review your notes as close to after class as you can! you will retain so much more from the lecture!!!! (and take good notes -- if you don't think you are taking good notes, and that is a problem, go to the counseling center, or contact the dean of students office and they should be able to put you in touch with people that can teach you ways to get the most out of lectures, etc) don't procrastinate, stick to your schedule... prioritize.... find someone you know in the class or make an aquaintance with someone in your class in case you have to miss you have a contact... see if you can find someone that took the class to get copies of past exams, or ask the prof if they have old exams, etc, to study from... find a good study buddy, they can really make a difference when you study for exams.... don't waste your time with people that are slackers and if you are a slacker (i am) don't forget how much you owe the awesome people that are on top of stuff by letting you study with them and shower them with gifts
so they let you continue to get help from them... outline chapters, and lectures, go to your prof's office hours!!! if they know you're trying, and know who you are, you have a better chance in the class. good luck!