Study skills are one of those things we just know are important. Additionally, a lot of students think about study skills as skills that they just know. Well, a recent article published by Southeastern Louisiana University suggests that perhaps study skills are more important than even that.
SLU has a great graduation rate for college students. It’s about 67% according to this article on the student news service — “The Lion’s Roar.” I don’t know what you expect from a college’s graduation rate. Nationally the United States is well below that number.
The article notes that sometimes “dropping out” of college isn’t really a bad thing. It sounds bad. In reality, not everyone needs a college education. If you want to be a mechanic, you don’t necessarily need a traditional college degree. We totally agree with this approach.
Our understanding is that education is an investment in your future; it doesn’t always look the same for every student. The key is to invest in your own personal character, wisdom, knowledge, and skills for future career success. And while successful college students do, however, frequently find success elsewhere, that’s not necessarily the only option. Find an environment that teaches you the things you need for that and you’ll have a winner on your hands.
So where do study skills come into this conversation?
The interesting thing about this article on SLU’s site is the two factors they connected to dropping out: finances and study skills.
Finances & Study Skills: 2 crucial factors in student successCLICK TO TWEET
Harvard University recently published similar findings in a study they conducted. What does this mean for our purposes?
If you want to improve your ability to graduate from college, study skills are a crucial component. If you have all the motivation in the world, but you don’t possess the tools for success, you’re unlikely to make it.
Every student who wants to graduate college should get the opportunity. And they have the opportunities — more now than ever.
The question today is less a question of opportunity and more a question of skills. Does your student have the study skills needed to flourish in college? If not, start working today. They’ll pay off down the road — just ask Southeastern Louisiana University if you don’t believe me.