Featured College Scholarship

Here's a scholarship for all of you who are graduating high school and are moving on to college. SunTrust Education loans is giving away a $1000 to help pay for tuition. Sign up now: http://www.suntrusteducation.com/sweeps/default.asp

New Year-New Challenge

Welcome to the New Year! It's a new semester and you are ready to get into the swing of things with your new classes. If you finished last semester on a high note, I urge you to keep going strong and keep pushing through your classes. If last semester was not so hot for you, don't despair. This semester gives you another chance. Another chance to try again. If you are having difficulty with your class, seek help from your school's academic department. Trust me, these people want to help you succeed. They want you to grow and blossom.

Don't hide your head in the sand if you are having problems. Get help now. Don't wait until the end of the semester. Get help now! If you need a tutor, find one. Talk to your instructor to see what resources may be available. Find a study partner (and really study). Remember, college is something you can do. You can be a success and you can finish strong. I look forward to good reports.

Letter to Your College Student

This blog entry is for parents who are sending kids off to college. I have crafted a letter that you can give them to help prepare them for success in college. The letter is below. You have my permission to copy the letter and use it to encourage your student. Just make sure you insert their name in the letter. And while you are giving your child the letter, don't forget to give a copy of my book, The Secret to College Success.

Dear _______:

The moment we have been planning for so long is finally here. You are going to college. This moment has been years in the making and you have done it. You have worked so hard to get to this point and this is an achievement you have truly earned. All your assignments in school, all the extra activities, all the extra work, have brought you to this point. I want you to know that I am very, very proud of you. And I want you to be proud of this moment too. This is your moment to shine and I want you to shine brightly.

Remember, you are leaving home but you're not leaving us. Leaving home is a rite of passage, a part of becoming an adult. I look back over the years where I watched over you and did my best to keep you safe and loved. I remember the child who asked questions about everything and who wanted to be adventurous. You are now embarking on your next great adventure. Enjoy the journey.

College is a place where you can spread your wings and grow. It's where you can flex your intellectual muscles and soak in the knowledge that will surround you. You are entering a time of your life that is exciting and rewarding. You are beginning a chapter of your life where many people make life long friends. Choose them wisely.

If you ever doubt yourself in college I want you to remember this one thing. You are ready. You are ready for college and I believe in you. Believe in what you can accomplish and you will accomplish great things.

This is your time. While you will be missed, it is great to know you will be working toward your future. Remember it is your future. You will be making decisions in college that will affect how your life will be years from now. Make choices that will be good for you; your choice of study should reflect you, not me or anyone else. Get all the information you need to make good choices. I trust your judgment. Now you trust yourself.

When your eyes are red from studying too late or from crying because you miss home, I want you to know that I love you and I am so very proud of you. Do not give up. Remember you can be a success in college. Look at what you have already accomplished. You graduated high school and made it to college! Learn, learn, learn while you are at college. You will have so many doors open to you while there. This is your time.

You are on a path to greatness. Follow your road.

+++

Seven Secrets to College Success

Congratulations. You have made the decision to pursue higher education and to meet your goal of obtaining a college degree. You are embarking on a journey that can take you places you may have only dreamed of. Being in college can be fun but it can also be challenging. There are seven things a college student must do in order to be successful in the collegiate arena. These seven steps can be the difference between a B or C student or an A student.

Be punctual: Being late for class is a sign of disrespect. It tells the instructor you don’t want to be in his class or that you don’t take the class seriously. You also miss important information when you are late. Do you like it when people are late for something you’ve planned? Of course not. The instructor has spent time preparing for the class and you should give the instructor the time you have scheduled for his class. Besides, you have spent money for the class so you should show up on time to get what you paid for. Being punctual also helps when it comes time for grading. Grading is subjective and you want to do everything you can to leave a positive impression in your instructor’s mind so he can remember you this way doing grading. Being late for class doesn’t make a positive impression. So if you are habitually late, why should he sweat over your grade? Take my word for it, show up on time.

Do the homework: It is a waste of your time and the instructor’s time if you just sit in class but never do the assignments. Not doing class assignments is a guaranteed way to fail. Instructors use assignments to determine your knowledge and your grade. Assignments also help you to learn more about your field of study. Instructors can also tell if you half-heartedly completed an assignment. And don’t wait until the last minute to do your assignment. If you start early you will have a better product than if you waited until the due date to start on it.
Ask questions: Some people think asking questions is dumb. In reality it’s just the opposite. Instructors like students who ask questions. It shows you are interested in the class and that you really want to learn more about the subject the instructor is an expert in. The question you ask is probably the same question several other students in the class want answered so you’ll be doing them a favor.

