How to get those A’s:

So you’re going to have lots of classes, some harder than others, and if you come in with the right skill set, you’re on your way to success.

1. AS SIMPLE IS IT SOUNDS, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP: GO TO CLASS. IN COLLEGE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THINGS TO DO OTHER THAN GO TO CLASS, BUT YOU’RE HERE FOR ONE REASON, AND EVERYTHING ELSE SHOULD COME SECONDARY. WHEN YOU’RE ON TOP OF YOUR GAME ACADEMICALLY, EVERYTHING WILL BE MORE FUN.

2. GET ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN THERE BEFORE AND HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. SOMETIMES ADVISORS CAN’T GIVE THE MOST AUTHENTIC AND EXPERIENCED ADVICE, SO RELY ON THE OLDER PEOPLE (WHO ARE ALL MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP) TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS REGARDING CLASSES AND HELP YOU OUT.

3. BE PREPARED. INVEST IN A SCHOOL/YEARLY PLANNER. USE YOUR SYLLABI FROM YOUR CLASSES AND MAKE NOTE OF ALL YOUR EXAM DATES, ESSAY DEADLINES, AND ADVISING APPOINTMENTS. READ THE SYLLABI TO SEE HOW MATERIAL WILL BE TESTED, AND STUDY ACCORDINGLY.

4. BE CONSISTENT. SET A ROUTINE. ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PARTS OF COLLEGE IS TIME MANAGEMENT. TO PUT IT IN THE WORDS OF A SENIOR BROTHER, “TIME MANAGEMENT IS THE BIGGEST FACTOR AS AN INCOMING FRESHMAN TO YOUR SUCCESS. YOU HAVE THIS NEWFOUND FREEDOM AND YOU THINK YOU HAVE ALL THIS TIME, BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT CLASSES ARE HARD, AND YOU NEED TO MAKE TIME TO STUDY.”

5. OFFICE HOURS ARE GOLDEN. PROFESSORS LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, AND OFTEN THEY EXPLAIN THINGS A LOT CLEARLY THAN IT CLASS. ALSO, THEY PROVIDE TIPS FOR WHAT TO FOCUS ON FOR UPCOMING EXAMS, AND YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSOR PERSONALLY. OFFICE HOURS ARE TOTALLY WORTH THE TIME. 

6. KNOW YOURSELF. IF YOU CAN’T STUDY IN GROUPS, THEN STAY AWAY (EVEN IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE IN THEM). IF YOU NEED QUIET SPACE TO STUDY, THEN GO TO THE LIBRARY, IF YOU LEARN FROM READING, THEN READ THE TEXTBOOK EVEN IF NOBODY IS. MAKE SURE YOU’RE DOING WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU AND NOT JUST WHAT WORKS BEST FOR EVERYONE ELSE. MAYBE YOU LEARN FROM VIDEOS SO CHECK OUT KHAN ACADEMY AND CHAD’S VIDEOS!

7. USE YOUR TIME WISELY. STUDY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN DURING BREAKS AND ON WEEKENDS. BE FOCUSED, DON’T WASTE YOUR STUDY TIME BECAUSE THE MORE YOU STUDY, THE BETTER.

8. DO NOT LEAVE THINGS UNTIL THE END. PROCRASTINATION IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA. PLAN OUT STUDY TIMES (INDIVIDUAL OR IN GROUPS) IN ADVANCE.

9. TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE PLACES AND SPACES OUR CAMPUS OFFERS FOR YOU TO STUDY.

DON’T FORGET THE MSA AT UIC IS ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU TOO! WHETHER ITS ADVICE, HOMEWORK HELP, OR ANYTHING AT ALL, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME TO ANY SHURA MEMBER, OR THE LOVELY BROTHERS AND SISTERS YOU MEET AS YOU GET SETTLED INTO CAMPUS AND INTO THE MSA. WE’RE YOUR COMMUNITY ON CAMPUS!