Students want to succeed academically, but there doesn’t seem to be a single way to accomplish that goal.
Organizing your schedule, studying in advance, embracing failure, and making time for yourself are just some of the ways senior honors students recommend achieving academic success.
Tammy Phillips, cell and molecular biology senior, said she maintains her GPA by asking upperclassmen’s advice before choosing classes.
“I always try to get some information about professors from upperclassmen before I take any class. I think that has really helped me know what I was getting into,” Phillips said. “If I ever had a professor that, within the first week, I felt my learning style didn’t match with their teaching style, I would always switch out of that class.”
Phillips said it’s important to maintain your hobbies.
“I love watching movies. I think sometimes it’s easy to spend all your time studying, and while that may reflect in great grades, it may not reflect in a great life,” Phillips said.
As far as her advice for underclassmen, Phillips said they should know they’re not alone and always ask for help.
“Life can be hard in college because this is most people’s first time out in the world alone, but really you aren’t alone,” Phillips said. “You should reach out to somebody. It only takes one person to believe in you for you to succeed.”
Using a planner or phone calendar to keep track of due dates is essential to maintaining a good GPA, said Tom Hoblin, music theater senior.
“Making sure you get all your work done and turned in can really make or break your grade. I know it seems obvious, but when work starts piling up and you start missing assignments, those easy points can add up,” Hoblin said.
To avoid feeling overloaded, Hoblin said he makes time for himself.
“If you learn how to take breaks and do what you want to do, the remaining work no longer seems so daunting,” he said. “Personally, I would take a quick break and play a few games of Rocket League or watch a few episodes of Parks and Rec. It helped reset my mind and refocus.”
Hoblin also makes sure to communicate with his professors.
“Talk to your professors,” he said. “They want you to succeed as much as you do, and most every professor I’ve had has been chomping at the bit to give that extra bit of help.”
Hoblin said he balances work and fun by knowing his limits and making compromises.
“Try not to over book yourself. Most students have class, a job, homework, rehearsal, and another job, and it’s hard to fit in some fun,” Hoblin said. “If you know the time you have for work, then you can plan for some fun. Sometimes, I’d sacrifice sleep for some fun, and sometimes fun for sleep.”
Hoblin said his advice for underclassmen is to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it may be.
“I know the semester can get pretty rough, and it may seem like it will never end, but it will. All you have to do it keep pushing through,” Hoblin said. “When you think you can’t move another muscle, take one more step. It’s never as bad as you think it is.”
Sammi Bronow, economics senior, said she plans her studying in advance to avoid cramming last minute.
“If my professors provide a weekly breakdown of the course, I am able to mark test dates on my calendar and plan out my studying,” Bronow said. “Studying far in advance takes a lot of discipline, but it is really rewarding in the end.”
Bronow said putting her mental health first helps her avoid feeling overwhelmed.
“Putting your personal happiness and mental health first is so important, and that is something a lot of us tend to forget,” Bronow said. “When I start to feel really stressed, I stop doing work and do something fun.”
It is important to remember the bigger picture, Bronow said.
“OCU is a tiny bubble in the grand scheme of life, and it is important to realize that a bad grade or audition isn’t going to matter in the long run,” Bronow said. “If you start feeling really stressed, step back and ask yourself, ‘Will this truly matter in two, three, four years?’ If the answer is ‘no,’ which it probably will be, have some ice cream and move on.”
Bronow offered some advice for embracing failure.
“You’ll never truly succeed without experiencing failure. No one is perfect, even if you feel like OCU expects you to be,” Bronow said. “Embrace your mistakes wholeheartedly, you’ll be better for it.”
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