International Students

E-Mail Page | Print Page

Achieving Academic Success

Now that you are a CSC student, you may find that our educational system is a little different from your home. Many new international students find they have to adjust how they prepare and study for their courses. We have provided the following tips to help you get good grades. Many of our international students are excellent scholars and receive top marks each semester. You can be one of them!

To get good grades, you should:

• Attend every single class.
• Introduce yourself to all your professors. If you are having trouble with class, go to their posted office hours (which will be listed on the syllabus). They will provide you with direction on how to improve.
• Thoroughly read the syllabus your professors hand out at the beginning of each semester. The syllabus will outline course expectations and also list assignment due dates and exam dates. The grading scale will also be provided so that you know what you need to earn to achieve an A.
• Prepare ahead of time for class and take excellent notes in class.
• Allow sufficient time to complete assignments and study for exams.
• Surround yourself with focused individuals and develop study groups to help prepare for exams.
• Make sure to use all the student services available on campus such as the Tutoring Center, Writing Center, the Reta E. King Library and more.
• Make sure to get enough sleep and eat well.
• Most importantly, believe in yourself. You can do it!

Advice from CSC Faculty and Advisors

Faculty, staff and administration at CSC are sincerely interested in your academic success. In addition to numerous student support services at CSC, some of our faculty and staff have offered their advice and suggestions for helping you excel at CSC.

“I find students often avoid approaching their professors when they have a question or concern. The most important advice I could give is for students to contact their instructors when they have concerns or questions about a course or assignment. Often a short conversation or an email can clarify the situation. From a professor's perspective it is important to receive student feedback. It is the only way of knowing if the information is being understood or if instructions for an assignment are well defined."—Ms. Tammi Littrel, CSC instructor

“Your success in college depends on a combination of factors: your behaviors in and out of class, your attitude and commitment to working hard, your awareness of key learning strategies, and your commitment to apply and assess these strategies in your daily life. As with most everything in your life, your motto should be, “I’m responsible for my success!” If you put forth the effort to study effectively, the improved skills will soon become a habit and be just as natural as breathing. The result can be better grades, greater knowledge, and higher self-esteem. These skills will serve you well in your professional and personal life.”—Ms. Frances Gonzalez, Tutoring Center

Keys to a successful academic year:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Become familiar with college terms, i.e. academic probation, course numbers, credit hour, drop/add/withdrawal, prerequisite, etc. Check out the college handbook.
2. Be aware of important dates, i.e. drop/add/withdrawal
3. Talk to your instructors. Make it a point to visit them during office hours.
4. You have a lot of freedom in college. The freedom is great, but you have to make good choices. Making poor choices can easily lead to poor grades.
5. As soon as you get to campus, check out available resources: academic advising, career services, clubs, computer labs, counseling services, disability services, financial aid, health services, library, activity center, student center, learning center, etc. Know your resources.
6. Know what is expected of you in each subject. Read each syllabus. Make an appointment with each instructor. Attend all classes. Go to review sessions or form your own study group.
7. Develop and use effective methods of study. Create a study system that works for you; choose, use and evaluate recommended learning strategies. Form good study habits early in the year.
8. Involve yourself in college life. Students who participate in academic, social, and personal campus activities tend to do better academically.

“Welcome to Chadron State College! One of the most valuable relationships you can make in college is with your Academic Advisor. At CSC, you will be first assigned to the “START” Office advisors team. This group of professional staff advisors can help with course schedules, dropping and adding, assisting with major changes, and with financial aid and billing questions. During your second semester you will be assigned to a faculty advisor. This person can be very helpful in guiding you through your academic career at CSC and for giving you good information about your chosen major and career field. If you find you don’t easily develop a relationship with your advisor, you can request that a new one be assigned. The other thing to understand is that ANY faculty person can be helpful –not necessarily the one to whom you’ve been assigned. So, don’t hesitate to have conversations with faculty who teach in your chosen degree program or your area of interest. Faculty can be one of the most valuable resources on campus for providing information and guidance about their particular academic discipline. And, if they don’t know the answer to your question, they will be able to direct you to someone who does.”—Ms. Deena Kennell, Advisor