Get Organized
Now is the time to develop the habits that will 
help you in high school and college. Master the 
following strategies:
Develop Good Study Habits    
•Learn to prioritize. A test tomorrow is more  
important than an assignment due next week.
•Take careful notes and be sure to review them later, 
then review them again.
•Read, read, read! To develop a strong vocabulary and  
prepare for college-level material, read every day.
•Figure out how, where, and when you work best.  
Do you work better alone or in a group? Should your 
space be quiet, or do you enjoy background music? 
Experiment, and when you find something that works, 
stick with it.
•Establish a daily routine for doing homework. 
Tackle the most challenging tasks when you  
are most alert and focused.
Manage Your Time    
•Use a planner to keep track of assignments, college 
application deadlines, and extracurricular activities.
•Make a daily “to do” list. Prioritize your tasks  
and do the most important ones first.
•Break long-term assignments into smaller chunks, 
so that they are easier to accomplish.
•Practice self-care. Get enough sleep, exercise, and 
eat well to stay healthy and focused.
•Develop the discipline to avoid digital distractions.  
If your phone or social media distract you, turn  
them off, log out, or block an app until you complete 
your task.
Manage Your Online Reputation    
College admissions representatives, coaches,  
and potential employers look up applicants online. 
Remember: nothing you post on social media is 
private. Start protecting your online reputation now. 
•Check yourself out. Type your name into a search  
engine and set up a Google alert for your name. 
Delete any unwanted content.
•Think before you post. Remember: what you post 
online is a reflection of who you are.
•Set your privacy settings to “Friends Only.”  
Regularly check for changes to privacy rules.
•Keep it clean. Do not post inappropriate, offensive,  
or embarrassing content or photographs.
•Remove tags from embarrassing photos or posts. 
•Choose your online “friends” carefully. Block  
individuals who post inappropriate content to  
your feeds.
•Practice good email etiquette. Use a professional  
email address. Check your inbox regularly and  
respond to messages promptly.
Set Personal Goals
You know what you want: to get into college, obtain 
your degree, and start a career. The question is: how 
do you get there? Setting specific, well-defined goals 
will help you progress toward your dreams.
Organize Your Goals    
Achieving your goals will be easier if you break them 
down into short-term, mid-term, and long-term 
objectives:
•Short-term goals can be quickly accomplished  
in days or a few weeks.
•Mid-term goals will take more time, sometimes 
weeks and even months.
•Long-term goals can take months or even years  
to achieve.
10
Community College of Philadelphia

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