It may be called College Success or First Year Experience at your school or it may actually be referred to as College Study Skills. Whatever they call it, it's likely your college or university offers some sort of study skills class. These classes are excellent for everyone, even students right out of high school, whom you think would have a pretty good handle on study skills since they're just getting out of school. College is a whole new ballgame and requires a different set of skills than high school. Here's a list of some things you'll learn in a first year study skills course.
Time Management, Scheduling, and Planning
One of the first things you're likely to learn in a college success course is information on time management. As an adult student, you may already be good at managing your time. Chances are you've learned this skill through life experiences like juggling your job, home, and personal obligations. But we could all use a refresher, particularly in regard to managing academic time. You'll also cover topics like goal setting and the transition to college. These are great topics that help you to consider how to best incorporate your family and current lifestyle into your new academic world.
Specific Study Skills
It seems obvious that you'll learn study skills, but what kinds of skills? As I mentioned in a previous post, note taking skills are important to college students, and it matters not only what you write down, but how you take in and process the information. You'll also cover reading comprehension in a study skills course. Yes, we all know how to read, but do you know how to read for understanding? You've probably find yourself reading a few pages of something only to have to go back and re-read the material because you weren't really paying attention in the first place. In a college success course, you'll learn ways to read more actively, which is so important due to the sheer volume of text you'll be reading over the course of your college career.
Test Taking Skills
Ah, yes, the dreaded test. Maybe it's been years since you've taken a test. You may be more than a little nervous. If so, a study skills course is for you. You'll learn tips for approaching different kinds of tests like matching, fill in the blank, or essay, as well as suggestions for taking tests in different subjects. A math test is certainly different than an English Composition exam. You'll also learn proven techniques for handling test anxiety so that it doesn't sabotage you from the get-go.
Critical Thinking
This is another area in which adult students are ahead of the game. You've learned to think things through, to consider all sides of an argument, and to not take everything you hear at face value. Students right out of high school may have a ways to go in this department. But it's always a good idea to take a look at your own patterns of thought. For example, how do you view authority figures like professors? Learning more about critical thinking may help you to better deal with your instructors or to realize that it's okay to question them. Even as adults, we sometimes find ourselves accepting the word of authority blindly.
Communication Skills
A college success course will go over methods of communication, from in person to written. You'll learn ways of using e-mail most effectively and how to handle conflict with ease. You'll also get insight into dealing with people of other cultures, and yes, those of different age groups as well. Although especially handy for those studying how to be a social worker or in pursuit of other socially-conscious degrees, communication skills are always good information for everyone to keep in mind.
Career Topics
Your institution may offer a separate career exploration or job search course, but you may find some of this information in your first year studies class as well. These classes offer career and personality assessments that give insight into your aptitudes and what kinds of careers may be of most interest to you. You'll probably also find good sources of information in these classes on how to pursue a career after graduation.
This is an overview of the kinds of things you can expect to learn in a college success or study skills class. I recommend reading this article from Redfokker's site, Nontraditional Students Reaching Long Term Goals. You'll get a current non-traditional student's opinion on the subject. Explore his blog for more real-life advice.
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