Staying Focused At Community College - by TutorNerds

Staying Focused At Community College - by TutorNerds Success in Community College: How to Stay Focused Community colleges in California offer great transfer programs to both Cal State and University of California, however many students get distracted and the dropout rates seem to be significantly higher than that of a four year college. So, how can CC students stay focused? Read on for some great tips from an Orange County college consultant. 1. Make new friends Most CC students are tempted to hang around with their old friends from high school. It can be very enticing, with the newfound freedom of adulthood, to skip a class here and there with your buddies and talk about old times. It’s totally okay to keep those friends who were with you from the 9th another high school or even from out of state can offer a new perspective on education and help to better emulate the college experience. If you are ready to reinvent yourself as a great student who gets straight As, then get to know some people who want to do the same (READ: College textbooks: the struggle is real). Start a study group or join one that is already in progress. California community colleges have clubs ranging from ‘foreign language movie night’ to ‘yoga at the beach’ and just about anything else you could imagine. If you don’t know where to start, join the ASB (Associated Student Body) and get to know some people who have similar interests or who share a passion for a topic or subject that you enjoy. 2. Drive a bit farther If you know for a fact that you will skip classes and hang out with friends from high school, consider driving a bit farther. If you live in Irvine, you are still entitled to attend classes at Saddleback, even though IVC is the closest school. You may be able to attend courses outside of your district if you are ready for a completely fresh start. If you end up at Saddleback instead of IVC, you might be able to better copy the four year college experience. Without the distractions of high school friends, you can spend more time on academics and have a better chance of doing well. Remember, you can still hang out with your old friends on the weekend (CLICK: Community College Placement Tests). 3. Ask someone to hold you accountable This person could be a tutor or a family member or even a friend. If you know someone is going to ask you how your sociology test went, then you are more likely to study for the test and show up on the day of the exam. Try and have a study buddy for each class. Ask him or her to keep you on your toes (you can do the same for them) and encourage them to text you and keep you up to date of any new assignments or exam reminders. Attending office hours on a regular basis is also a great way to keep you on your toes (READ: The Students Guide to Study Breaks). Professors are not responsible for ensuring that their students make it to every class, but, if you show up to office hours every Mon/Wed/Fri on a regular basis, they will probably notice if you stop coming. Some professors will ask how things are going and remind you that they are available for help. 4. Spend time on campus Many students tell themselves that they will study when they get home but later get distracted by everything that is going on in the house. Stay on campus in between classes and get all of your homework done. Set yourself up in the cafeteria, the library or anywhere on campus. There won’t be nearly as many distractions to keep you away from your studies. You are also a lot more likely to meet other students if you hang around campus, which can help emulate the four year experience. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by TutorNerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about. Applying to college this fall? Don’t hesitate to sign up with one of our experienced Orange County college admissions consultants. Call us today and we’ll get you in!