Tips to Succeed in College Courses: In-Class & Online (Part 2)

Published on Friday, July 9th, 2010 by Ken Category: College Tips Online College Courses

In the first part of the Tips to Succeed in College Series, an overview on how research before registering for your college courses is helpful in creating a successful college experience was provided. In Part 2, we will review specific examples you can apply to your own college experience in and out of class to not only pass your courses, but succeed and excel in them as well.

The following three points to a college professor’s course are the key to giving you the best chance of obtaining the highest grade possible in any one of your college courses.

Self Monitoring
Teaching Style
Professor’s Preference

Self Monitoring

In many of the college courses I attend, I see students who have the look on their face that says: “How much longer until I can leave for lunch, my date, the weekend, etc.” We all feel this way at one point or another, but it is crucial to pay close attention (especially in the early stages of the college course) to, not only your self, but to the professor’s teaching style and preferences (likes and dislikes).

Teaching Style

The first point was self monitoring mentioned above, this second point is the instructor’s teaching style. His or her teaching style is a major part of your grade because once you learn how your professor likes to teach; you can learn and absorb the material much more effectively. The trick is to look for specific tendencies that the professor repeats – repetition is good as you can rely on the professor to continue doing one thing over and over again. Depending on what your college major is, learning the professor’s specific teaching style will essentially put off a level of stress associated with “keeping up” in class – instead of struggling to stay with your professor on the material; you will find yourself walking alongside them in learning the material.

Professor’s Preference

The third point, preferences, is not very different from teaching style. The distinction between the two lies in the idea that a professor’s preference has a more direct link to your actual grade. Learning from other students’ mistakes or successes, tailor your class work, essays, projects, etc. to what seems to work in getting that high grade you desire. The same goes for the opposite – making decisions in your work that the professor tends to mark down or grade poorly will affect your grade negatively. This is not to say that you should give up your own sense of individuality and creativity, but rather to incorporate a few tendencies in your work that would stand out and appeal to the professor. It is always helpful to go directly to the college professor, and ask him or her what they like to see in a student’s class work, essay, project, etc.

Observing and paying close attention within the classroom setting another one of the little things in addition to research you can do to improve your overall grade. In Part 3 of Tips to Succeed in College Courses: In- Class & Online, I will go over specific things you can do outside of the classroom to further your chances of earning the high GPA you desire.

To see a rating of college instructors at your own school, check out Rate My Professors.

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