Tips for Academic Success
Attend class:
This is essential to your success as a
student; you will not succeed on the block plan if you
do not take your studies seriously. On the rare occasion when you must miss class, inform your professor before you miss the class and ask how you
should handle missed tests or deadlines.
Take yourself seriously as a student:
Remember the reason you are at Cornell and be
proud of the fact that you were selected as one of a class of thoughtful, creative,
intellectually ambitions students at this liberal arts college.
Take your academic work seriously:
Expect a 40-hour work week.
Take delight in learning:
This is very likely the only time in your life when you will have four
full years in which you can concentrate on good books, world-shaping ideas,
provocative questions and critical issues in the company of academically
engaged peers and a dedicated faculty. Talk with your peers about your philosophy assignment; attend lectures
and concerts; participate in luncheons with distinguished visitors; find
faculty mentors; travel; learn languages; read books that share your
assumptions.
Think of your Cornell education as an opportunity for self-discovery:
Cultivate your interests; pay attention to
the character you are establishing with your every choice, your every
action. Reflect upon your values, your
goals and your priorities in life.
Learn to think critically, analytically and creatively:
Practice the good habits of thoughtful inquiry, critical questioning, effective
speaking, clear and concise writing, creative problem-solving and passionate
engagement with ideas. You are here to
cultivate the life of the mind.
Study both alone and in groups. Find ‘your' study spaces, the nooks and crannies where you can best concentrate on your work.
Take careful notes in class and during meetings.
Take advantage of the academic support resources, counseling support, career services, and other resources available at Cornell.
Understand the drop/add policy, including the 15-day withdrawal policy.
Keep the appointments you make:
Reply to invitations and requests. Be a courteous and thoughtful adult in your interactions with others.
E-mail is our official communication tool:
Check it at least once a day.
Check your mail box frequently.
Maintain a balance:
Be involved in the life of the college both
in and out of the classroom.