One of the simplest, but most important tips I can give, is to attend class. When you attend class be sure to focus and put in effort to stay focused. Remember, there is a distinction between listening and learning.
In a similar vein, it is important to know how to learn and study. Everyone learns differently. I personally struggle taking notes during class, as I miss what the professor is saying. Instead I take notes on my own, typically reading the textbook or whatever the material is. This saves me a lot of time and effort, with me focusing on lectures and notes separately rather than over encumbering myself by doing both in class. In any case, everyone is different. Try to find a method that works for you. There is no correct way to learn.
Another incredibly important tip I can give is to find a way to cut off procrastination. Procrastination is the prolonging of work and necessary duties until the deadline is uncomfortably close. Find a way to strengthen your will to cut back on these habits. For me, whenever I feel myself slipping away, I remind myself of what I am working towards, or sometimes fear whips me back into shape, meaning fear of failing. Though it is important to not be controlled by fear, but to work alongside it. Try not to feel bad if you find yourself procrastinating. It is normal. It's unrealistic to completely stop, we are human. The important thing is to find a way to be better than before and mend your mistakes.
On the topic of mending mistakes, there comes probably my most important tip: have a good mindset. Throughout your academic career, you will undergo struggle and hardship. You may fail and make mistakes. This doesn't mean you are a failure, or that you're not worthy, it only proves that you are human. Instead of beating yourself up over mistakes, learn from them. Instead of picking on your weakness, elevate your strengths and find way s to work around your weaknesses. And instead of comparing yourself to others, try to be better than how you were yesterday.
I encourage you to read the topics that will be covered during the week before the lecture so it can be easy to understand the topic and improve faster.
Make study groups with friends or any student that wants to collaborate and prepare for important quizzes or exams by using flashcards, Kahoot or any game you like, that way you learn while having fun.
Everyone can feel overwhelmed after a long study session, I recommend you take little breaks; Example: study 30- minutes and have a 10-minute break to walk, eat or something else, and repeat.
Friends play an important role in success, make sure you help each other, it doesn’t matter how small the help is, it can make a big difference, maybe a quiz, homework or exam reminder will prepare you, everything counts.
Don’t even hesitate to ask for help, faculty staff are there for a reason, it can be the professor, peer tutor, counselor, etc. University has a lot of resources that can benefit you.
Time management is key to maintain organization and efficiency, use a digital calendar ass google calendar to map out all your classes, assignments deadlines, quizzes or exam dates, that way you prevent last minute surprises while taking your time and own pace.
Take effective notes, not necessarily need to write everything down, focus on key concepts, themes, and important details, so it would be easy for review.
Set the best time of the day to study, maybe you are a morning person or concentrate more in the morning, then you should start studying in the morning.
Stay hydrated and eat regular, healthy meals that give you energy through the day.
Prioritize sleep, try to have a consistent sleep schedule, that way you won’t feel tired through the day, and you can improve concentration.
Practice a hobby you like, it is very helpful to release stress once or twice a week, it can be a sport, a walk, run, or hang out with friends.
I recommend teaching friends topics discussed in class, explaining a concept to a friend or study partner is one of the best ways to solidify knowledge. You may also study the best way that fits you, maybe by watching videos, reading, writing, etc.