Returning to college as an adult can certainly be overwhelming!
Being back in a classroom will force you to use some mental “muscles” that you might not have used in a long time. You’ll also need to develop some other skills that might not have even existed when you were in school!
Over the next several days, this will be a series of Top Success Skills for Non-Traditional students.
Math | Reading | Writing | Critical Thinking | Computers | Research
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READING SKILLS
In college, there will of course be a lot of reading to do. Academic reading is very different from the reading you did in high school… vastly different from reading for pleasure! Not only will you need to read a lot of material regularly, you will need to to absorb it.
SKIM… THEN READ.. THEN REVIEW
Ideally, you want to first skim over the material to get the general idea. Don’t expect to absorb everything on the first pass! After skimming, go back and read it actively (below). Finally, review the material again.
HOW TO READ ACTIVELY
Look it up.
Keep a dictionary close by when you’re reading. Look up any unfamiliar words you may come across. Write them down in a notebook as you build your vocabulary.
Keep a running list of important terms and their definitions– in many textbooks, they will be featured prominently in the margins. If not in the margins, you may find a glossary at the back of the book. This will become a great study guide! Then go back and read it more thoroughly.
Take notes.
Jot down the important points as you read.
Many textbooks will feature summaries at the ends of chapters. The summaries will pull together the most important points of the chapter. This is very valuable information to study from. I’ve even made Xerox copies of the chapter summaries to study from.
Do the exercises.
End-of-chapter discussion questions and exercises can help you understand the material better. Take a few minutes to work through those questions and exercises, even if they weren’t assigned as homework.
OTHER TIPS
Take a break.
If you’re tired and having trouble focusing, don’t force yourself to keep reading. You probably won’t retain anything you’ve read. You’ll only have to read it again anyway. Better to just take a break, and go back to it with fresh eyes when you’re more rested.
Keep up.
My best advice to you about college reading: Keep up with your daily/weekly reading assignments! It’s so much easier to read twenty pages a week for fifteen weeks than it is to cram 300 pages the week before final exams!
Other helpful Reading links
Staying Afloat: Some Scattered Suggestions on Reading in College
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Academic Success Skills for Non-Traditional Students
5. Computer Skills
6. Research Skills
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