• Follow us on Twitter
  • Join our Facebook Group

University Survival

  • Student Success Skills
    • Picking a College
    • Financing Your Education
    • Choosing a Major
    • Preparing for College
    • Managing the Personal Side of the Transition to College
    • Developing Discipline to Do Well
    • Managing the Social Side of College
    • Being an Efficient Learner
    • Taking Tests
    • Ensuring You Receive The Grade You Want
    • Managing Group Projects
    • Becoming a Campus Leader
    • Student Athletes
    • Navigating College Practices
    • Succeeding on Internships and Co-ops
    • Making Critical Decisions
    • Overcoming Challenges for Specific Types of Students
    • Setting Goals
    • Being an International Student In The United States
    • Using Resources
    • Communication Skills for College Graduates
    • Building a Professional Network
    • Using LinkedIn to Develop Your Network
    • Preparing for a Career
    • Understanding Job Protocols
    • Developing Essential Career Skills
    • Becoming a Leader
    • Overcoming Career Challenges
    • Planning for your Financial Future
  • Parent Connections
    • Parent Topics
      • Being a Supportive Parent
      • Making Critical Decisions
      • Financing Your Student’s Education
    • Parent Emails
  • Teacher Resources
  • Resources
  • Community
  • About
You are here: Student Success Skills

Student Success Skills

Browse our topics below or search for topics and perform other actions in the sidebar.

.

Developing/Using a Mentor

  • Honoring Your Mentor
  • Knowing Things to Do
  • Getting Help in Tough Times
  • Getting Things Done
  • Setting Goals
  • Planning Ahead with Your Mentor
  • Learning from Your Mentor
  • Using Your Mentor to Expand Your Network
  • Opening Up to Your Mentor
  • Asking for Advice
  • Getting to Know Your Mentor
  • Using a Mentor
top

Being an Effective Mentor

  • Moving On
  • Guiding Through the Unwritten Rules
  • Helping Your Advisee Through Tough Times
  • Teaching Essential Skills
  • Supporting Goal Achievement
  • Planning Ahead
  • Sharing Knowledge
  • Being a Connector of a Mentor
  • Getting Others to Open Up to You
  • Giving Advice
  • Finding the Right Button
  • Becoming a Mentor
top

Making Critical Decisions

  • Asking Questions About Off-Campus Housing
  • Making Summer Plans
  • Deciding on Graduate School
  • Lengthening Your Stay in College
  • Taking a Leave of Absence
  • Deciding on Doing a Study Abroad
  • Deciding to do a Minor
  • Deciding to Stick with a Major
  • Making the Decision to Transfer Colleges or Change Majors
top

Picking a College

  • Weighing Factors in Your Decision
  • Understanding University Rankings
  • Visiting Prospective Campuses
  • Getting a Real Sense of a University
  • Making the Decision on a University
top

Financing Your Education

  • Understanding Financial Aid
  • Taking Advantage of Federal Financial Aid
  • Understanding the Costs of College
  • Paying for College
  • Understanding Your Payment Options
  • Buying Textbooks
  • Obtaining a Scholarship
  • Keeping Your Scholarships
  • Developing a Realistic Budget
  • Saving Money in College
top

Choosing a Major

  • Choosing a Major – The Process
  • Developing an Interest Profile
  • Uncovering Your Skills
  • Exploring the “Ings”
  • Narrowing Career Options
  • Understanding the Job Market
  • Interviewing Career Role Models
  • Knowing What You Can Do With a Major
  • Researching Your Major
  • Choosing a Major
top

Preparing for College

  • Knowing How to Dress
  • Judging Your Readiness for College
  • Testing in College
  • Understanding the General Education Curriculum
  • Dealing With the Issue of a High School Relationship
  • Thinking About Campus Programs
  • Knowing What Computer You Will Need
  • Setting Up Your Initial Course Schedule
  • Thinking About a Typical Day on Campus
  • Taking Placement Tests
  • Earning Course Credits Prior to College
  • Adjusting to College Teaching Styles
  • Making the Most from Your College Investment
  • Balancing Your Schedule
  • Selecting Roommates
  • Things That Every Student Should Have In Their Dorm Room
  • Knowing What Needs to Be in a Book Bag
  • Protecting Your Valuables
top

Managing the Personal Side of the Transition to College

  • Dealing With a Bad Roommate
  • Knowing How to Get Things Done
  • Overcoming Homesickness
  • Dealing with Roommates
  • Juggling Education and Recreation
  • Waking Up for Class
  • Staying Active
  • Overcoming the Blues
  • Finding Waldo
  • Overcoming a Feeling of Panic
  • Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
  • Learning How to Communicate With Your Parents About Your Grades
  • Getting Out of a Funk
  • Saying Thanks
  • Keeping Appointments
  • Developing an Academic Power of Attorney
top

