There are many habits that the average high schooler suffers from. How is one to deal with them? Following is a list of the top five bad habits, and tips on how to break them.

     1. Not reading your class assigned books will not fly in college. Spark Notes may have helped you pass a couple of summer reading books tests, but the reading list only intensifies in college.

Break this habit by trying to be more interested in the books and, by pacing your reading, you will more likely finish the reading assignment on deadline. If you are not a big reader, try audio books.

     2. Not studying for tests will certainly hurt your grade in college. If the high school tests are a breeze for you, don’t expect the same in college. Glancing at a study guide five minutes before the test is not sufficient in college.

Break this habit by allowing yourself enough time to review all of your notes and studying diligently. Preparing for all of your exams can prevent you from pulling an all-nighter and failing your first test.

     3. Waiting until the last minute to do homework is not a great way to approach your work. You will definitely have more homework in college than you have now. If you wait until the last minute you will lose sleep and grade points as a result of rushed work.

Break this habit by doing your work in a timely manner. Stay organized and keep your homework as a priority.

     4. Skipping class will make you fall behind. In college you meet fewer times in a semester then you do for high school classes and each session is packed with material essential for making good grades. It is hard to catch up when you miss even one class.

Break this habit by only missing class when you are really sick. Do not schedule early morning classes if you know you are not an early bird.

     5. Being unorganized is a common high school habit. The “shove and cram all your work into your backpack” is not an actual organization system.

Break this habit by keeping a planner or calendar to hold all of your important dates. Keep your class work organized in a folder or binder for easy access.