HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT IN UNIVERSITY

1. Be prepared for classes.

• Check out the Academic Schedule of Dates in the online Course Calendar to find out when classes begin
• Print off your schedule of classes and find your classrooms before the first day
• Be sure to get the course syllabus (outline) from your professor. This will contain important information about the course, marking scheme, and office hours of your professor
• Keep your syllabus throughout the term, and be sure to refer to it frequently. It can also act as a study guide during midterms and exams
• Go to Class! Although most professors do not take attendance, it is important to get the most out of your lectures by attending. There is no substitute for being there!

2. Ask questions!

• Don't be afraid to ask questions in class or during a tutorial. Outside of class, you can email your professor or teaching assistant, or visit them during their office hours
• Don't wait until it's too late to ask for help if you are having problems with the course material
• Talk to a Student Success Advisor if you have any questions about courses, program selection or if you need academic counselling
• There are lots of supports and services around campus, so use them! If you are in residence, talk to you Resident Assistant (RA), someone in your program, or someone in the office around campus. If they don't know the right answer, they will be able to point you in the right direction

3. Develop good study habits!

• Use a day planner to keep track of upcoming dates for assignments and tests
• Develop a routine for organizing your workload. Use time between classes to catch up on reading and studying
• Review your course notes on a regular basis
• Keep up to date on all your required reading
• Form a study group to review lecture notes and prepare for your exams. Mixing social interaction with studying will make it more fun
• Get started with assignments right away. Don't leave things to the last minute
• Review for tests over a longer period of time. Take breaks while studying and avoid "all nighters." Your memory works best if you recall information frequently over time
• Seek help if you are having trouble with your courses. There are lots of resources available on campus that can help you if you are feeling overwhelmed with your studies

4. Develop communication skills

Oral and written communication skills will be part of everything you do at university. These are skills you will want to have well developed by the time you graduate.

• Attend the free Skills for Success Seminars offered by the Student Success Centre
• Take advantage of peer tutoring. All students receive 5 free hours of tutoring throughout each academic year
• Visit the Writing Centre (found in the Library Commons). The Writing Centre helps students in planning, writing, and revising academic papers

5. Understand the marking scheme

To be successful, it is important for you to understand what is needed in each of your courses.

• Read the course syllabus (outline) carefully
• Review how much each assignment, test, paper, etc. is worth
• Understand how each of these contributes to your overall mark in the course
• If you are not sure, talk to your professor and ask questions
• Keep on top of important deadlines like when to drop courses, special exams, petition deadlines, etc. These dates can be found in the Academic Schedule of Dates in the online Course Calendar
• Some professors will include "participation" marks; this means attending class and participating in discussions and group sessions. By doing so, you can contribute to increasing your average

6. Understand academic integrity

Any form of cheating or failure to give proper credit for someone else's ideas or expression of ideas is considered plagiarism.

• Be sure to fully understand what plagiarism entails
• Utilize the resources in the library on referencing
• Visit the Writing Centre or utilize the writing tutor for assistance with your papers
• Utilize online resources related to different referencing styles (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.) and know what each professor expects
• Become familiar with the Student Code of Conduct
• If you are not sure, ASK!

7. Take responsibility

One of the main differences between high school and university is that the responsibility is on you, as a student, to be an active participant in your educational pursuits.

• Understand your program requirements
• Read and understand the online Course Calendar
• Know the important dates associated with the academic year
• Meet with your Chair/Program Director every year to ensure you are on track academically
• Seek help early
• Treat university as a full time job
• Complete all assignments and course work
• Explore your interests, programs, and majors and become fully engaged in your academics

8. Get Involved!

There are so many ways to get involved on campus. Join a student society, run for LUSU, write for the Argus or become a LEADer! University is what you make it! Did you know that students who are more involved on campus do better academically? Did you know that you can also qualify for a Co-Curricular Record through your volunteer experience on campus? Visit mysuccess.lakeheadu.ca for more information!

9. Utilize Campus Career Resources

Knowing what you are going to do with your degree upon graduation can be confusing...there are so many options! Lakehead provides you with a number of different career resources and supports to help you figure out your path!

• Take a career assessment like the Strong Interest Inventory or the Myers Briggs Type Indicator
• Visit the online job bank to learn about available positions around the world
• Attend a Skills for Success Seminar on Marketing your Degree or the Summer Job Search
• Have your resume and cover letter critiqued
• Attend our annual Career and Education Fairs
• Connect with faculty to learn about graduate programs
• Apply for a job on campus! Gain experience and work where you study!

10. Know your strengths 

Understanding what you do well is an important part of university. Drawing on your strengths will help you gain confidence and build upon your work, in and out of the classroom. The Student Success Centre provides guidance and assessments to help you figure out where your strengths are, and how you can utilize them as part of your academic career.