An analogy used by the noted author and speaker Dr. Stephen Covey is the Law of the Harvest. The same principle holds true here. Attempting to accomplish a lot of the principles and objectives for college success at the very end of your college career would be similar to a farmer planting his corn in August and expecting a good crop in October. He can pull all-nighters, fertilizing and watering the crops, giving it 100% to try to catch up. Even though you're probably not a farmer, you're probably not surprised that this plan won't work too well for him. It's common sense.
Okay then, since success in college is a building process, a bit like growing corn, how can you expect to do well unless you make the effort early and consistently throughout your years there? You can't. It just won't work.
Okay, enough with the sermons. Here's the schedule. It's just a guideline, but it will provide you with some important insight. It has been done based on a semester schedule. If you're on quarters, you'll need to make some minor mental adjustments, but the principles still apply.
FRESHMAN YEAR - SEMESTER 1
First and foremost, get your feet planted firmly on the ground. This is your opportunity to get adjusted. Don't be fooled into thinking you can fall behind and catch up later. You can't. About 1 out of 8 students never successfully complete this semester.
Your goal here is not to see how many nights in a row you can party. You will find many people who will tell you it is. Get to know them while you can. They won't be there next semester.
As you settle in, begin to look for a couple of organizations to join, not run, just join. Find out when fraternity and sorority rushes are held. They will be held either once or twice a year. If you're interested in potentially joining, you won't want to miss the dates.
Other organizations you might want to pursue may be related to your major or a hobby interest you have. On-campus bulletin boards and the student newspaper are also excellent ways to learn about extracurricular opportunities.
And remember: college is the big leagues. Study hard or you're going to get buried.
FRESHMAN YEAR - SEMESTER 2
Okay, you survived. Good for you. Now, where to go from here? If your grades aren't what they need to be, look hard at:
- The level of effort you've truly given
- Your time management
- The quality of your study technique
Don't give up. You can do it.
Begin to get involved on campus. Just reading the bulletin boards and school paper will make you aware of many opportunities to do so.
And remember, you need to get your grades up to or above 3.0.
SOPHOMORE YEAR - SEMESTER 1
You're no longer a rookie. You're now a seasoned veteran. You'll be taking more classes related to your major and digging into some more specialized subject matter.
