Some more tips (these are generally of the "well, duh!" variety, but you'd be surprised how many people mess them up):
*When you're given a reading assignment? ACTUALLY READ IT. I've lost count of the number of fools I find swarm after me for my notes (I tend to have a somewhat major voice in most of my classes, mostly via asking helpful questions that everyone else was thinking but was too afraid to ask and by actually understanding what's going on in class--again, mostly by actually putting in a little bit of effort). I've adopted a policy of, rather than letting people copy my notes (which tend to be gibberish anyway--I'm not the best transcriptionist, so my notes are fragments that only work for me), I'll instead ask leading questions designed to emphasize the important points and make them memorable because THEY are the ones remembering the info--things like, "do you remember what 'putting the devil back into hell' means?" For the people who legitimately paid attention and just need a little help? It's usually exactly what they need, and I've been told it helps them FAR more than just vocab lists and notes. But inevitably, there's two or three people who CLEARLY did not do the reading--at all--and probably didn't show up to class, either. I tell them, "I'm sorry, but if you didn't actually do the reading, nothing I tell you is going to help."
*SHOW UP FOR CLASS. Seriously. Perfect attendance is an EASY, EASY way to get on the teacher's good side--it shows you're actually
trying to learn, which is really the entire point of almost every single class (the actual content isn't NEARLY as important as the attitude that it's worth having a general knowledge of things and that it's worth learning how to have an open mind and learn). This is one of two easy ways to make sure that, if your grade is
just on the borderline, it's more likely to get rounded up than rounded down.
*BE MEMORABLE. In a good way, obviously, but if you develop a presence in class with regards to paying attention and asking intelligent (or at least, necessary) questions, it'll, again, demonstrate you're actually
trying to learn, and put you on the upper side of that borderline.
*Actually, just in general: CARE. If you care about what you're learning, not only will your attitude earn you better grades, but it'll be easier to actually learn stuff, too. Also, if you don't care, why are you paying to take these classes? (Yes, this is even true of GE's--barring some system with ONLY one choice for a given GE area, there must be SOME reason you picked
this GE class in the field of physical science instead of some other one in the same field. Find that reason, and embrace the heck out of it.
*Choose your teachers/classes wisely. It's a pain, but pore through that schedule looking for classes and teachers that will intrinsically motivate you to show up for them. The general ratio of "things I do" to "things I actually like" is generally going to be 80-20, but with some basic effort you can easily tweak those odds a bit more into your favor.
*DON'T LET YOUR GRADES (OR MAJOR) DEFINE YOU. Just...trust me. Don't.
*DON'T LET YOUR PAST OR YOUR FAMILY DEFINE YOU. There's a cultural myth that you're supposed to have figured most of your identity out by the time you're in college.
This is false. You're not going to figure out who you are until the day you die (and not even then), and college will throw that in your face every chance it gets. Do yourself a favor--be open to change, and never stop loving yourself, even if it's not quite the same self you thought you'd be.
*DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE DEFINE YOU, EITHER. You are you. You know and will learn what makes you happy. Do that, not what some teacher or classmate or romantic partner tells you to do. Follow your bliss, and try to become YOUR fullest self, not some other person's image of what your fullest self should look like. Remember, you are good enough exactly as you are--you never need to live up to somebody else.
*BE SMART. Basic practices of responsibility and professional conduct will get you a LONG way.
*Schedule regular meetings with your academic adviser(s). They will help you a LOT with figuring out your class schedule--just make sure you have SOME idea of what you want already, and prepare to go back three or four times to change your plans as you and your circumstances change.
*If your school offers psychological counseling services, take them. Schedule meetings early and regularly. Make this a habit--it's a LOT easier to start early, BEFORE you've loaded yourself down with extra baggage (beyond what you're taking with you into college already).
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BECOME A THEATRE MAJOR imeanwhat.
