Practical Tips for Highly Successful High School Students

Make being a student your top priority – The idea here is to work your outside obligations around your life as a student, which is your most important job right now. This mindset will help you simplify your life and keep your priorities straight. When planning extracurricular activities, social time, and other commitments, ask yourself if they support your role as a student and whether or not you can realistically take them on.

Review material early and often – After you watch a lecture, read a chapter, or learn something new, it’s important to go over what you’ve learned right away. Review your notes immediately after taking them, and you will double the amount of information you retain. It’s also a good idea to take notes longhand and then type them up when you’ve finished.

Create a quiet, well-lit study area – Take your studies seriously by dedicating a space for your work. Keep tools that you’re sure to need (pencils, pens, calculator, etc.) nearby so you won’t have to get up and look for them. Invest in comfortable seating and good lighting.

Set regular study and homework hours – Make an appointment with yourself to complete your schoolwork, and don’t cram all of your studying into one session. Whether you work better in the early morning, in the afternoon, or after the sun sets, set regular study hours spread throughout the week, and stick to them.

Set specific goals for your study times – You should know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session. If you have no direction, your studying won’t be effective. Set specific, achievable goals for each session. Line up your short term goals to help you reach your long term goals (such as passing a particular CLEP exam by a certain date).

Relax! It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the full course load that goes along with high school, but if you follow these tips, you’re sure to be prepared for succeeding in high school and beyond (especially if you’ve chosen to earn high school and college credits at the same time!).