How to Succeed in College

College Freshman Don’t Know What it Takes to Succeed

In a decade of teaching at two of America’s elite undergraduate universities, Dr. Shumsky found that a majority of students at University of Virginia and Northwestern University were deficient in their ability to quickly and efficiently master important ideas and concepts for their classes. Dr. Shumsky and his fellow professors observed that students most frequently under-performed in academics because they relied on memorization and had poorly developed skills in executive functioning basics like managing their time, organizing their materials, planning for essays and exams, and investigating the myriad of opportunities for enrichment available on campus. Most of the students at these elite institutions were accustomed to relying on their native gifts and getting by with as little effort as possible. Such students, who were A students in high school, got a rude awakening in their first year of college and frequently ended up with poor grades and injured self-esteem.

Good college students must be ruthlessly efficient in their studies and in their time-management. To appropriately keep pace with fast-moving and demanding coursework, one needs to plan effectively, know how to reduce a universe of details into digestible bits, and to separate the crucial from the secondary in importance. The same is true in extra-curricular and social domains. Good students get internships, participate in engaging activities, and have fulfilling social lives. To pose the problem in plain English, good students are excellent in the skill of prioritization, both of academic ideas and personal aspirations. Unfortunately, very few will learn these skills in high school.

Basic Training for College Success, Available This Summer

There is good news, however, because this summer your soon-to-be college student can learn the exact skills needed to succeed in college. Our Off to College Workshop teaches students how to study efficiently, read complex texts and zoom to the essential ideas, how to take notes and listen to lectures, and how to compose the college research essay. A second module gives students the tools for time management, prioritization, planning, and review. In the workshop, your child will learn the crucial executive function capabilities to develop a productive and healthy routine, maintain a consistent level of well-being, and to have lots of fun.

The Off to College Workshop has a 25 plus year track record of preparing new college students to get good grades, stay happy and healthy in their new lives, and have engaging and joyful social lives. With just a few hours of work this summer, your soon-to-be college freshman will be properly prepared for the demands of life during the first year away from home.  Give us a call today to enroll your son or daughter in this valuable workshop at 713-784-6610, X100.

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