Here are some proven techniques to boost your success:
1. Keep a good scheduling system.
—Choose one calendar system—weekly, monthly, day-at-a-time, or a PDA.
—Personalize it, make it colorful, but most of all, keep all your appointments, deadlines, etc. on it.
—Break long-term projects into parts and set a timeline, starting with the due date and working backwards. Focus on achieving these mini-deadlines.

2. Dedicate yourself to your job as a student.
—Attend every class. Studies clearly show attendance is highly correlated with performance.
—Sit where you can pay maximum attention.
—Learn and use a note taking system that works for you.
—Schedule daily review and study time, about 1-2 hours for each academic class.

3. Know where you stand in classes.
—Review assignments and tests that are returned to you, for accuracy and to learn from your mistakes.
—Track your own progress and know what your approximate grade is at all times.
—Check your grade in each class before the drop deadlines.

4. Understand what you need to do.
—Team up with a classmate to double-check and study with.
—Use your instructors’ office hours, or e-mail to clarify assignments and ask questions.
—If you are stumped, use tutoring, counseling or other resources
to get “unstuck.”

5. Get help BEFORE you are too frustrated.

6. Don’t give up.