1.3 Becoming a Successful College Writer
Setting Goals 
One key to succeeding as a student and writer is setting short- and long-term goals for yourself. You have already glimpsed the kind of short-term goals a student might set.
To do well in college, staying focused on how your day-to-day actions determine your long-term success is important. You may not have defined your career goals or chosen a major yet. Even so, you surely have some overarching goals for what you want out of college: to expand your career options, to increase your earning power, or just to learn something new. In time, you will define your long-term goals more explicitly. Doing solid, steady work, day by day and week by week, will help you meet those goals.
Using College Resources
Students sometimes find college overwhelming because they do not know about, or are reluctant to use, the resources available to them. Some aspects of college will be challenging. However, you may become frustrated and overwhelmed if you try to handle every challenge alone.
Universities have resources in place to help students cope with challenges. Your student fees help pay for resources such as a health center or tutoring, so use them if needed. The following are some of the resources you might use if you find you need help:
- Your instructor. If you are making an honest effort but still struggling with a particular course, set up a time to meet with your instructor and discuss what you can do to improve. He or she may be able to shed light on a confusing concept or give you strategies to catch up.
- Your academic counselor (Links to an external site.). Many universities assign students an academic counselor who can help them choose courses and ensure that they fulfill degree and major requirements.
- The academic resource center. (Links to an external site.) These centers offer various services, ranging from general coaching in study skills to tutoring for specific courses. Find out what your school offers and use the services you need.
- The writing center (Links to an external site.). These centers employ tutors to help you manage college-level writing assignments. They will not write or edit your paper for you, but they can help you through the stages of the writing process. (In some schools, the writing center is part of the academic resource center.)
- The career resource center (Links to an external site.). Visit the career resource center for guidance in choosing a career path, developing a résumé, and finding and applying for jobs.
- Health Center Counseling services (Links to an external site.). Many universities offer psychological counseling for free or for a low fee. Use these services if you need help coping with a difficult personal situation or managing depression, anxiety, or other problems. At FSCJ, also call: (904) 384-1800 (local), (855) 384-1800 (toll-free)
