By Prof. John DeSpagna
Campus News
As a community college student, you are making one of the best investments you can make. You are investing in yourself for a successful and prosperous future. The path to completing your degree may not be easy but you have to think long term. Let’s spend some time addressing steps you can take to be successful in community college.
Don’t work too many hours each week. This can impact your ability to attend all of your classes and keep up with the coursework. While advising students, I inquire about how many hours the student will be working each week. Holding down a full-time job of 40 plus hours per week with a full-time course schedule of 15 plus credits per semester is a challenge. You need time to go to class, study and do homework. Try and have a balance between your work and course schedule.
Another concern is trying to take 18 or more credits in a semester. This is a lot of coursework to do. Trying to rush through the degree taking so many credits in a semester is a challenge. This also may be a case of trying to do too much and may have an impact on your GPA because you are trying to do too much.
Your college has many resources available to help you. At Nassau Community College, we have dedicated resource centers. These include Learning Centers in Math, English, Accounting and Business. Go to these Learning Centers for extra help and tutoring. They are there to help you with dedicated professionals. Check with your college and see what type of extra resources are available to help you.
Research has shown that taking a First Year Experience course at your college helps to increase retention and academic success. Your college may require you to enroll in one of these classes or it may be an option. These classes are designed and offered to help you through your first year in a college. Take a look into the offerings at your college and consider this as an option. These classes are helpful to future success.
As the semester continues on, you will face many demands on your time. Time management is very important and you simply need to prioritize how to spend your time. Don’t try to do too much and stay focused. Try and write out a weekly plan on how you are going to spend your time including plenty of time for your studies.
It is also important to go and talk to your professors. We have office hours set up to meet with students to try and help you. You can clarify something you do not understand in class, ask a professor about a subject you are not sure of or learn about career opportunities in your field. Go and see your professors so they can help you.
I cannot emphasize the importance of going to see an advisor to make your class schedule. An advisor will go over your program and help you select the appropriate courses in your degree program. This can avoid the possibility of you taking courses that are not going to count toward your degree and may not even be covered by financial aid.
Your program will probably allow you to take some free electives. Try taking some electives that you have an interest in. These may be a course that could allow you to explore a career opportunity.
As you are going through your first year of college, why don’t you challenge yourself? Many community colleges offer an Honors Program. These are enriched programs that allow you to be exposed to something different. When you apply to a four-year college and your transcript shows that you have participated in an Honors Program, you are enhancing your credentials in the admissions process.
To be successful, you need to work hard and be motivated. Success at a community college is no different. Be passionate about your college work to help set the foundation for a successful community college experience and success later on in life. You are investing in yourself!
John DeSpagna is Chair of the Accounting and Business Administration Department at Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y.
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