Take good reading notes

• Now that you take good lecture notes, concentrate on summarizing your reading. When reading, instead of using a highlighter, annotate and summarize. Ask graduate students or professors for advice.
• Take notes from your reading material.
• Pose questions that the material suggests or that are based on material that you do not understand. Follow up later with your instructor.
• Try keeping a book journal where you write a paragraph about every book assigned in your courses.  Describe the overall scope of the course and your impression of the value of the positions articulated.  This will be invaluable if you write a senior thesis and need to reference books for your research.

Speak up in class
For many people, the fear of public speaking is greater than the fear of death. You must overcome this; learning to express yourself is a form of empowerment.

• Work on presenting your ideas in front of a group.
• Ask classmates for coaching ideas.
• Practice speaking in front of a mirror or a friend
• Learn to assert yourself in class. Make sure you are well informed.

Work with a writing coach
Schedule two hours each week to work on your writing skills to improve your logic, structure, and style. This will require discipline and ingenuity, as universities tend not to teach writing to upper-division students. Remember that all academics publish their research, so you can save yourself future agony by learning to write well now.

Consider becoming a writing tutor

• You can gain valuable academic experience helping others improve their writing.
• Acknowledge any academic weaknesses or danger signals you might have and tap into the many resources the University offers.
• The Student Learning Center, Transfer Student Center, Re-entry Student Program, Student Parent Center, and Counseling and Psychological Services offer both personal and academic assistance for students.