(This post was written by our HS4CC 11th grade Intern, Jasmine. Jasmine is Homeschooled for College Credit in Texas.) College can be a challenging and daunting landscape for a first-time dual-enrollment student. Walking into an official college class flooded with adults and led by a knowledgeable professor can seem petrifying. Classes can also be just as overwhelming for long-time DE students. Between communication, coursework, group projects, and exams, there’s a lot to handle at once. Luckily I have picked up some useful tips to guarantee a successful class experience.
Fair warning(s)
These blog posts are usually meant for parents, but I encourage you to show your students these methods. These tips can turn the college class experience into a manageable, positive environment.
Also, in this article, you may be provoked to scold me for being overkill, but I ask that you trust me. You’ll see what I mean.
Tip #1: Note-Taking – Methods
There are many schools of thought on note-taking, and there isn’t a definitive method. Whether your student tries the Cornell Method, Outlining Method, scribbling in Greek, or doodling in the corner, it is important to remember to utilize whichever works best for your student. Figuring out what makes the information stick best is more important than harping on a specific method.
I prefer writing my notes by hand in class and then transferring the relevant parts to online documents. Writing notes by hand statistically increases your information retention. It also allows for the use of any kind of note-taking method. Furthermore, writing on actual paper circumvents dealing with the distractions that swarm our electronics. For those reasons, I recommend note-taking on paper over laptops. But again, if your handwriting is chicken scratch (like mine sometimes) then maybe you’ll want to type instead.
The most salient thing to remember is to do what works for your brain. That will help you retain information and stay organized best.
Crucial Class Tip #2: Organization – Google Drive
So far, I haven’t said anything warranting that warning from the beginning of this post. Well, now you get to witness my (scary) organizational methods. Bear with me.
This past semester, I took US History II taught by Professor Tucker (an excellent professor, mind you). Professor Tucker assigned a lot of primary and secondary source readings (as one should when teaching history) as well as textbook excerpts. I had to keep up with deep readings and take good notes. It was a little overwhelming, but I soon figured out a system. I made a folder on Google Drive for the class and then made a document for each week respectively.
In each week’s document, I listed the readings and assigned questions at the top. I split the reading up between my non-class days. While reading, I answered the questions and wrote a few of my own to follow up on. Here is an example of what the first pages would look like:
Obviously, this kind of self-inflicted homework isn’t for everyone. But this, along with my professor’s wonderful teaching style, helped me fully comprehend (and thrive in) this class. Overall, it was a thorough way of note-taking and it was exceptionally easy to reference.
For reading-heavy classes, make a system similar to this. For full books, make the headings chapters, take notes, and write down questions to answer as you go.
I realize this is a bit tedious, but the TL;DR is, Google Drive is your student’s best friend for organization.
Tip #3: Study Sessions – Pomodoro and Quizlet
Last year, in US History I, my professor taught us about a lovely study method known as the Pomodoro Method. I often scroll through hours of YouTube shorts instead of working. Your student might as well (or a less sheltered version found in TikToks). The Pomodoro Method allows me to slack off while also being productive. Kind of. Using a Pomodoro timer, you can work on schoolwork for 25 minutes and then recharge with a 5-minute break. After this break, repeat the sequence until all of your work is done. This method helps keep motivation and attention fresh while breaking homework into manageable chunks.
Another useful study tool is Quizlet. Remember how I said that Google Drive was your student’s best friend? Well, I lied. Quizlet is. I will always recommend Quizlet, especially in language learning courses. Quizlet is essentially a flashcard-based study tool. I’ve used it the most in Spanish, Math, and Government classes when I needed to memorize specific terms, equations, or conjugations. Basically, your student can input important terms or upload a document and get an ai-generated study set based on it. I’m not sure if it’s magic or a figment of my imagination, but after reviewing a Quizlet a couple of times, I swear I’m fully familiar with the materials. Take that information and do with it as you will.
Tip #4: Communication – Professors and Students
The final piece of the puzzle is good communication. Your student will inevitably need to email professors or contact other students for group projects. These kinds of communication are essential for success. For communicating with other students, a simple group chat or Discord server will help to effectively complete group projects. Formality is less of an issue with other classmates.
Conversely, communication with a professor ought to be professional and clear. Your students need to make a habit of emailing their professors when they have questions or concerns. I cannot stress this enough. Most average college students do not bother to contact their professors when they need something or don’t understand instructions. Most average college students do not go to office hours to speak to their professors in person. Most average college students miss out on clarity, help, and valuable information by neglecting to contact their professors. Parents, communication is so important in every kind of relationship, but in a classroom setting, it is night and day. Professors hold a wealth of information, are incredibly useful, and (in my experience) very kind.
Because of this, I recommend looking up your student’s prospective professors on Rate My Professors. Look for reviews that include good communication, fast responses, etc. Rate My Professors reviews plus class syllabi tell you and your student everything you need to know about classes and communication.
Conclusion
These tips and tricks can make the college experience much less intimidating and anxiety-inducing. They could even (at times) make it easy. While this article was a bit long, I could go on gushing about these tools for much longer. But I won’t bore you with any more details. Instead, I will end with a challenge. Have your student try out some of these methods and watch what happens. Of course, not every student has the same goals or the same brain (that would be odd), but I’d contend that with a little effort, these tips have the potential to change your student’s routine and maybe even perspective on college classes.
