December 30, 2019

Whether you are a brand new student or you’ve been around for a few semesters, starting something new — like education — can be intimidating. But you can do it! Here are five tips to help you be successful this semester!
Tip 1: Manage your time
Do you know the feeling of staying up late, rushing to get an assignment done, and turning it in at the last minute? Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but how we choose to use that time determines our success.
Studies show that when people manage their time effectively, they experience lower levels of anxiety and perform better academically.1 You can manage your time more effectively by organizing important academic dates and deadlines into a calendar and prioritizing the assignments that require more time. As President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Wise time management is really the wise management of ourselves.”2
Tip 2: Stay accountable
Researchers have found that when you make a routine appointment to report to someone else, your likelihood of success skyrockets by up to 95%.3 The trick is deciding to become accountable even when you don’t necessarily have to. So, when it comes to your academic progress, decide to report on how you’re doing to a friend, family member, classmate, or the Lord. Tell them what your goals are and then routinely check in with them. Doing so can improve your performance!
Tip 3: Live a well-balanced life
Education can require a lot of hours out of your day, but it’s important to keep a proper balance in life. Prioritize your mental, physical, social, and spiritual nourishment. Take breaks between assignments, find something that you enjoy doing, and allow your mind time to relax. Make sure to get 7–9 hours of sleep each night, exercise regularly, and eat a well-balanced diet. Arrange time to focus on being with family and friends. Set a specific time each day to pray, study the scriptures, attend the temple, and so on. Scheduling out your day with a variety of balanced activities not only will help you be more productive but will keep you feeling healthy and happy.
Tip 4: Ask questions
When you don’t understand a concept, it’s okay to ask questions! You could ask your instructor or a mentor, classmate, or friend. Search for information from reliable internet sources and helpful books. Asking questions can help you get more out of your education and your classes will become more interesting and impactful! Above all, ask for direction from the Holy Ghost. We are promised that as we ask God in faith, we shall receive.4
Tip 5: Actively participate
Actively participate in your education by taking advantage of all the resources and opportunities available to you. Get involved by participating in group discussions, attending your gatherings (for PathwayConnect students), meeting up with other local students, participating in monthly devotionals, and reading BYU-Pathway blog articles and university emails. You will feel more connected and get more out of your education as you do.
As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “Happiness is the destination, but it’s also the path.”5 So, as you pursue higher education, remember to find joy in these additional opportunities to learn.
Comments on "5 Tips for a Successful Semester"
I truly agree with these five steps. I discovered that I was not able to manage my time wisely, which really affected me a lot. Thanks so much for sharing this.
I’m glad this article was helpful to you, Sunday!
Yes, very well. Thanks once more👏👏
Yes Lauren Conrad, I appreciate it.
These five steps are true.
I totally agree with the 5 tips for a successful semester. I know if we strive to follow these tips, we will be very successful in our educational journey.
These five tips are very essential and they’re marrow to my bones.
Thank you for the tips. I know it will help me in this upcoming semester.
Indeed, these are successful tips that I will apply.
Thanks so much for these five great tips. I believe they will be helpful and will guide me through this semester.
Thanks so much.
I really appreciate every tip you post.
Thanks for these tips!
I love these tips, thanks so much.
Thank you, I’ll need it!
I am indeed grateful for these five tips and the five truths from President Nelson. Our Father does know our needs and has provided laws to help us accomplish and achieve all things. These tips, if followed, will help me have a fulfilling semester.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Christiana! Have a wonderful semester!
I love these tips, and they are very helpful!
I am really grateful for the opportunity and the tips. Time management is my best life tool. While I was on my mission and after my mission, it has really blessed my life. It’s really going to help me a lot in my PathwayConnect program.
Great tips, I really appreciate them.
Thanks so much for these tips, they are so helpful!
This is was what I was looking for, and I sure appreciate the tips.
I can’t believe these tips are helping me improve academically. I’m encouraging everyone to strictly adopt these. Thank you.
Thanks for this great piece. I am ready to follow these steps.
I love these tips, they help calm me down and are truly helpful for me for this upcoming semester. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for this helpful information.
Thank you for these tips. I will follow this step by step in order to learn and be a better me.
Thanks for the tips!
I really think that these tips will help me. We see it at PathwayConnect, it really works!! Thank you.
I feel these tips are going to be so helpful as I’ve already been practicing some of these that were also suggested by my former Pathway instructor.
Thank you so much for helping us be prepared.
Thank you.
I appreciate the tips because they are a way forward in my learning process.
I believe it will help me a lot along the road of this semester. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing those tips.
These are very insightful tips that would lead to a safe destination.
I can so relate! It was hard for me to manage my time last semester while working full-time. Thank you so much for your article!
I’m glad you found this article helpful, Phoebe! Congratulations on making it through last semester while working full-time. That’s an amazing accomplishment!
Nice tips to follow.
Thanks for giving me a head start to face my challenges.
Thanks a lot for your amazing article. I love these tips and I have been doing them. I have seen some improvement!
I’m so glad you’ve had success using these tips, Gaurav! Best of luck with the rest of your semester!
Truly, time management is really neccesary and has helped me do better even as this semester just started.
These are certainly useful tips as sharing our challenges helps us resolve such problems and forge ahead. A problem once shared is half resolved. We get further revelation on the issue.
These tips are really the way not only to gaining education, but also for a fulfilled and balanced lifestyle.
This is a successful life pattern …big thanks!
