15 college success tips from faculty and staff with a little help from ChatGPT

Welcome, Students! It’s your first week of the 2023-24 year at the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State, where your academic journey is our utmost priority. In an effort to enhance your college experience, we asked our esteemed faculty and staff members two questions:

• What are your top three tips for students to be successful in college?
• Is there anything else that is super important for first-time college students to know?

We then took their responses and fed them into ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence language model, to distill and synthesize the wisdom of our academic community. After several tweaks with the prompts, we took the ChatGPT output, removed duplications, consolidated and edited the list to present this final list of 15 tips for your college success.

Connecting with Others and Student Involvement

1. Maintain relationships with faculty, staff, and peers who support your success. 
2. Connect with classmates (exchange contact information, create a group chat, etc.). Classmates are great academic resources and potential friends. Form quality study groups with classmates and utilize peer support for effective learning.
3. Join clubs, extracurricular activities and classes that align with your interests. These opportunities can lead to valuable experiences and friendships and help build a diverse personal network.
4. Explore high-impact learning opportunities such as study abroad, service learning, research or internships. 
5. Engage with professors during office hours for academic support and guidance.

Using Campus Resources

6. Don’t hesitate to seek help when needed. Utilize campus resources for academic,  personal and financial support to overcome challenges. These resources include (but are not limited to) the Student Health and Counseling Center,  Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships,  Amendola Family Student Cupboard, Learning Center and Writing Center.
7. Embrace the wealth of resources and extracurricular activities offered on campus. Make the most of your time in college by actively engaging in available opportunities.

Effective Study Strategies and Time Management

8. Organize your schedule with effective time management techniques. Stick to a daily schedule and utilize tools like planners.
9. Create a balanced routine for study, work, and leisure. Embrace a holistic approach to well-being, focusing on sleep, nutrition, exercise, and social interactions while including scheduled study time.
10. Incorporate active learning strategies to enhance your understanding of the material.
11. Prioritize a consistent sleep routine to improve cognitive function and overall well-being.
12. Avoid falling behind in coursework—maintain regular study habits.

Maintaining Balance and Personal Growth

13. Pursue activities you enjoy that contribute to your overall well-being.
14. Stay connected to your motivation and purpose, keeping your long-term goals in mind.
15. Remember that college is a time for personal growth and exploration. Periodically take time to reflect on your journey and make the most of your college experience.

By focusing on connecting with others, communicating with your professors, utilizing campus resources and implementing effective study strategies, you’ll be well-prepared to thrive in college and beyond.

DISCLAIMER: Before using ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence (AI) models in your schoolwork, be sure to check with your instructor so you understand the policy for their class. Some faculty may not permit the use of AI. Others may have specific guidelines or even permit open use of the tool. Depending on your instructor’s policy, the use of AI tools may be considered academic dishonesty.