tips for passing college classes

7 Tips for Passing College Classes

Starting a new career can be a doorway to a better life. But if you want to start strong, you’ll need to take classes at a technical college and get certified to work in your field of choice. For people who didn’t enjoy high school (i.e. most of us) the idea of being back in the classroom can make them shudder. Luckily, technical colleges focus your classes so you only take the courses you need to get qualified for your new career. If you’re still worried, fret not! We’ve compiled some helpful tips for passing college classes. If you enroll at York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC this advice could help you finish your program and start your dream career!

1. Take the Right Amount of College Classes

College classes are different than the ones you took in high school. If you load up your schedule from 8am to 3pm, you’ll quickly be buried in homework and studying. College classes require more of your time out of class, so you should be sure to choose a manageable number of courses each semester. If you’re unsure how many college classes to take, the college’s catalogue will say how many credit hours a class counts for (usually 1-4). A good rule of thumb is not to exceed 15 credit hours per semester unless you are ready to seriously buckle down.

2. Show Up to College Classes

The first day in class, your professor might tell you there is no attendance policy. Your initial reaction may be to jump up and celebrate the time you’ll save not coming into class, but you should consider that choice carefully. College classes give you fewer opportunities to improve your grade than high school classes, so if you fail the first exam because of lax attendance, it may be impossible to recover throughout the semester. The best policy is to make classroom time a priority. Even if review sessions are optional, they could be the difference between passing and failing your college classes! This is one of the most important tips for passing college classes.

3. Participate in College Classes

Showing up is the first step; next you need to participate. In practice, active participation in classes looks like raising your hand, asking questions, getting involved in classroom discussion, taking notes, and studying for quizzes. Simply being present for a lecture is not enough in college. If you participate in the lesson, you will absorb more information and leave a good impression on your professor, which can go a long way.

4. Read the Syllabus

Each class has a syllabus. This is a document that outlines the class. The syllabus usually covers the professor’s expectations, required materials, attendance policy, and important dates for quizzes and exams. Be sure to keep your syllabus somewhere you can find it (in a physical or digital folder) so you can reference it whenever you need to. Reading and understanding your syllabus will ensure you’re not caught off-guard when your professor reminds you the big exam is next week.

tips for passing college classes

5. Take Notes in College Classes

One of the most important tips for passing college classes is to take notes. Your professor does not expect you to instantly memorize every word out of their mouth, but they do expect you to take note of important information. Whether you’re in a class for HVAC system repair or basic accounting principles, taking notes is important. The act of writing information helps you retain it, but the notes will also act as an important study aid, so get writing!

6. Set Aside Study Time

Your class isn’t over when you step out of the lecture. In order to really take in information, you need to set aside the time to study the information you covered in each class. Try to take at least an hour for per class each week to review your notes and study assigned materials. While this may seem like overkill for basic classes, it will build good habits for the tougher ones.

7. Ask for Help When You Need It

Nobody is perfect. Even if you follow all the steps above, you may find yourself struggling in your college classes. The final of our tips for passing college classes is to ask for help when you need it. Your classmates will probably be happy to help if there’s info you missed or if you’re struggling with a topic. You can also talk to your professor, as it’s their job to teach you the content in their class and will want to help you succeed. You can’t start a new career on your own, so take advantage of all the people around you.


If you’re ready to start your technical college experience and get into a new career, you can contact us today! The admissions team at York Tech can answer any questions you have and help you map out your path to success. Follow the button below to get started.