These tips are really great and very useful. If we adhere to them, they will be very helpful in our academic and personal career.
I really needed this and am glad I had the opportunity to read it. It really will be of help to me.
Thanks for all these tips. I am truly honored that the Lord can truly speak to us right now in our time through all His living servants.
This is going to help a lot as I begin my new educational journey!
Wow, all of these tips are amazing, thanks!
And not only for Pathway, but also for my entire life. 😊😊
Indeed, it is very true.
I need to apply these; they are helpful.
I really agree that this is really gonna help with using time wisely.
Thanks for that! I will definitely use those tips.
I think these tips are the secret to every successful being…I called myself a success right after I finished reading. Very stupendous indeed!
These five tips all together have helped me organize my time and prioritize assignments. They helped me to establish a balanced life and as a result, I was able to turn in my assignments on time and earned “A” grades in all my PathwayConnect courses. I strongly recommend these success tips to any student who would like to achieve a balanced success.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Godstime! I’m glad you were able to apply these tips in your life and reach your goals. Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing these five tips. They will really help me as I’m on my education journey.
Thank you so much for giving us the 5 tips that would help us to be successful in our academic pursuits. I have given it special acronyms in my notebook: MSLAA.
Thank you for the tips, I cannot wait to put them in practice.
Thank you for the tips! I know they are going to help me.
I am really grateful to be at BYU-Pathway!!
I am really thankful for the 5 tips for academic success and steps to follow from now on in my life.
Thank you for your tips! I can testify that when I put my scripture study first, I seem to have more time for everything else, including schoolwork! I appreciate the reminder!
Thank you very for these wonderful rules, I really love it.
The five tips can take many far especially if we follow and seek the spirit as well.
I totally agree with these five tips. If we work with them we will surely be successful in our education. Thanks.
I am highly motivated by these 5 tips for a successful semester.
I’m excited to try out these amazing tips
It is true! So it is up to me to follow them.
Thanks so very much for sharing this 5 tips, they’re really nice keys to success.
I am inspired to take this path; a whole new path in my mental, social and spiritual growth. How lucky l am!
I am grateful to know these 5 Tips for a successful semester because it really reminds me what I should do. Sometimes I can’t manage my time well because I prioritize unnecessary things. Now I have the knowledge how to live a well balanced life.
I know following the 5 tips will help me this semester
These five tips are very inspiring. I was so worried about how I could manage my timetable, but with this ideas I’m inspired.
It’s really good to see these five tips. I will do my best to work towards it, especially time management.
Very good steps to follow 😍❤
I think if you are proactive in all you do, it can work.
I like to be effective in all I’m doing and I don’t like failing. Thanks for sending me this message.
They are so amazing
Totally agree if you take these 5 steps as daily living and you are committed to doing all the homework and achievement, you will have a successful education, thanks for the 5 steps they are really helpful.
Thanks for sharing this with me. I need to manage my time effectively in order to pursue my goals.
They are really helpful and I will work towards them.
Yeah, definitely powerful tips. I hope I can apply them all.
I agree with these 5 tips for a successful semester.
Very true, I believe in all of the tips and pray that I may apply all of them.
i agree
Thanks for these tips because sometimes when we focus on something we forget everything and it is important to get a balance. I’m going to practice all of them.
Very true indeed. I absolutely agree.
Thank you for the tips
Thanks for showing me how to manage my time and how to succeed in this semester.
How we choose to use our time determines our success
I’ll make it as a point of duty to stay ahead of my weekly assignment. By the grace of God
To be successful these five tips are of great worth.
I’m fully agree with these five steps to become successful. They tell me how to prepare myself for this semester in order to find success. I love it! It’s helpful to me in my point of view. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for the five tips. They are achievable goals, and I like them all: especially tip number four, “Ask questions or search for information from reliable internet sources and helpful books.”
The five tips are designed to help me succeed this semester.
To be successful we have to accept the harder right then the easyer ronge
Thanks for the tips
Am trying to apply them as I study every day
I appreciate your tips. I know that I can apply them in others areas in my life to have success.
I’m sure by believing that those tips are helpful
Chasing five birds and being able to catch one or two is far better than chasing 50 and bringing home nothing. This is what time management has taught me. Time management is so fulfilling and strengthens family relationships. It helps us to find joy by focusing less on the circumstances of our lives (Helaman 3:34) but more on the focus of our lives (Helaman 3:35) as we are advised by President Nelson.
Thanks! Truly, these tips are leading BYU-Pathway students to success.
Great tips for a 41 year old going to school for the first time since high school!
Thank you for sharing these tips for success with us.
Thank you so much for those powerful tips! They mean a lot for our success.
These five tips are very true and practical. We just need to apply them to be successful.
Thank you so much for the tips!
Thanks for the tips. I do believe that these tips are the key to our academic progress.
Thank you, I’m so blessed and excited to learn through BYU-Pathway. Thank you for the tips – they are more than helpful.
Tips give us additional patterns for attaining higher education, and I’m glad these are being shared. Thank you so much!
Thank you very much for sharing. I strongly believe that it will help me throughout my learning journey. Once more, thanks.
Thanks for sharing with us these 5 tips. I feel more comfortable starting my classes this semester. I need to find joy in this beautiful path.
Thanks very much for your help.
Thank you so much!
I really appreciate your 5 tips.
These are very helpful tips, and they’ve answered my concerns on how I can reach my goals.
Thank you! These tips are very helpful. I will use them for my semester.
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