Academic Life

Failing a college class wasn't in your plan. But now that you've failed one, how do you tell your parents?

College finals is often one of the most challenging times of the semester. Learn how to make it through college finals -- from how to prepare to how to study to how to celebrate when you're done -- in this comprehensive survival guide for college students facing college finals.

Having good college studying tips can make or break your performance on a final exam. Learn 5 key college study tips for college finals week.

Need to make a paper longer but out of ideas? Find 6 ways to make a paper longer -- and better.

While college stress is constant throughout the semester, college stress during finals week takes it to a whole new level. Learn 6 easy ways to manage college stress during finals week.

Not sure what to eat before a test? In college, the answer becomes even more complicated, as most students are short on money and time. Find 8 cheap, smart, and easy things to eat before a test.

Tests in college are unlike tests in high school or even college admissions tests. Learn what you can take to a college test -- and what you can't.

Renting college textbooks is becoming increasingly popular. But how can you decide if it's right for you?

Buying textbooks can be a major expense for college students every semester. Renting college textbooks instead, however, is quickly rising in popularity and availability. Learn the where, how, and what of renting college textbooks.

New college semester about to start? Find out what every college student needs to start a new semester strongly.

Succeeding in college is easier said than done. Learn what you can do as a college student to ensure your college academic experience is all you hoped it would be.

Picking a college major can be a daunting task. Asking yourself these five questions, however, can make choosing a major seem less intimidating.

A double major is a complicated situation for many college students. While having a double major has its benefits, it also has its challenges. Learn more about double majoring and what it may mean for your experience as a college student -- and for your career goals.

Much is made of having a minor (or two or three) when you graduate from college. But what exactly does a college minor do? And how important is it once you leave school and enter the workforce?

Problems in college have a way of coming out of nowhere and creating serious situations for college students. While figuring out how to handle unexpected problems in college can seem overwhelming, matching the right resources to a specific situation can be easier than you might think.

Not happy at your current college or university? But not sure if transferring is the best option? Going over this 4-point checklist can help clarify if transferring is the right choice -- or not.

Failing a class in college? Not sure what to do? Learn how to handle the possibility of failing a college class and what steps you can take to make the best of a bad situation.

If you fail a class in college, there are some important steps to take and things to consider. Learn what to do if you fail a class in college so that you don't make a bad situation worse.

Being charged with plagiarism in college can take on a wide range of forms, but it always is a serious situation. No matter what your situation is like, however, you'll need to know these 5 things about how to handle it.

Being placed on academic probation in college may have been totally expected -- or a complete surprise. Either way, it's serious business. Figure out what academic probation is, what your options are, and how to make sure your probation status ends as soon as possible.

A college degree takes a lot of hard work -- and often costs a lot of money. That kind of investment, however, is one that nearly always pays off. Learn 6 financial benefits of a college degree and how each reason will make all your efforts really worth something.

Being in college is hard in many ways: financially, academically, personally, socially, intellectually, physically. And most students question why they are trying to get a college degree at some point during their college experience. Keep yourself motivated with these 10 reasons to get a college degree.

College classes can fill up rather quickly -- especially if it's a class you really need to get into. Find 6 tips of how to handle a college class being full.

Most college courses require students to take them for a grade. In some instances, however, students can take a few courses as pass/fail during their time in college. How can you know when the pass/fail option is better than the regular grading system?

With so many options and only a limited amount of time, making smart choices about your college classes is crucial for your time in college. But how to choose what to take, when to take it, and from whom?

Adding or dropping a college class seems easy -- until a student tries to do it. Find the basic steps of adding or dropping a college class so that nothing gets missed along the way.

Petitioning for a grade change in college can be tricky. With a little knowledge about the process, however, petitioning to have a college grade changed can be easier than you might think.

Being a college student with a learning disability can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be impossible. Learn 6 important tips that any college students with learning disabilities should do to ensure they are receiving the support they need.

College professors can be intimidating. But with a little persistence and hard work, you can get to know your professors faster than you thought.

Working with a professor can be a fantastic opportunity for any college student. Knowing how to approach a professor about working together can be incredibly intimidating, however. Just like anything else in college, approaching a professor about working together can be done with a little forethought, a little courage -- and a little luck.

Asking for a recommendation letter can be intimidating. With the right approach, however, you can ask for a recommendation letter with confidence and make sure that the final letter is what you'd hoped for.

Asking for an extension on a college paper can be terrifying -- but often necessary. Learn the best way to approach your professor about a paper extension.

Writing a research paper in college can seem overwhelming. Problem: the project itself seems insurmountably huge. Solution: break things down into smaller projects, work backward, and take it one step at a time. Following these 6 basic steps should make writing a research paper in college manageable for any college student.

Finding places to study on a college campus can be a challenge. Check out these ten original ideas for places to study that can help you focus on your college coursework with a minimum of distractions.

Working on a group project in college can be challenging, to say the least. Find tips for working on college group projects to make sure you get the grade you want -- without getting stuck with all the work.

Bad college professors can ruin any college course. While options with a bad college professor may be limited, there are some things college students can do to make a bad situation better.

Going to graduate school is a major choice for many college students. Learn how to decide if it's right for you and where to go for more information on graduate schools and their programs.

Staying focused on homework during a college break can be a major challenge. Learn how to keep it all in perspective, get everything done on time, and still have fun.

Colleges often assign summer reading to incoming freshman students. Learn more about college summer reading and why you should do it.

After the stress of the academic year, summers can feel like the ultimate vacation. How can you smartly spend all that unstructured time?

TA, GI, GSI, GSA, GA . . . sometimes, the academic lingo on a college campus can seem like alphabet soup! Learn the definitions for the most common academic terms, abbreviations, and acronyms.

Your college paper needs to be well-written and well-supported with evidence. Find resources to learn how to make sure your paper and its sources are cited properly.

You may have heard a lot about websites that rate college professors. How exactly do they work, and is their information helpful or just unregulated gossip?

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience. It can also logistically be very complicated. Learn how to decide if it's right for you.

Plagiarism in college is no small problem. But what exactly is considered plagiarism in a college or university?

Worried that you failed a test either mid-semester or during finals week? Luckily, there are several options available for college students who think they failed a test. Learn what to do and when.

Graduate rankings can be an important resource in deciding where you'd like to go. Find a list of various graduate rankings as well as how to interpret them.

College rankings can somehow be both helpful and confusing. Find a list of college rankings, from U.S. News and World Report to other, nontraditional rankings.

Not sure there's a difference between a "college" and a "university"? Besides the different names, there are in fact important differences between a college and a university. Find out what they are.

Trying to plan but not really sure how to study in college? From out how much time you'll need to study in college.

Are you being kicked out of college because of an academic suspension or other reason? Learn what to do if you're kicked out of college.

Knowing what exactly "academic probation" is can be as important as knowing what you need to do to get out of it.

Disciplinary probation can be easy to get into -- and hard to get out of. Learn what exactly disciplinary probation is and what you need to do about it.

College Vs. High School: Whether you're interested in learning the differences or just need a reminder about all that college has to offer that your high school didn't, check out this list of 50 differences between college and high school.

When senioritis hits, it hits bad. Learn 10 ways to conquer your senioritis.

Your parents may want to see your grades for college. But do you really have to share your college grades?

It's not uncommon for students to struggle academically during their time in college. So where can you go for help?

Having college goals can make your time in school more productive, easier to manage, and more rewarding. But how can you set college goals that are realistic -- and reachable?

Not sure how to study in college? Learn how to figure out the best way to study in college based on your own learning style and situation.