Hi there! This is where I keep some of my more "unconventional" advice for students — things that might shift how you think about college as an institution. Just let it bounce off you if it's not helpful. But you might find it useful to know that getting "good at school" is its own distinct skillset, and a learnable one.
Stuff to read
- How to read a syllabus strategically: On decoding assignment weights and late penalties as the rules to a game where you're trying to get a high schore.
- Why Procrastinators Procrastinate: This is a start of a series that can be very helpful in taking out the moral judgments associated with procrastination, and building new habits.
- Half-assing it with everything you've got: On deciding how much you actually want to invest into assignments.
- Guessing the Teacher's Password: On making a distinction between passing a class and learning something. (Take this guy with a grain of salt, but I find this post useful.)
It is also worth looking at one of Cal Newport's books, based on interviews with straight-A students, for ideas about how to approach college strategically. As with any self-help-y book, get a free copy (e.g., from the library) and remember to skim all the anecdotes.