12.7 STAYING ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS
Because so much research has been done on first-year students like you, we can confidently tell you that successful completion of this course is a good predictor for overall success in college. When you finish any of your college courses, take some time to step back, think, ask yourself the following questions, and perhaps even record your answers:
What did I learn in this course?
How can I apply what I have learned to other courses or to my current job?
How will I use what I learned both in and out of class?
What did I learn that I am most likely to remember?
Do I want to stay in touch with this instructor?
Did I improve my basic skills?
How do I feel about what I accomplished?
Did I do better than I thought I would?
What did I do that helped me progress, and how can I repeat those kinds of successful efforts in other courses?
What challenges do I still face?
Whether you are finishing this course at the end of your first term or first year in college, you have learned many success strategies that can help you throughout your entire college experience. For many students, the first year is by far the most challenging, especially in terms of adjusting or readjusting to college life. Once you complete your first year, you will have made many decisions and encountered many opportunities, and you need a set of strategies to succeed beyond the first year.
