By Isaac Warren

Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD – In hindsight, Jonathan Davis wishes that he had studied more for exams this semester.

The 2015 Southeast High School graduate, Davis is in his first semester at Lincoln Land Community College. While he is enjoying his experience so far, he wishes he had taken exams more seriously.

The transition from high school to college can be a challenging one. Schedules, exams and even lunch in college are different than that of a typical high school day. For some, college can be a wakeup call for students to get their act together.

Tanner Reavis, another student at LLCC, said he wishes he had taken more time to study, believing that would have greatly improved his college experience so far.

For many students, it seems that procrastination has a strong grip on them. It is vital for one to have control over their time in order to be efficient and successful in college, and in life. Below is a list of five tips that may help those who struggle with time management, test taking, or studying.

1. According to LLCC’s list of “10 Timely Tips,” if one can talk about a subject for 15 minutes, chances are, they know that topic pretty well. If, however, it is difficult for one to talk about a topic for that long, they should consider going back and studying the material some more.
2. Creating a schedule is a great way to stay organized for all classes, according to the “10 Timely Tips.” Writing down each assignment on a notebook or on a phone app makes remembering assignments easier.
3. Test anxiety often plagues students, as they get closer to exam day. One of Lincoln Land’s “Helpful Handouts” lists some ways of getting rid of unneeded anxiety. Simple tasks, such as eating a good breakfast, attending class and avoiding caffeine, can positively influence one’s test-taking experience.
4. Keeping a record of one’s grades and progress can be beneficial for success, according to a “Helpful Handout on time management. If a certain subject is hard to grasp, consider going to the Center for Academic Success under the library and schedule a tutoring session. It is best to do so as soon as possible instead of waiting until a week before exams.
5. Perhaps one of the best things anyone can do to feel better about college, is to reward oneself after studying and passing a test or other assignment, advised a “Helpful Handout” on dealing with test anxiety. This allows for students to feel good after working hard to receive the grade they want.

A full list of handouts can be found at: http://tiny.cc/llcchandouts

Isaac Warren can be reached at [email protected].