Psychological Keys to Student Success

Earning a college degree is hard work. It requires a lot of effort, some serious concentration, and a stick-with-it attitude. Students need to develop many skills in order to keep up with the rigors of a college education. Decades of psychological research show there are consistent differences between students who do well in college and those who do not. Each Psychological Key to Student Success (PK2SS) is a thinking skill or personal characteristic that can greatly improve students' academic achievement and chances for college success. In this book, students will learn about the importance of motivation, beliefs about school, explanations for success (and failure), goals, interest, confidence, thinking and thinking errors, self-control, and culture. Students get advice about studying skills like reading, reviewing, memorizing, making flashcards, highlighting, and summarizing all the time. However, if students want to maximize their learning, they need to learn HOW TO THINK. Thinking skills are NOT the same as studying skills. Thinking skills make studying skills more effective. The Psychological Keys to Student Success address the thinking skills and personal characteristics students can develop in order to thrive, not just survive in college.