HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HIGH SCHOOL

HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HIGH SCHOOL
Step One - Believe in Yourself
“To succeed, we must first believe that we can.” Michael Korda
In order for you to succeed, you have to believe in yourself and in your abilities. Whether you’re an
athlete preparing for competition or a student tackling a difficult subject, it’s important that you believe in
yourself. You must recognize the talents and abilities that you possess, and you must know, and believe
that you can succeed.
Step Two - Be Organized
Organization is one of the most important skills for success. It helps you keep track of assignments,
finish projects on time, and study efficiently. Being organized has another benefit too: free time! Instead
of looking for lost items, or cramming for tests, being organized lets you relax, knowing you’re prepared.
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Record class homework assignments in your agenda daily.
Check off completed assignments.
Color code your different subjects.
Use folders for school work.
Network with classmates. Have phone numbers of classmates that can help you.
Keep your locker and backpack neat.
Get organized before you go to bed.
Step Three - Time Management Tips
With good time management, you have time for things that need done and time for things you want to do.
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Use class time wisely.
Create your own study plan.
Determine your best time of day to study.
Do it now. Don’t procrastinate.
Divide a big assignment into small pieces that can be done one at a time.
Plan in the morning (or the night before) the priorities during day.
Learn to say “NO” to interruptions when you study.
 Separate study time from play time.
Step Four - Be Successful in the Classroom
If you follow the advice in this section, you’ll enjoy school more and get better grades.
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Be in school, on time, every day.
Learn how to adapt to different teachers.
Be prepared for each class every day.
Be aware of your body language and nonverbal behavior.
Always do your homework.
Participate in class.
Be a good group member.
Treat others with courtesy and respect.
Involve your parents.
Step Five - Take Good Notes
Tests usually cover material that’s been presented in class. It is therefore important to have good notes
from which to study.
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Be an active listener.
Take notes to help you pay attention.
Recognize important information.
Go over your notes as soon as possible. It helps you to remember.
Get copies of class notes if you are absent.
Step Six - Know How to Read a Textbook
When you know how to read a textbook, you comprehend and remember what you read.
Scan by reading subtitles, words in bold and italic print, summaries, charts, and review questions.
Read with a purpose.
Review by scanning the material to check comprehension.
Step Seven - Study Smart
Students who “study smart” find that they spend less time studying, and get better grades.
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Find a good place to study.
Take study breaks. After 30 minutes take a 3-5 minute break.
Schedule specific times to study. This helps fight procrastination.
Organize your study time.
Take notes as you read.
Jot down questions when you read assignments.
Recopy your lectures notes and review them daily.
Prepare in advance for exams. Join a study group, get a tutor, ask the teacher for help.
Study your least favorite or most difficult classes first.
Know what the test is going to cover – use your study guide. For essay tests, it is important to understand
the big picture. You should know the main points and key facts. For fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice
tests, you need to know more detailed information. Pay particularly close attention in class the day before
a test. This is when teachers often go over information that you will need to know. If your textbook has
review questions, be sure you know the answers to all of them. Go through the textbook and make sure
you know the meaning of all words in bold and italic print. Have your parents quiz you.
Use tricks to help you memorize information. Use flashcards to memorize words, facts, and lists. Close
your eyes and try to see it in your mind. Say it, and then look at it again. Use rhyming to help you
memorize things.
Right before you go to sleep, go over any information that you want to remember. Your brain will
commit it to memory while you sleep.
Use the first letter of the word you want to memorize to make up a silly sentence.
Know how to write a paper.
The key to writing a good paper is to spread it out over as much time as possible. Writing a paper should
be a process, not a one time event. Start off by brainstorming and taking notes, then an outline. Rough
draft; rewrite the paper and then a final draft. Put the paper away and then read it again, you’ll see and
hear things that you did not notice before. Have someone else proof read your paper.
Step Eight - Use Test Taking Strategies
In order to do well on any test, you must study and be prepared. Having done that, you can further
improve your test performance by using these test-taking strategies.
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Read the directions carefully.
Develop a plan.
Mark the questions that you want to return to.
Pace yourself and stay aware of the time.
Look for key words in True/False questions. Watch out for keywords such as always, often,
sometimes or never. These words can help you determine if the statement is true or false.
Multiple choice questions require you to eliminate responses to determine the best answer.
Know how to approach essay questions. Dissect the question, make an outline, include facts,
get to the point, and write legibly.
Try to respond to all questions. A partial answer is better than no answer.
Be prepared for open book tests.
Check your answers.
Go over all returned tests.
Step Nine - Reduce Test Anxiety
A little anxiety before a test improves your concentration and alertness.
Five Common Relaxation Techniques:
 Take a deep breath, hold it, and then slowly release your breath and tension. Do until you
feel your body relax.
 Start at the top of your head, flexing and then relaxing each part of your body.
 Close your eyes and let your arms hang down at your sides. As you relax, visualize the
tension from your body flowing down your arms and out through your fingertips.
 Close your eyes and visualize warm sunshine washing over you, melting away tension and
relaxing all of your muscles.
 Think of a place where you feel very relaxed and calm. Close your eyes and visualize being
in that place.
Lastly, when you have a problem, do something to resolve it.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE PLANNING
General College Search/Admissions Resources
www.campustours.com
www.collegeboard.com
www.studentedge.com
www.petersons.com
www.collegeinfo.com
www.princetonreview.com
www.allaboutcollege.com
www.braintrack.com
www.ohioprivatecolleges.com
www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php
Career Search Resources
OCIS-Ohio Career Information Systems - www.ocis.org
Bridges - https://access.bridges.com Site ID: 0091243
Occupational Outlook Handbook - http://www.bls.gov/oco/
O*NET Online - http://online.onetcenter.org
username: brunswickhs
password: ohiocis03
password: brunswick
College Admission Testing Resources
www.act.org
www.collegeboard.com (SAT)
Financial Aid Resources
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/FSA/index.html
www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/index.html
Federal Trade Commission: Scholarship Scams
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/education/scholarships.shtm
Resources for Student Athletes
www.ncaa.org
www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org
Please visit the Brunswick High School Guidance Website for more information.
www.bcsoh.org