Dr. Tim's Tips for Academic Success

• If you are a full time student, consider it as your full time job (i.e. 40-45 hours a week minimum ought to be spent on class and studying)
• Do not spread yourself too thin (many students plan to do way too many things on top of their coursework)
• Attend your classes (there is an strong correlation between regular class attendance and high academic achievement)
• Get enough sleep (while a dark classroom is an excellent place to catch up on sleep, attending class but falling asleep will not help your grades)
• If you must have a job, do not work more than 15 hours a week (if you need more money, take out a student loan)
• Live in the dorms as long as you can (Dorm living requires much less of your time, than living off campus:   No cooking, no cleanup after cooking, no need to plan meals or go grocery shopping, convenient billing, etc.  Sure, living off campus is exciting, and probably a novelty for most students, but believe me, the novelty wears off, and you will have plenty of time after you graduate to plan, shop for, and cook meals, clean, pay bills, etc.)
• Minimize weekend trips home to one per month or less (Students waste vast amounts of time traveling back and forth from Campbell to home.  You and your parents, or your significant-other, can survive without seeing each other every weekend)
• Consider academics a priority over social activities (Many students do the opposite, but they are generally not the students who will be graduating with honors, gaining admittance into professional programs, getting the top jobs, etc.  It is relatively easy to get through college; it is not easy to do well in college)
• Hang out with other students who want to do well (The crowd you associate with can have a major impact on the level of your achievement)
• Ignore students who appear as if they never study (They will not compete successfully for the same objectives that you have; other students doing well at other colleges are your main competition)
• Understand your preferred learning style(s) (Every person has strengths and weaknesses in how they process and understand information--know your strengths and weaknesses!  Take a learning assessment quiz to find out.  Visit the Learning Styles Resource Center and/or the Index of Learning Styles page.)
• Understand your position on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (If your lower level needs are unmet, you will not be able to focus as well on learning.   The four lower needs-physiological, safety, love, and esteem-are best attained through a growing relationship with God, through Jesus Christ)
• Avoid serious romantic relationships (especially with high-maintenance individuals)
• Turn off your cell phone & cancel your myspace and facebook accounts (time is valuable, gaining control of your time and who has access to your time will provide you more time to focus on academic success)

Failure to abide by these suggestions may result in poor academic results!