Developing Discipline to Do Well

  • Maintaining Your Focus – 1
  • Maintaining Your Focus – 2
  • Maintaining Your Focus – 3
  • Maintaining Your Focus – 4
  • Maintaining Your Focus – 5
  • Planning Your Day – 1
  • Planning Your Day – 2
  • Developing a Pre-Sleep Ritual
  • Developing Assignment Discipline
  • Getting Started Again After the Weekend
  • Using the One Up Rule to Develop Discipline
  • Learning How to Say NO
  • Staying Motivated to do Well
  • Managing Your Time
  • Starting a Streak to Maintain Class Attendance
  • Overcoming Your Personal Sound Barrier to Change Your Habits
  • Avoiding Things That Drive Faculty Crazy
  • Staying Organized
  • Waking Up for Early Classes
  • Getting Yourself to Class
  • Doing the Required Reading
  • Keeping Up with Email
  • Setting Priorities
top

Managing the Social Side of College

  • Developing a Recovery Strategy
  • Managing Good Relationships
  • Limiting the Amount of Fun You Have
  • Being the Designated Stupid Protector
  • Deciding Whether to Join a Fraternity/Sorority
  • Managing School and an On-Campus Relationship
  • Dealing with a Breakup in College
  • Managing Encounters with the Police
  • Avoiding the “Freshman 15”
  • Dealing with School and a Job
  • Getting to Know International Students
  • Deciding on Campus Activities to Join
  • Managing a Long Distance Relationship
  • Valuing Cultural Experiences
  • Valuing Diversity
  • Using Social Media Properly
  • Protecting Yourself Against Sexual Assaults
top

Being an Efficient Learner

  • Making Flash Cards
  • Taking Notes – Math, Science, and Engineering Classes
  • Taking Notes – General Ed Classes
  • Doing Well in a Math, Science, or Engineering Course
  • Reading for Insight
  • Anticipating Test Questions
  • Studying for a Test
  • Using Memory Tools
  • Developing a Long Term Memory
  • Preparing a Cheat Sheet
  • Organizing Your Course Materials
  • Learning What Study Approach Works for You
  • Forming a Good Study Group
  • Forming a Good Project Group
  • Playing the Game to Maximize Your Grade
  • Finding a Place to Study
  • Learning to Speed Read
  • Taking Tests
top

Taking Tests

  • General Practices for Taking Tests
  • Taking Multiple Choice Tests – Fact Based
  • Taking Multiple Choice Tests – Problem Based
  • Taking True/False Tests
  • Taking Essay Tests
  • Taking Problem Tests
  • Taking Short Answer Tests
  • Taking Computer Tests
  • Overcoming Test Anxiety
  • Dealing with an Impossibly Long Test
  • Dealing with an Impossibly Difficult Test
  • Missing a Test
  • Getting Sick During a Test
  • Asking Questions During a Test
top

Ensuring You Receive The Grade You Want

  • Developing a Math/Science Test Preparation Schedule
  • Preparing for a General Education Test
  • Understanding the Syllabus
  • Keeping Track of Your Grades
  • Keeping a Scorecard
  • Managing Assignments
  • Knowing When You Finished the Assignment
  • Developing a Homework Template
  • Setting Short Term Academic Goals
  • Keeping Track of Your Goals
  • Preparing for a Math Exam
  • How to Pass a Lab Science Course
  • Asking for Extra Help
  • Doing a Post Test Audit
  • Developing a Visual Management System for your Assignments
  • Managing Big Assignments
  • Finding a Tutor
  • Overcoming a Bad Test Grade
  • Studying for Finals – Math, Science, and Engineering Classes
  • Studying for Finals – General Education Classes
  • Calculating Your GPA
  • Challenging a Grade
  • Doing What Is Asked
  • Adjusting to a Teacher’s Accent
  • Developing a Study Buddy
  • Repeating a Course
  • Learning from Your Mistakes
  • Sustaining Your Energy Level
  • Managing Stress
  • Surviving Dead Week and Finals Week
  • Maintaining Your Academic Eye Sight to Stay Focused
  • Dealing with a Professor who is Hard to Understand
  • Correcting an Incorrect Grade
  • Recovering from a Bad Mid-Term
  • Making School a Job
  • Surviving Weeks 5 thru 10 of the Semester
  • Understanding the Setup of Online Courses
  • Participating In Discussions In Online Classes
  • Succeeding in an Online Class
  • Doing Well on Multi-Person Project Assignments
top

