Skip to main content
University Advisement Center

THE STUDENT SUCCESS MODEL

Key Components for Your Success


Following this model can be a powerful facilitator in finding motivation for your BYU journey.


data-content-type=""

Discovering Purpose:


This represents what you hope for as a result of your college experience. It is “why” you are in college.



Your purpose may be difficult for you to define. Initially, you might measure your outcomes by good grades, progress toward a degree, or other immediately measurable outcomes.

Later you may need to define your purpose in terms of career and life roles. This requires a fluid approach to examining your purpose as a college student.

Most educators will agree that a desired outcome of education is that you will develop an appreciation for learning and see it as the foundation of your purpose.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""
Hiking People.jpg

Cultivating Motivation:


This represents your desire to successfully complete university-level work. The primary focus of the motivation component rests in helping you set attainable and realistic goals in accordance with your desires, interests, and values.



You must periodically reflect to determine if your desires are leading you to accomplish your purpose. For instance, you may desperately desire to achieve, but if your ability is not developed enough failure may result. You are motivated by your value system.

Our Advisors can guide you through values clarification exercises. These exercises center on the concept that your behaviours are a result of what you value the most.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Building Ability:


These are the competencies you possess to successfully complete university-level work, manage time, and use effective resources. The primary function of many college success courses is to increase your abilities.



In its most simple description, ability represents the tools necessary to do the work.

Did you study enough?
Did you study the right things?
Did you understand the material? Did you read and comprehend the text?

These necessary questions are an attempt to examine if you have the tools necessary to understand, digest, and inter-relate the concepts taught. Helping you understand what skills are necessary to succeed in a course can be a great service offered by our faculty and advisors.

Skills such as reading, planning, and reviewing may be easy for you to practice. Learning critical thinking methods, analysis, synthesis and evaluation represents higher levels of skill development.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Committing to your Commitments:


This is the required follow-through to successfully complete university-level work. Committing can be the greatest stumbling block for many students.



The development of a support system can be the strongest tool in overcoming struggles with commitment.

Motivation that does not lead to commitment results in regret. You can channel this regret by using it to motivate you to seek assistance on campus.

Overcoming procrastination and controlling passions may become much stronger possibilities if you feel a sense of interdependence with, and support from campus colleagues (faculty, administrators and fellow students).
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=