So, I’m going to be attending a CC in the fall and I am determined to succeed - i.e not fail miserably… what advice do you guys have on using time wisely?
Easily the #1 time management tip: GO TO EVERY CLASS!
If you want to get the best grade and learn the material while putting in the least amount of time/effort, going to class is the best thing you can do. Obviously, you will need to study/do work outside of class, but you’ll save yourself a ton of time if you don’t have to try to learn the material on your own because you missed it in class.
If you go to every class, complete all assignments, and spend adequate time studying for exams, you will very likely do well.
Learn how to deal with distractions effectively, they are always going to be there.
Make a schedule for yourself. That always helps me. So, today from 3 - 5, I’m going to read for class. I’ll take a break for dinner, then from 7 - 8 I’m going to write up my response post (or whatever).
Also, in undergrad I usually separated my work schedule by days. The classes I had MWF had homework time scheduled on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday; TR classes had time scheduled Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday usually.
The key is to find a groove that works for you and to stick with it. It may take you a while to find it, but once you do, you can work with it.
Go to every class - and don’t schedule classes at times that you will be tempted not to attend (8AM, 8PM etc.).
Turn off your phone and laptop in class and listen and take notes.
Write down assignments when assigned, transfer them to your calendar and set reminders to get them done ahead of time.
Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
But my strategies in general are:
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GO TO CLASS, BUY THE BOOK, READ THE CHAPTERS, AND DO THE HOMEWORK!
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Go to Professor’s office hours early in the semester and Ask this question: “I know this is a really difficult class-- what are some of the common mistakes students make and how can I avoid them?”
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If you have problems with the homework, go to Prof’s office hours. If they have any “help sessions” or “study sessions” or “recitations” or any thing extra, go to them.
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Form a study group with other kids in your dorm/class.
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Don’t do the minimum…for STEM classes do extra problems. You can buy books that just have problems for calculus or physics or whatever. Watch videos on line about the topic you are studying.
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Go to the writing center if you need help with papers/math center for math problems (if they have them)
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If things still are not going well, get a tutor.
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Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
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If you feel you need to withdraw from a class, talk to your advisor as to which one might be the best …you may do better when you have less classes to focus on. But some classes may be pre-reqs and will mess your sequence of classes up.
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For tests that you didn’t do well on, can you evaluate what went wrong? Did you never read that topic? Did you not do the homework for it? Do you kind of remember it but forgot what to do? Then next time change the way you study…there may be a study skill center at your college.
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How much time outside of class do you spend studying/doing homework? It is generally expected that for each hour in class, you spend 2-3 outside doing homework. Treat this like a full time job.
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At first, don’t spend too much time other things rather than school work. (sports, partying, rushing fraternities/sororities, video gaming etc etc)
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If you run into any social/health/family troubles (you are sick, your parents are sick, someone died, broke up with boy/girlfriend, suddenly depressed/anxiety etcetc) then immediately go to the counseling center and talk to them. Talk to the dean of students about coordinating your classes…e.g. sometimes you can take a medical withdrawal. Or you could withdraw from a particular class to free up tim for the others. Sometimes you can take an incomplete if you are doing well and mostly finished the semester and suddenly get pneumonia/in a car accident (happened to me)…you can heal and take the final first thing the next semester. But talk to your adviser about that too.
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At the beginning of the semester, read the syllabus for each class. It tells you what you will be doing and when tests/HW/papers are due. Put all of that in your calendar. The professor may remind you of things, but it is all there for you to see so take initiative and look at it.
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Make sure you understand how to use your online class system…Login to it, read what there is for your classes, know how to upload assignments (if that is what the prof wants).
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If you get an assignment…make sure to read the instructions and do all the tasks on the assignment. Look at the rubric and make sure you have covered everything.
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If you are not sure what to do, go EARLY to the professors office hours…not the day before the assignment is due.
Stay off of CC. I need to listen to my own advice. Seriously, I have added an internet blocker to my computer. I can block whichever sites I want (CC, Facebook, etc.) for however long I want. I have mine set for two hours at a time. It saves me! I will be turning on the blocker as soon as I post this comment. 
@MaineLonghorn But you’re a supermoderator, what if there’s an emergency!!!??
@philbegas, ha! I think @skieurope and the others can handle everything in my absence.
You can tell it’s been exactly two hours since I’ve been on the site. My break alarm just sounded.