Managing Group Projects

  • Selecting Team Partners
  • Developing Project Team Rules
  • Getting to Know your Project Teammates
  • Developing a Project Plan
  • Determining Team Responsibilities
  • Developing a Team Communications Plan
  • Selecting a Team Leader
  • Making Decisions as a Project Group
  • Conducting Team Reviews
  • Determining Lessons Learned
top

Becoming a Campus Leader

  • Understanding The Importance of Developing Leadership Credentials
  • Developing A Leadership Plan
  • Finding The Leadership Opportunity That Works For You
  • Understanding Leadership Styles
  • Developing The Leadership Style That Works For You
  • Putting Yourself Forward
  • Describing Your Leadership Attributes To Others
top

Student Athletes

  • Choosing a Major as an Athlete
  • Scheduling Classes
  • Dealing with Practice and Academics
  • Managing Your Time as a Student Athlete
  • Overcoming Homesickness
  • Making Friends Outside of the Team
  • Avoiding Pressure from Teammates
  • Making the Most of the Summer
  • Dealing with an Abusive Coach
  • Knowing When It’s Time to Move On
top

Navigating College Practices

  • Understanding How to Create an Effective Schedule
  • Understanding What Constitutes an Acts of Academic Dishonesty
  • Avoiding Acts of Dishonesty
  • Meeting with Your Advisor
  • Finding a Mentor
  • Using the Correct Titles
  • Understanding a University’s Administrative Structure
  • Getting Selected to be a Resident Assistant
  • Being Selected to be a Teaching Assistant
top

Succeeding on Internships and Co-ops

  • Learning The Organization
  • Identifying Your Role As An Intern
  • Meeting People And Learning From Them
  • Managing Multiple Assignments
  • Preparing The Project Goal
  • Determining The Tasks To Be Completed
  • Developing The Project Schedule – Part 1
  • Developing The Project Schedule – Part 2
  • Determining Your Information Needs – Mind Map
  • Deciding On Your Information Needs Strategy
  • Deciding On Options For Information Collection
  • Selecting The Information Collection Design Conditions
  • Determining The Amount of Information to Collect
  • Analyzing Information For Your Project
  • Presenting The Results From Your Internship
  • Understanding The Internship Evaluation Process
  • Being Professional On An Internship/Co-op
top

Overcoming Challenges for Specific Types of Students

  • Overcoming an Addiction
  • Managing Athletics and Academics
  • Deciding Whether to Drop a Class
  • Being a Minority Female
  • Dealing With Parents’ Divorce
  • Dealing with a Personal Emergency
  • Having a Family Member with a Severe Medical Problem
  • Managing PMS and Academics
  • Dealing with School and Having a Child
  • Overcoming Shyness
  • Being a Non-Drinker on Campus
  • Being a Married Student
  • Being an Older Student
  • Dealing with Disabilities
  • Managing School and a Job
top

Setting Goals

  • Understanding Why Goals Are Important
  • Identifying Goal Dimensions
  • Knowing When A Goal Is Needed
  • Writing A Goal Statement
  • Setting And Achieving Micro Goals
  • Setting And Achieving Short-Term Goals
  • Setting And Achieving Long-Term Goals
  • Understanding The Challenges To Goal Setting And Achievement
  • Measuring Goal Achievement
  • Winning Moments Of Truth
top

Being an International Student In The United States

  • Preparing Yourself for an International Experience
  • Interacting with a Professor
  • Making American Friends
  • Finding American Friends to Study With
  • Understanding the Keys to Doing Well
  • Understanding the Difference in the American Grading System
top

Using Resources

  • Using Koofers.com
  • Using Cramster.com
  • Using Websites That Rate Professors
  • Using Learning Centers
  • Using the Khanacademy.org Website
  • Knowing When You Need to Contact Counseling Services
top

Communication Skills for College Graduates

  • Communicating Through Conflict
  • Speaking Up
  • Providing Corrective Feedback
  • Handling Criticism
  • Responding to Dissent
  • Communicating Ideas
  • Participating in a Meeting
  • Communicating Up the Ladder
  • Ensuring Communications are Understood
  • Giving Directions
  • Using Proper Etiquette When Communicating
  • Adjusting Your Communication Approach to the Receiver
  • Meeting People
  • Practicing Active Listening
  • Interviewing to Obtain Information
  • Communicating Non-Verbally
top

