Be your best; then stretch your limits.
Academic Honors can put you well on your way to academic and professional success.
Start now. Persevere.
Rule #2:.
TREAT YOUR STUDY SCHEDULE AS A NINE-TO-FIVE JOB.
Leave socializing to evening. Most people are 20-40% more efficient during the day.
Rule #3:.
THINK "MARATHON".
Start to prepare for exams in the first week of classes.
For peak performance, organize and review material covered in lectures and readings each day.
Eat and sleep as if in training: your brain needs to be well-fueled in order to function at its peak.
Rule #4:.
PLAN STRATEGICALLY.
College level course work is different from most high school work in quality as well as quantity. Academic standards are set high intentionally. .
Plan your course schedule carefully: consider your academic preparation for each college course and take courses in sequence.
Read each syllabus carefully to see what is due and observe the deadlines you mark on your calendar.
Consider the Pass/Fail option.
Prioritize and limit extracurricular commitments.
Prepare from the beginning. It is easier in the long run to stay on top of your work on a daily basis than to fall behind and play catch-up the rest of the semester.
Rule #5:.
REMEMBER THE 1:3 GUIDELINE.
As a general rule, assume that each 1 hour of class time will require at least 3 hours of study outside class per week, (i.e., for a class that meets for an hour three times a week, roughly an average of .
9 hours per course per week).
Preparation for tests, research and writing may require more time in any given week.
Courses in the hard sciences, courses with heavy reading loads, courses in areas which are not your academic strength, and upper level courses will require more time each week.
Students who read slowly, who have dyslexia or learning disabilities should plan to schedule even more time to complete their work.
Rule #6:.
O.H.I.O.
Only Handle It Once.
When you receive a message or bill---or daily homework assignment---that requires response, answer it by return mail immediately.
