Adina Glickman 2012 rev: 1/25/12

Being a successful student relies on many things: your academic skills, psychological experiences,
environmental factors, and your world view. Which of these statements are true for you? Keeping in mind
there is no single way to be a successful student, what can you do to move closer to your goals?
SKILL SETS











I plan my time and think about how long things will take
I plan things in advance
I am flexible when something interrupts my plans
I am realistic about how long things take
I look at assignments as soon as theyre given
I budget time for unstructured/no deadline tasks

I plan my time and think about how long things will take
I pre-read to get an idea of how things will fit together
I form questions for what I read, and then get my questions answered
I dont memorize things, I understand what they mean, why theyre important, and
how they fit together
I take notes that tell me what I was thinking when I read/heard something
I review my notes within a day of taking them
I prepare for lecture by thinking about or reviewing material
I prepare questions or try to anticipate where the lecture will take me
I go to class
I turn off WiFi when Im in class
I review lecture notes within a day of taking them
I go to office hours
I return to my notes to get me started
I generate loads of text that I may not use
I re-write
I proofread
I am able to silence my internal editor
I am realistic about how long writing takes
I know when Im procrastinating
I am aware of what my distractions tend to be
I parse assignments that overwhelm me
I know how to reduce my stress
My anxiety doesnt make me go too fast
I answer multiple choice questions systematically
I use a toggle approach for multiple choice questions
I warm up my brain before the test
I buffer myself against stereotype threat before the exam begins
I think intelligence is malleable
6. Procrastination
5. Taking tests
4. Writing
2. Reading
1. Managing Time
3. Classroom Learning

Adina Glickman 2012 rev: 1/25/12

PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES
1. Anxiety
2. Depression
3. Worry
4. Fixed mindset
5. Low motivation
6. Stereotype threat
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
1. Sleep debt
2. Noise
3. Crowds
4. Physical wellness
5. Electronics
6. Parents
WORLD VIEW
1. Must read every word
2. Excellence=perfection
3. Taking too long=wrong
4. Getting stuck=I suck











Im flexible and resilient
I have strong social support
Im getting help for psychological conditions
Im motivated and here to learn
I have some knowledge of how stereotype threat works
I believe intelligence is malleable
I have a good place to study
I get enough sleep
I am not overwhelmed by the size of the campus/classes
My parents support and trust me
I am physically healthy
Life is not a series of check-boxes
Theres no such thing as perfection
It takes time to learn
Getting stuck is a normal part of problem-solving