Be confident: As an instructor, I like students who are confident in their abilities and act on them. Many times students are afraid to speak up in class or write a paper about an interesting subject because they are afraid what the instructor or their fellow students may think. As a result research papers or projects are sometimes dull and boring because they cover “safe” topics. It’s okay to be afraid. It’s not okay to let fear keep you from doing something you really want do. So go ahead and write that paper you’ve been longing to write or start on that project that you truly believe in. Be confident and be able to back up your findings or conclusions with evidence.

Volunteer: College instructors like students who volunteer. Volunteerism shows you want to really want to get involved in your major or your school. You don’t have to volunteer for something big. It could be something as simple as agreeing to be a group discussion leader or leading a class project. It could be volunteering to be on a student committee or to be on the board of a student chapter of an organization. Find ways to volunteer. This will not only help your grades but it can also enhance your studies.

Be prepared for tests: Depending on your instructor, you may not know when she may call a pop quiz. Successful students are prepared and always ready. You can be prepared by reading the class material before the class, participating in class discussions, and by doing the assignments and exercises in your textbook.

Get to know people: Successful people network. You have to do the same too, even on a college campus. When you get to know people on campus they share with you information that they have. This information can help you in a class, help you to save money or a purchase, assist you in choosing a class, or even choosing a major. Networking is a very important tool in the world of business so you might as well practice the skill while you are in college.
Remember that you can be a success in college. Yes it’s hard but you can do it!

Bruce Gibbs is a college instructor and the author of the college success book, The Secret to College Success. You can visit the book’s web site at MyCollegeSuccess.com or pick up a copy at Amazon.com.

Get Money for College

From time to time I will remind you about ways you can get money for college. Finding money for college can be time consuming but let's face it. You need money to get through college. And you need lots of it. So let's find ways to get it. I have some resources on my site to help you find additional sources of money. The link is http://mycollegesuccess.com/money.html. Good luck!

Get the College Success Book at a Discount - But Hurry!

Barnes and Noble is offering a 10% discount on books so you can purchase The Secret to College Success at a discount. Here's the link to the coupon code--http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/affiliate-coupon/379000463?lkid=J28009224&pubid=K84208.

Here's the link to the book at BN.com http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Secret-To-College-Success/Bruce-Gibbs/e/9780615192567/?itm=1

Purchase several copies of the book to give to new high school graduates. They will love you for it!

College is Your Oyster

While you are in college sweating the issues of grades, instructors, etc. don't let the importance of college pass you by. You are in a moment of time in your life where the possibilities seems endless. You have the opportunity to focus on several things and you can make those things happen. Don't get too pressured with the small things that you forget the big picture. Take this time to spread your wings. Look at your opportunities. Take a look at your major and other majors to see different ways you may use it in your life. For example, if you are majoring in the healthcare field, how can you use that background in ways that may not be a typical fit. Now a typical fit is fine, if that is what you are seeking. All I am saying is to look at your choices. Open your eyes to possibilities. They are all around you.

Never Give Up

College life can be hard. Working on papers in the middle of the night, studying for tests, completing duties in organizations, you name it. It can all be taxing on you and sometimes you just may want to quit. I am telling you to not give up. You can make it to another day. In fact, you can make it to another month. Keep reaching for excellence. Don't let peer pressure make you give in to what you really want. You have worked so hard to get to this point in your life. Don't let a set back or hard work do you in. You can do this! You can make it and finish the semester/quarter strong. Yes, people are counting on you but that's not why you want to finish strong. You want to do this because of you. You are stronger than your problems. You can complete what you set out to do. You can finish strong!

Easy Bibliographies

Is it time to write that research paper? Don't wait until the last minute to get started on the paper. To help you write and keep track of your bibliographies for the paper, there's a tool to help you manage this. Visit Ottobib.com and just enter in your book's ISBN. The website does all the rest. So go to http://ottobib.com.

Free Money for College

We all know college is getting expensive. Well, it's always been expensive, but in these economic times, its getting even harder for a person to pay for college. Don't despair. Here are some sources to free money that help you fund your collegiate dream. Visit http://mycollegesuccess.com/money.html for a list of money sources.

Talk to Your Instructor

What to be successful in college? One of the best ways to do this is to talk to your instructor. Get to know your instructor, let him/her put a face to your name. This is especially true if you are a student in one of those large lecture halls. By getting to know the instructor you are showing that you are interested in the class and that you really want to learn. Talking to your instructor means more than just showing up once during office hours. You want to geniune learn what your instructor is teaching so make the most of the office hour by knowing what to say and what you need to truly understand the student. Most instructors will know your effort come grade time and it can affect your grade. Tip for today is get to know your instructor.

Being on Time

One of the things you want to do as a college student is to be on time for your classes. And you want to do this consistently. Instructors are not dumb people. They know when you slip into class late or even if you are not in class at all. College instructors want you to be successful in your classes and you have to be there to understand the class material. Show the instructor and yourself some respect. Be to class on time.