By Celena L. Flores
Students enrolled in college should plan ahead to ensure success. Being organized and planning can help students reach the goals they want — whether the goal is getting an A on the next history exam or graduating from college.
“Students should start with buying a planner or a calendar of some kind to keep organized and keep track of all your assignments and important dates that are upcoming,” Strategies for Success Counselor Lindsey Trimble said.
“The best way to plan ahead is to start with an end in mind. Think of the different paths that will get you to the same place and decide which path is the best for you. Think of it as a road map to success. It will save students time and energy,” Trimble said.
Students should think about all consequences of choices that are being made. “Time management is a huge underlying factor. If you don’t time manage, you can’t keep track of everything,” Trimble said. “You really have to balance your time to get what you want out of life.”
If the goal is getting an A in history, realize when the test is and how much time there is to study for it.
Students should realize if they are struggling, seek help and set a time limit on goals to ensure that they successfully complete them.
Counselors can be a big help to students if the student plays an active role. “Have an idea of what it is that you want to do or need help with,” Trimble said.
To plan your college career, you should decide on your job or career, Trimble said. “The career planning center has a test that can help decide on a career by your interest and hobbies.”
“Start with deciding on what you want to do in life and work backward to figure out your degree plan and what steps you think will work best for you in order to get there,” she said.
When figuring out a career and a degree plan, students should do their homework. “Go to the transfer center and look up information on schools to transfer to. When deciding on a school, talk to admissions and think what is it that is wanted out of a school and think is this right for you,” Trimble said.
Students should use resources available to them on campus and ask questions. These resources include the transfer center on the first floor and the Career Planning Center on the fourth floor of Moody Learning Center.
Students should be aware of what goals are important and keep motivated.
“This is self responsibility, you are the one really doing it and not relying on someone else,” Trimble said.