Building a Professional Network

  • Understanding the Value of Networks
  • Knowing How to Build a Network
  • Maintaining Communications With Your Network
  • Using Social Media to Develop Your Network
  • Using Old Fashioned Values in Your Network
  • Knowing How to Make Thank You Something Special
  • Doing the Little Things That Make a Big Difference
  • Paying It Forward
top

Using LinkedIn to Develop Your Network

  • Developing Your Network on LinkedIn
  • Building Your LinkedIn Profile
  • Adding to Your LinkedIn Profile
  • Connecting with Others
  • Developing a Connection Strategy
  • Finding Possible Connections from LinkedIn – 1
  • Finding Possible Connections from LinkedIn – 2
  • Finding LinkedIn Groups to Join
top

Preparing for a Career

  • Understanding the Hiring Process
  • Preparing a Resume
  • Preparing a Cover Letter
  • Asking for a Recommendation Letter
  • Applying Online
  • Participating in a Career Fair
  • Preparing for an Interview
  • Succeeding in an Interview
  • Closing Out the Interview
  • Maintaining a Career Notebook
  • Understanding Career Options
top

Understanding Job Protocols

  • Knowing What to do When You Don’t Hear from a Company
  • Going on a Site Visit
  • Understanding The Job Acceptance Process
  • Delaying Your Decision Date
  • Using Some Principles In Making A Job Decision
  • Evaluating Job Offers
  • Knowing How to Read a Job Offer Letter
  • Negotiating a Job Offer
  • Understanding Employment Agreements
top

Developing Essential Career Skills

  • Developing the Right Attitude
  • Developing Team Work Skills
  • Developing Communication Skills
  • Having a Strong Work Ethic
  • Developing Problem Solving Skills
  • Developing Consistency on the Job
  • Developing a Passion for Continuous Learning
  • Supporting Others
top

Becoming a Leader

  • Excelling in a Career
  • Capitalizing on Fate
  • Making the Most of Every Opportunity
  • Turning Adversity Into Triumph
  • Doing the Little Things that Make a Difference
  • Managing the Whats and the Hows
  • Being the Translator
  • Thinking Through Decisions
  • Building on Lessons Learned
  • Maintaining a Strategic Focus
  • Avoiding Corporate Politics
  • Maintaining Personal Values
  • Maintaining Corporate Responsibility
  • Owning Your Career
  • Avoiding Over Planning a Career
  • Giving and Taking
  • Connecting With Others
  • Developing Reflection Skills
top

Overcoming Career Challenges

  • Standing Out Early in Your Career
  • Gaining Respect
  • Managing the Workload
  • Dealing with a Bad Job
  • Knowing If You Did It Right
  • Getting Stuck In a Rut
  • Dealing With a Difficult Boss
  • Fitting In
  • Making New Friends
  • Balancing Work/Family Life
  • Remembering What You Were Taught
  • Getting a Good Job Evaluation
top

Planning for your Financial Future

  • Understanding the Basics of Financial Planning for Your Retirement Years
  • Determining the Future Value of your Investment
  • Understanding How a 401(k) Plan Works
  • Understanding How a ROTH IRA Works
  • Understanding How Your Money Will Be Invested
  • Identifying Your Benefits Possibilities
  • Demystifying Health Care Terms
  • Evaluating Your Health Care Options
  • Evaluating Other Benefits- Financial Security
  • Evaluating Other Benefits- Professional Development
  • Evaluating Other Benefits- Family Support
  • Paying off Your Student Debt
  • Developing a Financial Budget
  • Thinking About Your Federal Income Taxes
  • Buying a Home
top

Suggest a Topic

Looking for a topic and can't find it? Why not submit one...

Suggest a Topic

Suggest a Topic

Looking for a topic and can't find it? Why not submit one...

Suggest a Topic

Sign Up For Student Emails

Enter your email below to get weekly student emails.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

  • The biggest improvement I have made this semester is waking up earlier. Previously, even if I had an early class I’d sleep until the last minute never questioning if I’d get to class on time. Well after being late to class several times or oversleeping and not even attending I realized that I should just wake up at the same time every day and get on a schedule. I now know that going to sleep at a reasonable hour each night is very important. Being on a steady sleep schedule makes my life a whole lot easier because now when I’m in class I am well rested and I pay attention and actually understand what my teachers are teaching me..

Share This

Sign Up For Parent Emails

Enter your email below to get weekly parent emails.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Suggest a Topic

Looking for a topic and can't find it? Why not submit one...

Suggest a Topic
© Copyright - University Survival