As a Michigan Tech student, you are responsible for making the most of your academic career. As you probably know (and will further discover), college is different from high school. The table below identifies some of these differences and offers tips on how you can prepare yourself.
Being in college is like working a full-time job. You should plan to spend thirty to forty-five hours a week either in class or studying. This still allows for time to relax and to get involved in student organizations or intramural sports. On the first day of class, your professors will give you a syllabus, which outlines the course for the entire semester. Keep track of what you need to do. You are expected to come to class prepared, having reviewed the material in advance.
Success Tips for Michigan Tech Students
| High School | College | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Each day you proceed from one class to another. | You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening. | Use any free time during the day to prepare your assignments. Don't wait until nighttime. |
| Teachers check and often grade homework. | Professors may not even collect assigned homework, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on tests. | Do assignments. In fact, do more than just assigned problems—work until you understand the concepts presented. |
| Teachers remind you when assignments are due. | Professors may not remind you when work is to be completed. You are responsible for keeping track of assignments. | Use the Michigan Tech student planner that you receive at Orientation to keep track of all assignments, tests, quizzes, and even outside activities. |
| You may study not at all or as little as one or two hours a week. | You need to study at least two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. You will need to review your class notes regularly in addition to doing assignments. | Find out how to study effectively and find a place where you can concentrate to get your work done. |
| Testing is frequent and covers small amounts of material. | Testing is usually infrequent and often covers large amounts of material. You are responsible for organizing the material to prepare for the test. A course may have only two or three tests in a semester. | Look at a term's worth of material and organize it in a way that makes sense to you. Use outlines and pictures to help you remember the material. |
| Mastery of a subject is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what was taught in the same manner it was presented to you. | Mastery of a subject is usually seen as the ability to apply what you have learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems. | Aim to understand material. Don't simply memorize it. |
| You will be told what your responsibilities are, and you are corrected when you are out of line. | You are responsible for what you do and don't do. | Accept the consequences of your decisions. |
| You may graduate as long as you have passed all required courses with a grade of D or higher. | You may graduate only if your grade point average is a 2.0 (C average) or better. | Don't settle for just getting by. |