To be academically successful in your course work, you must develop a plan of action for each of your courses. According to Elwood N. Chapman, author of "College Survival", college courses generally fall into three categories: the constant-discipline, the delayed-action, and the self-involving courses.

Constant-discipline courses
Mathematics, foreign languages, English composition, accounting, economics, and many of the sciences.

Description
Subject matter taught in building block sequence.
Learn today's lesson to understand tomorrow's.
Usually requires daily outside study or reading.

Preventive Measures
Don't miss class/assignments.
Allocate more time than needed.
Do homework immediately.
Be alert in classroom.
Talk to professor about all mistakes.
Stick to assignment schedule.
Find out early, if not doing well.

Delayed-action courses
Business law, marketing, literature, history, sociology, psychology, and social science courses.

Description
Lectures, outside reading, few exams.
Trouble if not supported with well executed plan.
Easy to put off reading until test time.
By time first test given, semester usually close to over.
Discipline left up to you.
Takes time to get used to professors' different styles of lectures and tests.
Grades may only be based on two or three tests only.

Preventive Measures
Take good notes.
Recopy notes in organized manner.
Review for exams.
Do reading on regular basis, underlining/taking notes as you go.
Get involved in class discussions.
Go over and analyze first test when returned to adjust study strategy.
Be cool, deliberate, and objective on exam day and study each question carefully

Self-involving courses
Art, music, drama, other creative art classes, nursing, lab work

Description
Courses that require separate analysis.
Usually have different learning climates, odd schedules, unusual standards, special demands.
Few examinations if any.
Minimum supervision.
Be careful not to de-emphasize, putting less time into work.
Can you handle the freedom?

Preventive Measures
Make appointments with professor to learn what is expected of you.
Avoid becoming over-involved if favorite course, or if low interest....vice versa. 
Try to get involved in course work- it will be a welcome relief to more disciplined courses.

In addition to good time management techniques, you should develop a good course strategy, knowledge on how to prepare for tests and papers, good note taking skills, and a good working relationship with your professors to be academically successful in your freshman year.

Go to the Office of Academic Services (Library 102A) for note taking, study skills, test taking strategies, and writing term papers.

Go to the Personal Counseling Services (Lower Bedford Hall) for test anxiety, developing relationships, time management, and communication skills.

Go to the Dean's Office (Harkins 213) if you're not sure where to go, who to see, or you are in need of academic counseling.

Adapted from: "College Survival", Elwood N. Chapman