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Keys to Academic Success
Understand The System
To succeed, you will need to learn how the U.S. educational system works. In this system, grades are very important. Getting the highest possible GPA (Grade Point Average) means getting the highest possible grade in each class, not just the classes in which you are particularly interested. Within each class, getting the highest possible grade means getting the highest possible mark on each assignment and examination, not just on the final exam. Also, many professors will include classroom participation and class attendance as part of the grade. Academic success in the American system requires consistent disciplined studying and class attendance and participation.
Methods of Instruction
The classroom lecture is the most common type of instruction. Lectures are usually supplemented with discussion sections, reading assignments, and written assignments.
Seminars are small classes, usually at the graduate level, devoted entirely to discussion. Students usually make presentations in these classes based on independent reading and research.
In laboratories ("labs"), students apply theory to practical problems. Labs are required for some courses.
Examinations
You will have tests during a semester to measure how much you are learning. Courses usually have a "mid-term" and a "final exam," as well as additional tests and quizzes.
There are two general kinds of tests:
Objective tests measure your knowledge of facts. In these tests, you have to be particularly careful of language, as there may be subtle differences in meanings. There are five different kinds of questions commonly found on objective examinations:
- Multiple choice--you must choose the most appropriate answer from among a series of answers.
- True and False--you must read a statement and decide whether it is true or false.
- Matching--you must match related words, phrases, or statements from two columns.
- Identification--you must identify the significance of a name, term, or phrase.
- Short-answer or fill-in-the-blank--you must fill in a blank space in a sentence with the word or words that will make the sentence correct.
Essay questions-- test a student's ability to organize and write about his or her knowledge of a particular subject.
Evaluate your Expectations
Keep in mind that it may take time for you to adjust to a new educational system. You may encounter more problems in your classes than your American classmates. Don't let that concern you, since you will catch up after you grow accustomed to the American educational system.
What To Do If You Are Having Problems With A Class
If you are not doing well in a course, or do not understand the material, you should seek help immediately. Here are some suggestions for obtaining academic help:
- Consult your instructor or Teaching Assistant (TA). He or she may be able to suggest ways to improve your performance.
- Consult your academic advisor.
- Consult the Learning Enhancement Center located in the student resource center: http://www.ulv.edu/lec/
- Consult with an International Student Advisor in the International and Study Abroad Center for suggestions to improve your situation.
Select your classes wisely
- During your first term you will be spending a lot of time getting used to the new system and culture. Don't take on too much.
- Consider having a combination of more demanding and less demanding courses.
- When arranging your course schedule, consult both your academic advisor and experienced students.
In the American system, it is usually not possible to wait until the latter part of the semester to begin studying. You should start studying on the first day of classes.
Know How To Study
The study habits that were appropriate for the educational system in your country may not be appropriate here. You may have to learn to approach your studies in a different way.
Teachers expect students to ask questions in class or immediately following class. They expect students to see them in their offices when the student is having problems in class. If you are not doing well in a class and you do not see the teacher to discuss the situation, the teacher is likely to assume that you are not interested in his or her class. In other words, most teachers will have a negative, or at best indifferent, evaluation of a student who never raises questions in the class and who does not visit the teacher outside the class to discuss academic difficulties s/he is experiencing.
