Pacific University’s Guide to College Success Strategies
Thinking about college? Schedule your campus visit where you can explore campus and discover what it truly means to be a Boxer.
Are you ready for college? As a high school student and aspiring college student, there are many skills you can focus on developing in order to succeed in college. In order to be prepared for college, you need both academic knowledge and college readiness skills. Students often focus on academic preparation, but may not know as much about the life skills they need to develop. The skills for how to succeed in college go beyond what you learn in the classroom and encompass everything from time management to effective communication. Whether or not you have practiced these skills in high school, you will continue to learn and hone them throughout your time at college. At Pacific University, we support students through their transition to college with new student advising, ongoing academic and career advising, and robust student support services. The close knit Pacific University community also helps students to find a sense of belonging, supporting their further development.
Time Management & Study Skills
Much as the all-nighter has been romanticized in college lore, you don’t want to spend your university years losing sleep because you saved all your studying for the last minute. College is rigorous and students need to know how to effectively organize their time. Balancing multiple college classes is a challenge, but effective organization will help you to meet all your deadlines. One of the keys to time management is planning your studying in advance. At the beginning of each class, you’ll receive a syllabus with a class schedule that generally includes most of the course’s large projects, essays, tests and other assessments. Compare this schedule for all your classes so you can see where large assessments overlap (usually around mid terms and finals) and plan accordingly. You can divide larger assignments into smaller pieces so they don’t become overwhelming. Be sure to start essays and projects well in advance of their due dates so you can avoid the dreaded all-nighter.
If you find yourself struggling with time management and study skills during your time at Pacific University, you can talk to your professors, sign up for peer tutoring, browse Pacific University’s academic resources and support, reach out to academic advisors for assistance in planning your classes or visit our student counseling center for support and assessments.
Financial Literacy
College is a financial investment and it's important for students to understand how their money is working during this time. From making decisions about financial aid to sticking to your term time budget, financial literacy is crucial during your college years. When creating your budget for college, you’ll want to make sure that your income and financial resources are enough to meet your expenses. There are many budgeting tools that can help you to find this balance, but a simple list of expenses and resources is a great way to start. You’ll want to make sure you consider all your expenses, everything from tuition to rent and groceries. You might cover these with resources like financial aid, wages or savings.
Pacific University provides resources to help you learn how to manage your money in college and beyond. Our guide to the FAFSA assists you in filing your FAFSA each year. And if you’re looking for a student job to help cover your expenses, we’ve got that covered too. If you experience changes in your financial situation, our financial aid advisors are here to help guide you.
Communication
Effective communication is essential for college success. Students must participate in classes, listen actively, attend office hours and email professionally with professors and staff. You must also be able to communicate effectively with your peers, convey information in presentations and communicate both verbally and in writing. At Pacific University, you’ll practice communication skills in all your courses and activities. We also support the development of students’ communication in our Center for Student Learning and Success. You can also practice your communication skills at Pacific University’s many clubs and organizations like the Media Arts Production Services and Speech & Debate, English or Poetry clubs.
Teamwork & Conflict Resolution
College is full of collaboration. From group projects to student clubs and organizations, you’ll have ample opportunities to hone your skills working with others. If you want to lead a group, event or project, Pacific University’s resources for student leaders can help. Making friends at college and finding your community is a key part of your university experience.
Collaborating with your peers isn’t always easy. When disagreements arise, it’s important to lean on healthy conflict resolution techniques like taking time to cool off and reflect, seeking outside advice and addressing the behavior rather than critiquing the person. Though day-to-day conflict resolution can generally be handled informally among peers, at Pacific University our Student Code of Conduct outlines expectations for students and student complaints and grievances are addressed with care and consideration.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking skills are necessary in almost every aspect of college life. Being able to analyze information, consider multiple perspectives, ask questions and evaluate situations is a core skill for college success. You’ll use critical thinking in your coursework and extracurriculars. Critical thinking is also essential for your job search, career and general life skills. At Pacific University, we prioritize critical thinking in all our programs.
How to succeed in college depends on the ongoing development of college readiness skills. At Pacific University we support you in developing and honing all your college success strategies. Whether you’re seeking teamwork and belonging through clubs and organizations, pursuing academic support or developing your financial literacy through our resources, you’ll find assistance at Pacific University.