Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

Educational Consultant

Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University.

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Forum Comments (2)

What happens if you fail a class in college?

If you're struggling with a college class, utilize your professor's office hours. You never know how a professor is going to respond when you're having academic difficulties, but they often care about their students' academic progress. If you show them that you're willing to put in an extra 10 to 15 minutes by attending their office hours and having a conversation with them, they will see your effort and will likely help you.

Campus resources are invaluable. Universities allocate significant financial resources to services like tutoring centers, writing centers, and mental health practitioners. Students can get much more value from their tuition by utilizing these resources, in addition to working with their professors.

School stresses me out SO much! Why??

A big reason why students may feel overwhelmed is that they don't invest time and energy in developing their organizational and time management skills. I always recommend that students learn Stephen Covey's Theory of Prioritization. Imagine a graph with four quadrants, with one axis having the labels "Urgent" and "Not-Urgent" and the other having the labels "Important" and "Not Important." Then, tasks can be categorized into each quadrant, as seen below:

Q1: Important and Urgent: Things that are due today or tomorrow; these are either emergencies or crisis. (ex: finish an entire persuasive essay in one night.)
Q2: Important and Not Urgent: Long-term projects, studying in advance, or getting started on a task. (ex: doing homework due in a week.)
Q3: Not Important and Urgent: Interruptions, distractions, last minute events, and social situations. (ex: someone asks for a favor.)
Q4: Not Important and Not Urgent: Time waster - busy work, procrastination. (ex: Youtube, Netflix, etc.)

Most students leave assignments until they are both Urgent and Important, which (understandably) makes them feel overwhelmed. If, however, you are able to do your important assignments when they are not-yet-urgent, you'll have the time you need to calmly brainstorm and make a plan.

If I had a student who was behind in many of their school assignments, I would suggest that they take a weekend and turn it into a Homework Retreat. You can do this yourself or hire a tutor. Schedule an entire weekend to get all of your school and homework assignments completed. Setting aside just one free weekend will give you a chance to be fully caught up once you return to school the following week. When planning out your weekend, don't forget to schedule in breaks, snacks, rewards, and energizing activities.

Q&A Comments (138)

How can I become more intelligent?

Focus on pursuing knowledge in areas you find compelling, or that speak to your strengths. For instance, if you're a visual learner you might want to check out art or photography, and if you're a kinesthetic learner you might want to look into sports. If you're an auditory learner, you might want to study in places that are quiet, so you can focus on listening to the material without getting distracted. Intelligence has more facets than simply memorizing facts in school. The most important this is to do things that are challenging but engaging.

How do you use sticky notes effectively?

If you're using sticky notes for studying, use them to both highlight what's important and to reiterate that information in your own words. That way you're not just parroting back what you've heard, but actively engaging with what you're learning.

How do I use online resources to help engage my students better?

Think about the tools you have in a normal classroom, and try to replicate those tools online. For instance, in a normal classroom you'd be able to have students break into groups to discuss a passage of a book. Online, you can use breakout rooms so that students still have someplace to reflect on what they've learned and to figure out problems together.

See more comments

Co-authored Articles (92)

What Is My Intelligence Type Quiz

Your intelligence type can say a lot about you, like whether you learn best from music or nature. But how do you know which intelligence type you use most? Answer these personality questions to find out which intelligen...

How to

Study For Exams

Taking exams is stressful, but you can make it easier by improving the way you study. Studying for your exams effectively and efficiently will keep you from feeling unprepared, and it will set you up for success!

A Complete Guide to Graduation Cord Colors & Their Meanings

Decoding every honor cord color (& how to get one yourself)Pomp, circumstance, and graduation cord colors…is that how the saying goes? There are few days more special and celebratory than a high school or college gradu...

How to Prepare for Your Classes: Tips for Creating a Study Timetable

Manage your time and conquer your classes with your own personalized plannerA study timetable is a handy, inexpensive tool that can help you get control over your study time. Basically, a study timetable gives you a pers...

How to Study Efficiently (Top Tips & Techniques)

Best study strategies for working smarter not harder If you have a big test coming up or just want to do well in class, studying is one of the best things you can do to boost your grade. Even though going over things you...

How to

Be Intelligent

Do you wish you were smarter? Do you wish other people believed you were smarter? The latter may be simpler than the former, but whether you genuinely want to increase your intellectual capacity, or just want to reap the...

Super Intelligence Quiz

So, you think you’re smart, huh? But are you Ph.D.-level smart? We’ll be the judge of that! Answer these knowledge-based trivia questions to see if you’re truly a genius or a plain simpleton. Warning: the question...

How to

Get a 100% on a Test

If you want to ace your next test, create a study schedule for yourself and spend at least 30 minutes each day reviewing your materials and going over flashcards. On the day of the test, review the material once more, an...

What Are the Major Sorority Hand Signs (& Their Meanings)?

Learn if these hand gestures are a form of cultural appropriationMaybe you’ve seen a photo of sorority girls throwing up a mysterious hand gesture, or maybe you’ve been scrolling TikTok and heard mention of complex s...

How to

Make a Middle School Graduation Speech

We all know giving a graduation speech can be nerve-wracking, but it is also an exciting opportunity. You get to highlight the important moments that your class has experienced over the years. To make a middle school gra...

11 Simple Tips to Create the Ideal Study Space

Set up a distraction-free space to boost your productivityDo you find it hard to concentrate when having to study at home? Finding a better place to study may be your answer. Keep reading for a guide to creating the perf...

How to

Drop Out of College

Let’s face it: college isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re taking care of a sick family member, can’t afford the steep tuition or just have other plans, there are a few things worth considering when putting your e...

Quick Ways to Memorize Long Texts and Paragraphs

Your guide to the fastest techniques for learning long, difficult texts by heart If you've ever tried to memorize an essay, monologue, long answer, or other text, you likely just repeated the words over and over again un...

How to Email a Professor about a Late Assignment (& Ask for an Extension)

What to say when you turn in an assignment lateManaging your schedule as a student can be tough. If you’ve realized you’re going to miss a deadline (or already have), you might be wondering how to email your professo...

How to

Write a Letter Asking for an Extension

There are many times in life when you may need to ask for an extension. You may be in college and could use some extra time for a paper, or you may be struggling to complete a work project on time. Writing an effective a...

How to

Obtain a Copy of Your High School Diploma

It’s easy to lose or damage your high school diploma. If this has happened to you, you should be able to replace it easily enough. Sometimes you can get a new copy directly from your school, and other times you might h...

How to

Write a Study Plan for a Scholarship

If you are asked to write a study plan for a scholarship, you may not know where to begin. Basically, a study plan describes what you'll be studying and why. One common scholarship committee that asks for study plans is ...

What Is a Fraternity Sweetheart? (& How Do You Become One?)

The traits, expectations, & opinions that swirl around frat sweetheartsA frat sweetheart—sometimes called a “rose” or “dream girl”—is a woman who’s chosen to represent a frat because of their dedication to ...

How to Email Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation (Tips & Examples)

Asking for a letter of recommendation can feel stressful, but don’t worry: we’ve got all the tips you need to craft a great email. Plus, applying to graduate programs, scholarships, internships, and jobs are all part...

How to Become the Best Student

Educational consultant Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. & wikiHow staff share helpful tips to get straight As (and boost your self-confidence)Do you want to impress your teacher, parents, or friends? Maybe you just want to get the ...

See more articles

Share your thanks with Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

Forum Comments (2)

Q&A Comments (138)

Co-authored Articles (92)