Going Back to School? How to Stay on the Success Track

Going back to school can be scary. It builds up a lot of anxiety and excitement at the same time. You may be worried that you are not going to succeed, or you may be worried that you have been out of the game so long that you just don’t know where to begin. It happens to us all, but there are some things you can do to be successful in school.

Whether you have enrolled in one of the career training programs here at Florida Career College or you are weighing your options and trying to decide which program to enroll in, we want you to know that you can be successful and have a wonderful career ahead of you.

Below, we will discuss some of the things you need to do to make sure you stay on the right track as you transition back into college. By following these steps, you have a higher chance of remaining successful and graduating on time.

Let’s look at what those things are now!

SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS THAT CAN BE MET

One of the biggest ways to let yourself down is to set expectations that are not realistic or ones that cannot be achieved. It is easy to tell yourself that you can do it all the time, but, when it boils down to it, you may just be setting yourself up for failure.

To help you set realistic expectations, you need to first be aware of your situation. What we mean by this is you need to analyze your current situation and ask yourself these questions:

• How much time can I dedicate to school?
• Do I work full time currently?
• Do I have kids at home?
• What type of demands will the career I want require from me?

These are all good questions and things you need to think about. As you start to set your expectations, keep the answers to those questions in mind. For example, if you have children at home, then you can set your expectations around their schedule. For instance, if your children go to school from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, then you know you can take classes somewhere in between then.

GET INTO A ROUTINE

If you have been out of the college game for a while, it can be hard to get back into a routine, especially if you have your own routine that works now. You will need to take some time, sit down, and create a new routine around your responsibilities and your school schedule.

One way to prepare yourself for the new routine is to implement it into place a couple weeks before your new school starts. This way, you already know what to expect.

SET GOALS THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU

Setting goals is one way to ensure that you can and will be successful in school. At Florida Career College, we recommend that you set manageable and achievable goals.

Remember, it is okay to set small goals. You will feel good once you start to achieve them too. Also, you want the goals to work for you. For example, don’t set a goal so unachievable that it is impossible to reach as this will only discourage you and derail you on your journey to success.

ESTABLISH GOOD STUDY HABITS

Part of school is studying and just like you need to set realistic expectations and goals for yourself, you will need to create and implement some good study habits.

Here are some tips to help you create good study habits:

• Plan to study and set aside time each week to do so
• When you have a test or exam coming up, set aside a couple hours each day to study the material
• Quiz yourself using flashcards and have others quiz you too
• Study in a quiet place away from distractions (turn off your cell phone and do not check your emails or social media)
• Highlight important terms and equations and memorize them

USE THE SCHOOL’S CAREER CENTER AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IT OFFERS

Florida Career College is proud to be able to offer students a Career Center. This center is designed to provide students with the assistance they need in identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and provide them with the help they need to strengthen and build upon their skills.

Another way to stay successful and on track in school is to make use of the Career Center. You can do so by utilizing the services it has to offer. This center is a great place to study and it also offers you the opportunity to create and build a resume that will stand out to employers.

SUCCESS IS IN YOUR HANDS

Florida Career College offers several vocational training programs that can prepare you for entry-level positions in many in-demand jobs. Some of our options include:

• Business Office Administration
• Medical Assistant Technician
• Pharmacy Technician
• Computer Network Technician
• Medical Front Office and Billing
• Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Dental Assistant

If you are interested in jumping back into school and would like to learn more about the programs we have to offer, contact our program advisors today