Two Keys to College Success

Only about fifty-five percent of students complete degree programs within six years.

A lot of time and energy have been given to trying to discover what leads to success in college. And, as you might guess, research has uncovered a direct correlation between the rigor of students' high school curricula and their subsequent academic success in college.

High school grades and class rank are also pretty good predictors of college success.

And, there is strong evidence that students from families in which education is a high priority are more likely to complete college than students from families which may not place the same value on higher education.

The important question is, what can a student do to maximize his/her chances for success in college? There are two very important rules.

First, students should not overburden themselves academically. For most freshmen, carrying more than fifteen credits a semester is a big mistake. Many, in fact, would be smart to carry no more than twelve hours during their initial semester, as they adjust to the demands of college.

Equally important is course selection. Whenever possible, students should spread out the courses they find most difficult instead of scheduling three or four of them during the same semester.

Like taking on too much academically, working too many hours is an enemy of college students. A very big enemy in fact. Students who work more than twenty hours a week are four times as likely to leave college without a degree.

There are many things which may stand between students and earning a degree. Among them are immaturity, lack of motivation, poor study skills, an inability to manage time, and lack of self-discipline.

But, taking on too much...carrying an academic load that is too heavy or working more than twenty hours a week while a full time student, put more students at risk than anything else. Your best insurance against falling short of your academic goals is to be certain you choose your courses realistically and that you leave yourself enough time to keep up with your academic assignments.

Article Source: http://www.articlegoldmine.com

Daniel Kane is a veteran teacher, college Director of Admissions, and university Dean. The websites he originally created as a hobby now assist students seeking information on colleges, college scholarships, and online colleges,
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