THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 18, 1995 TAG: 9508180043
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: SPECIAL BACK-TO-COLLEGE REPORT
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE MIZAL, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
SCHOOL IS LOOMING and so are sleepless nights, cramming, homework and 10-page term papers with a cover sheet and a bibliography.
It can get overwhelming, and some college freshman don't make it.
According to a study of college freshmen in 1992 in Virginia, 22 percent didn't make it or were still considered freshmen two years later.
Boyd M. Newlin, management analyst for the Council of Higher Education and author of the study, said students drop out for various reasons and academics is one of them. So to make the school year somewhat sane, here are some tips for academic success from two top professors.
Want to get on the teacher's good side on the first day? William J. Ruehlmann, a professor of mass communication and journalism at Virginia Wesleyan College, said ``buy the books and start reading them right away.''
Ruehlmann, who won the Nelson Gray Award for distinguished teaching at Virginia Wesleyan, said it helps to arrive on time and pay attention.
Most teachers give a syllabus to students on the first day of class. Ruehlmann suggests a calendar with days marked - indicating a homework or test deadline.
``The best thing to do is to get an idea of the professor's style of teaching,'' said Maurice R. Berube, who won the Tonelson Award for excellence in teaching, research and service from Old Dominion University.
Berube, who teaches educational policy, said students should consult with previous students of the teacher to find out the professor's requirements, style of teaching and kinds of test. Otherwise, Berube said, it usually takes a midterm exam for students to see what kind of test a teacher gives.
Berube also has suggestions for preparing for tests.
He said that study groups are helpful because students sometimes explain things more clearly than teachers.
``Three or more minds are better than one,'' Berube said. ``My graduate students study together in groups of four and meet regularly twice or once a week. . . . It's a great way of making friends, too.''
Ruehlmann said there is no alternative to being prepared for an exam. That goes for reading the textbooks, too.
``Reading is what it's all about . . . You can't beat the exam if you don't read,'' Ruehlmann said.
Berube said Cliff Notes can be helpful, but studying must be a priority. According to these professors, not making studying a priority is the most common mistake students make.
Students need to ``fiercely'' budget their time so they don't get behind, Ruehlmann said. He believes that the best thing he can do is encourage students to enjoy learning - thus alleviating procrastination.
``The big problem is that they go to college to party, and there's too much socializing and not enough study,'' Berube said.
Prioritize your activities, Berube said. ``Get that television set out of there.''
What about when the class seems impossible to pass?
Berube suggests a tutoring service. Some colleges have free tutoring services. A student can also hire a tutor.
``Drop the course rather than fail it,'' Ruehlmann said. ``It's better to drop one course and do well in the others than to go through it and do miserably in all your courses.'' MEMO: Michelle Mizal is a sophomore at Tidewater Community College. ILLUSTRATION: JANET SHAUGHNESSY/Staff by CNB