Psychological Center.

Work/School Balance: This can feel more like a juggling act with knives than a balancing act on a beam 2 inches off the ground when your time is mismanaged.  Because of the 1:2 credit hour to study ratio, remember, a full-time course schedule (12-15 cr. hr.) is the same commitment as a full-time job.  If you are working full time, it might not make sense to have a full course schedule. Likewise, if you have a full course schedule, it might not make sense to work full time. Weigh your options carefully.  Many students are horrified at the thought of student debt; but setting yourself up for success is the goal. In the same way as you might borrow money for a house or a car, borrowing money to finish your degree can make sense—if you make sure you finish in a timely manner. Visit Financial Literacy for more information.

Get Involved: Students who are involved on campus graduate at higher rates than students who do not participate in extracurricular activities. Don’t ghost your classmates—do something together! Take-in a concert, an informative lecture, or a play on campus. Take a hike with College of Science or participate in an Outdoor Rec. activity. There’s always something exciting going on! Find out more at the Events Calendar. Join a university club or a club in the College of Science! Participate in community service! Get involved in student leadership!

Ask for Help! Advisors are not just for course selection and registration. They can connect you with resources for almost any problem. There are so many services on campus! Let us know what you need, we’ll point you in the right direction. If we don’t know the answer to your problem, we will help connect you with someone who does. Your advisor is your smiling jack-o-lantern—welcoming you and lighting your way.