Welcome to the Student Success Guide
Success looks different for every student. Maybe you want to build a study routine that fits around work, find a student organization that feels like a good fit, or figure out what you want to do after graduation. Use this guide to think about what success means to you and take a practical step toward your academic, personal or career goals at Georgia Southern.
The eight focus areas come from the Success Coaching Focus Wheel. Start with what matters to you right now and explore the guide in any order. Each section offers strategies to try or resources to help you take the next step. You can return to the guide throughout the semester as your priorities change.
As you explore, pick one thing you can try this week. That might mean setting aside time to study for an upcoming exam, putting a campus event on your calendar or reviewing your monthly expenses. If you’re unsure where to start or want help following through, bring your questions or ideas to a conversation with a Success Coach.
Meet with a Success Coach
Academic Success Coaching is available to Georgia Southern students. A coach can help you define what success looks like for you, break a big goal into manageable steps, stay accountable and connect with campus resources when you run into a challenge.
Appointments are usually about 30 minutes. To get started, use GS Connect through MyGeorgiaSouthern or contact a Success Coach directly.
Academic Success
Build a routine that helps you keep up with coursework and prepare for exams. The Study Cycle gives you four ways to work with the same material throughout the week.
- Preview before class. Turn headings from your assigned reading into questions. After each section, look away and answer the question in your own words. Keep your answers for later practice.
- Attend or watch the lecture. Put away distractions, listen for main ideas and write down questions as they come up. Bring a question to class or follow up during office hours.
- Review soon after class. Mark what you know, what you partly understand and what still needs work. Organize your notes with a chart, mind map or flashcards.
- Test yourself. Try practice problems, flashcards or a timed quiz from memory. Explain an idea aloud, then check your notes and revisit it over several days.
Try It This Week
Pick one upcoming exam. Work backward to schedule several short review sessions. Decide how you’ll test your progress and who can help you stay accountable.
- Tutoring Services for course-specific help
- Writing Center for feedback at any stage of a writing project
- Semester Toolkit for study, time management and exam-prep resources
Personal Effectiveness
Getting started and staying focused are skills you can practice. Start by naming what is getting in your way.
Overcome Procrastination
If an assignment feels confusing, write down a specific question to ask your instructor. If it feels too big, spend five minutes on the smallest step you can take. Tell a friend what you plan to finish and when, or choose a small reward for finishing a task you’ve been putting off.
Try It This Week
Pick one task you’ve been avoiding. Use the Why Am I Procrastinating? worksheet to identify the barrier and write down one strategy to try.
Stay Focused
Choose a place and time when you can work with fewer interruptions. Keep a piece of paper nearby to jot down distracting thoughts, then return to your task.
Try the Pomodoro Method
- Choose a single task and work on it for 25 minutes.
- Take a five-minute break. Stretch, grab a snack or step away from your screen.
- Repeat the cycle. After four work sessions, take a longer break.
Adjust the length of each session to suit the task and your attention.
Health & Well-Being
Build a routine that helps you keep up with coursework and prepare for exams. The Study Cycle gives you four ways to work with the same material throughout the week.
Physical Well-Being
Make room for sleep, regular meals and movement you enjoy. Use campus resources to find activities that fit your schedule.
Mental Well-Being
Pay attention to how stress affects you. Plan breaks, practice setting boundaries and reach out for support when you need it.
Spiritual Well-Being
Reflect on your values and what gives you a sense of purpose. Explore organizations that share an interest, belief or practice you want to learn about.
Social Well-Being
Pay attention to how stress affects you. Plan breaks, practice setting boundaries and reach out for support when you need it.
Try It This Week
Choose one habit you want to work on. For example, silence nonessential notifications during one study session or set aside time to check in with a friend. Write down one person or campus resource you can turn to for support.
Managing Commitments
Balance school with work, family and other responsibilities by planning at three levels.
Monthly Calendar
Record exams, major deadlines, university dates, travel and appointments. Check ahead for weeks when several things are due at once.
Weekly Schedule
Start with classes, work shifts, commute time and recurring responsibilities. Set aside time for studying, meals, rest and anything that takes longer than planned.
Try It This Week
Daily To-Do List
Break a large assignment into tasks you can finish in one sitting. For example, replace “work on research paper” with “read two articles and note their main arguments.”
Decide What Comes First
Urgent tasks need attention soon. Important tasks move you toward a goal or support a responsibility you value. Use the Managing Commitments worksheet to sort real tasks from school, work and home and decide what to do first.
Campus Community
Feeling connected can start with a conversation before class, a study group or a student organization meeting. Look for people and activities that fit your interests, values and schedule.
Find Your People
- Decide what you’re looking for. Would you enjoy a regular study group, a club focused on a shared interest or a few friends to get lunch with?
- Start a conversation. Introduce yourself at a campus event or ask a classmate how they’re preparing for an upcoming exam.
- Follow up. Invite someone to study, get coffee or attend an event. When it feels like a good fit, make it a regular plan.
Try It This Week
Find one event or meeting you can realistically attend. Put it on your calendar and decide how you’ll introduce yourself.
- Explore Student Organizations
- Find a student organization that matches your interests, helps you meet new people or gives you a chance to try something new.
- Connect with the Office of Student Activities
- Looking for something to do on campus? Discover events and programs where you can meet other Eagles and get involved.
- Learn About the Student Government Association
- See how student leaders represent your interests and how you can share ideas or raise concerns about campus life.
Financial Wellness
Understand what college may cost and make a plan for managing the money coming in and going out.
Financial Aid
Start by estimating what college will cost for the academic year. Then review what it takes to stay eligible for financial aid and explore on-campus jobs that can help cover expenses.
- Cost of attendance gives you estimated expenses to use when planning for the academic year.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) explains the academic standards tied to financial aid eligibility.
- Student Employment Center helps you explore on-campus work.
Financial Literacy
Track your income and expenses over a week or month. Separate essentials such as rent and groceries from flexible spending, then decide what you can set aside for upcoming costs or savings.
Copy these rows into a spreadsheet or notebook. Use the same time period for all amounts and account for when money will actually be available.
Monthly Budget Categories
| Category | What to Record |
|---|---|
| Money Coming In | Pay, available financial aid refunds and other support |
| Essential Expenses | Housing, groceries, transportation, bills and school costs |
| Flexible Expenses | Dining out, entertainment, subscriptions and other optional purchases |
| Money to Set Aside | Savings or upcoming expenses, such as books for next term |
| Amount Left | Subtract your expenses and money set aside from your income. Pick one adjustment for next month. |
Career Development
Your career journey begins long before graduation.
- Handshake connects Georgia Southern students with employers, jobs and internships. Use it to schedule career appointments, RSVP for events and career fairs or search for openings. Activate your profile through MyGeorgiaSouthern.
- Ready Day 1 Career Plan outlines the levels of career readiness you can work through during college.
- Digital Career Counselor (Steppingblocks) helps you explore career paths. You’ll also explore this platform in FLYT 1002.
Graduation Planning
Remember why you came to college and use that purpose to guide the choices you make each semester. When you hit a roadblock, think about what you can learn from it and who can help you take the next step.
Meet with Your Academic Advisor
Aim to meet at least once a semester, ideally before registration. Review your degree progress, discuss prerequisites and course sequencing, and confirm which requirements you still need to complete.
Contact Student Success
Office of the Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing & Student Success
PO Box 8063
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: 912-478-5256
Fax: 912-478-0694
emss@georgiasouthern.edu