Establish a study routine, and stick with it.
Each course has a set amount of credit hours attached that you’ll be expected to fulfill in person or online. The general rule of thumb is that for each credit hour, you’re expected to put in two to three hours of independent work, completing assignments, studying, or preparing for the next class. That may seem like a lot, and only you know how much work you need to put in to excel in a course. But you should considering setting aside time each week for each class you’re in and keep to that routine through the course of the semester.
Don’t procrastinate.
But if you must, procrastinate the smart way. Know what to prioritize. If you have a huge paper to do that you’ve heard has taken other students weeks to finish, don’t wait until the day before it’s due to start a now impossible task. Try not to cram for tests, either. It’s inevitable that you’ll have some studying to do the night before an exam, but try not to plan to fit a semester’s worth of studying into one night.
Ask for help when you need it.
There is much less hand-holding in college than there is in high school; if you’re struggling, it’s largely on you to catch yourself back up on the material and to search out study resources. Most professors and TA’s are more than willing to help an eager student, and your college can offer further support in the form of tutoring, academic counseling, etc.
Find the note-taking strategy that works for you.
Ask five different college students what the best way to take notes is, and you’ll probably get five different answers. You may already know what works for you, and you’ll carry the strategies you used in high school over to college. Or you may want to experiment with new techniques, like bringing your laptop to class to type up your notes or coming up with an outlining system. When it comes to taking notes, take some time to figure out what works for you and what makes you feel more confident when you’re sitting down to study for tests or complete your assignments.