Break big assignments into small chunks with their own deadlines. 'Write a 20-page paper' is paralyzing. 'Write one paragraph today' is doable. The hardest part of any project is starting, so make starting as small and easy as possible.

Flashcards still work. Old-fashioned index cards. Make them yourself — the act of writing the card is half the learning. Quiz yourself, shuffle them, put the hard ones in a separate pile. Low-tech but it gets results.

Strunk and White's 'The Elements of Style' is a tiny book that will make you a better writer almost overnight. Every student should own a copy. It's cheap, it's short, and the advice in it never goes out of date.

As a teacher, I see students struggle with this all the time. The most effective approach is different for everyone, but research consistently shows that active practice beats passive reading. Don't just read — do problems, write summaries, teach the material to someone else.

Go to your professor's office hours. Seriously. Almost nobody does, and the ones who do get better grades and better recommendation letters. Professors WANT to help students who show up and care. It's the most underused resource in college.