How Much Effort Do I Need To Put Into A Class?

This is probably the question that everyone has but no one wants to ask. College courses can be rigorous and vague as many professors will give SUGGESTED problems that will never be collected or graded. From what I've noticed, when professors give suggested work, it is rarely looked at or completed. Many students will put this off to focus on other classes or to have more time for socializing. When it comes down to how much effort you need to put into a class, here are some guidelines:

• Extra work doesn't make you dumber. You don't lose any knowledge from doing this work. If you do extra work and for some reason it isn't collected or graded, you still gain knowledge of the material.
• If the professor suggests problems for you, there's probably a reason behind it. In case you didn't know, the professor creates your exams. Chances are that the problems they suggest will appear on an exam down the road. Doing these problems is a great way to study. For my stats class, my friend and I sat down and went through all the suggested problems the professor gave us. We found them to be a great study tool when preparing for the tests.
• What you put in will reflect your grade. Note there are some exceptions to this rule. However, the grade you get will reflect the effort you put into the class. People who skip classes, don't do homework, or don't study for the tests will have lower grades than those who do. In my Intro to Criminal Justice class, I read the book, took notes on the book, went to class, and had separate notes for class. When people asked me how I was doing so well I told them everything I was doing outside of class to stay on top of the material. Most people told me that was too much work for them. Let's just say I got the 4.0 and they didn't. 

College isn't easy and it will take some effort on your part to get the grade you want. Just remember to always aim high and put your best foot forward.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

PS. Don't forget to check out JoggingwithJewelz for tips on leading a healthy life (even though I'm drinking a monster energy drink as I create this post).