Student Success Guide
The Student Success Guide is designed to be a tool to help you think about what success means to you and start taking action towards your goals. The Success Guide is organized by focus areas of the Success Coaching Focus Wheel. The Success Coaching Focus Wheel drives the conversation when you meet with your Success Coach. These focus areas are a great place to start in helping you set your personal, career, and academic goals. Coaching conversations revolve around the focus area(s) that are most important and timely for you. Success looks different for every student. The Success Guide is designed to be a “choose your own adventure” action plan to enhance your student journey while at George Mason University. We encourage you to engage with the focus areas that interest you most, in an order that works best for you. As you think about your specific goals and your experiences in these areas, bring your thoughts to an appointment with your Success Coach!
Click on each focus area to learn more and download resources to guide your success!
As a student, your academics are likely to be one of the most central components of your college experience. The following sections will include several tips and strategies to help you succeed in your classes. Keep in mind that everyone learns differently, so be sure to experiment with different strategies and see what works best for you!
Academics Pre-Chapter Reflection
Reflect on Your Current Study Strategies
Create a SMART Goal for Academics
As a college student, it can be difficult to focus on anything other than your academics; but what about your career development? Where do you want to work after you graduate? If you don’t know the answer to this question, that is totally normal and perfectly okay. Instead, try to focus on small ways to define your career goals and gain experience, so that when you graduate, you will be one step closer to getting your dream job.
Create a SMART Goal for Career
At George Mason University, we are dedicated to empowering students to become active, engaged citizens both on campus and in their communities. Through a wide range of civic engagement opportunities including volunteer programs, voter education initiatives, community partnerships, and leadership development offices and fellowships—we help students connect their passions to meaningful action. By fostering a culture of participation and responsibility, we aim to equip Mason Patriots with the tools, experiences, and networks needed to make a lasting impact in the world around them.
Activity PDFs Coming Soon!
Commitment to Graduation is just what it sounds like—staying focused on the goal of earning your degree. It’s about remembering why you came to college in the first place and using that purpose to keep yourself motivated, even when times get tough.
Commitment to Graduation Pre-Chapter Reflection
Create a SMART Goal for Commitment to Graduation
Put simply, effectiveness is the ability to complete tasks by the deadline. However, often times, it can be difficult to get started or stay focused. If that is true for you, read the following section to learn a few tips about how to be more effective.
Effectiveness Pre-Chapter Reflection
Reflect on Your Current Level of Effectiveness
Create a SMART Goal for Effectiveness
Finances are integral to planning for your college experience. To help support you in this area, this section has been split into two sections. First, there is information about many of the terms and policies that relate to paying for your education. Then, there is information about how to manage your personal finances. Remember, you do not need to navigate your finances alone. Student Success Coaching, (along with the other financial resources listed at the end of this section), is here to help you!
Finances Pre-Chapter Reflection
Personal Finances Brainstorm
Budget Planner
Create a SMART Goal for Finances
Finances Post-Chapter Reflection
As a college student, you probably have more responsibilities than just school. In this section, you will learn about ways to manage your time and prioritize your commitments so that you can avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Managing Commitments Pre-Chapter Reflection
Sort Priorities with the Eisenhower Matrix
Create a SMART Goal for Managing Commitments
School Community is all about feeling connected—to your campus, your peers, and the people who support your success. This could look like getting involved in student organizations, building personal and professional relationships, and knowing where to turn to when you need help. Whether it’s joining a student organization, attending events, or just saying hi to someone you know, these connections help make your college experience more meaningful.
School Community Pre-Chapter Reflection
Building Your School Community
Create a SMART Goal for School Community
Well-being is a key element for success. When you don’t take care of yourself, it can be challenging to make progress towards your goals. Well-being is personal, so try to figure out what works best for you. Here are some ideas to help get you started.
Well-Being Pre-Chapter Reflection
Managing Areas of Well-Being
Well-Being Support Reflection
Create a SMART Goal for Well-Being
Well-Being Post-Chapter Reflection