Livin’ Your Best (Academic) Life: Top 10 Tips From Academic Coaches
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 17, 2020) — Academic coaching is here to help you — University of Kentucky students — live your best life as a student! We asked academic coaches to share their top 10 tips for students looking to succeed in every way.
To learn more about how academic coaching can help you achieve your goals, click here. Interested in hearing more from these coaches? Make an appointment today.
Health and Wellness
- “The ONE Community Cafe in Erikson Hall is a great place to get healthy meals on weekdays — and the best part is they’re only one dollar!” -Caiti Griffiths
- “Get to the gym or go on a run! The Johnson Center and Alumni Gym both offer FREE group fitness classes and individual personal training. Many students worry about what others will think of them at the gym, but remember, everyone is focused on their own journey towards achieving their best physical health, not on judging others!” -Travis Schaedler
- “Investing in your mental health is equally as important as going to the gym.” -Jennifer Burris.
Academic Success
- “Try to teach what you’re studying to someone else, it’s one of the best ways to learn.” -Trevor Tierney
- “We all need help sometimes. Reach out early to your professors and TAs and familiarize yourself with tutoring and academic coaching resources on campus if you feel like something is missing in your understanding of class content, time management, or school-work-life balance!” -Frieda Neltner
- “Fail forward: use your failures as an opportunity to understand more about yourself as a learner.” -Jennifer Burris
Financial Wellness
- “Let's talk money! Do you have a budget set for the semester? Are you looking for an extra source of income? Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Student Financial Wellness Center (yes, these are two separate offices). Your financial aid counselor can help you locate scholarships to help alleviate the financial burden of tuition, and the MoneyCATS team can help you make a budget and stick to it, start a savings account and much more!" -Ranym Nenneh
- “College is a great time to learn about fiscal responsibility. If you need help understanding your personal finances or making a budget, reach out to MoneyCATS, or if you are having trouble meeting your basic needs when it comes to food, housing or money, reach out to the Basic Needs Office.” -Frieda Nelter
Social Engagement
- “Start by checking out BBNvolved! You can explore organizations based on your interests. You can also check out various centers on campus that might appeal to you such as the UK International Center or the Office of LGBTQ* Resources, among others. I also highly recommend checking out events in the community such as business socials and networking activities, volunteer projects, etc. Getting involved in the community can introduce you to several new people and help make the greater Lexington area feel like a home.” -Travis Schaedler
- “Pick three groups or activities to get involved with: one you already know you’ll like, one related to your major or career interests and one entirely new!” -Caiti Griffths
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.