I really needed this thread… thanks guys!!
Try Spike for studying and taking tests…learning specificity or what not… I just did this yesterday for my final and I noticed I retained a lot more of what I was studying then usual and I had a significant drop in test anxiety. I’m definetly trying this for Fall.
as far as group studying…I find it extremely helpful with some subjects and unproductive with others: i.e. science courses. Unless like someone mentioned…if you’re teaching the group then you’re already ahead of the game and it’s just a review and a confidence booster.
It’s been mentioned, but just want to re-emphasize the importance of handing in assignments.
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It keeps you caught up, and also will let you know how well/poorly you understand the material. Just don’t copy, there are consequences and you’re not near as good at getting away with it as you think you are…trust me on that.
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At the end of the term if you are borderline pass/fail I look at assignments. If the person hasn’t handed in assignments, I’ll fail them. If they’ve done the homework I’ll pass them. For me, effort does count for something.
Good luck!
[quote]oboffill wrote:
Execellent thread guys.
Until now, I had never taken school seriously. I banked on my intelligence to graduate top 5% in high school and never learned how to study. I’ve been in college for 2 years taking the tough engineering courses studying MAYBE 4 hours a week.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
You will become very frustrated and question your intelligence, manhood and parentage. [/quote]
Sounds like the story of how I stopped being an engineering major. Not a fun thing.
Yea, applied science is definitely not a place you want to slack off. There are too many prof. out there trying to fail as many students as possible.
engineering/pre-med has proven to be one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. Nothing is worse than having the hardest organic chem teacher, worst dynamics teacher (and toughest tester), and thermodynamics all in the same semester. Well, except the time I did Orgo/Bio/Diff EQ/Calc 3 at the same time. Maybe i’m just a glutten for punishment.
I’ve found that it helps to talk out loud to myself. In history, for example, talk through the events leading up to the Civil War. In science, say, out loud, each step in Photosynthesis. You usually have to study first in order to be able to recite out loud. It has helped me to do this several times throughout the days leading up to the test. Things have become much simpler by breaking it down this way. But, I’ve also found that forcing this or doing it too often can make all the words flow into one and I get confused.
Some great tips on here. Thanks guys.
Right on. This is similar to reading a written piece out loud in order to catch errors. Your mind tends to gloss over errors and gaps automatically.
[quote]engerland66 wrote:
I’ve found that it helps to talk out loud to myself. In history, for example, talk through the events leading up to the Civil War. In science, say, out loud, each step in Photosynthesis. You usually have to study first in order to be able to recite out loud. It has helped me to do this several times throughout the days leading up to the test. Things have become much simpler by breaking it down this way. But, I’ve also found that forcing this or doing it too often can make all the words flow into one and I get confused. [/quote]
This is a great thread. I really need to do better next year and this will help.
[quote]nephorm wrote:
Math is not something you should be trying to memorize, even though that’s what most students try to do. As you learn a concept, you should ask yourself “why” questions. You should never write down “just the steps” (except, MAYBE, in DifEq).[/quote]
Good advice. Math is often taught without much focus on applications, which I found to be a problem. After a math course that included vector calc., that stuff just slipped out of my brain. When I took electromagnetics, the vector calc. stuck and it stuck good. It was no longer just a bunch of concepts and equations without purpose.
Take notes on the assigned reading on your own, preferably before class. Take notes during class, when the prof goes over the assigned reading. Put the sets of notes together and add into the book notes, anything that the prof mentioned which the book didn’t.
If i had known that before i was a second-semester senior, i’m sure i would have graduated with a better GPA.
[quote]Renn wrote:
GO TO CLASS this is a big one. Also, going to class and listening to lectures and taking notes will decrease the amount of time you spend studying.
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over the course of my academic career (into grad school), ive found that this is by far the most important habit to maintain. because it’s just so easy to skip class and “cover the material on your own.”
remember that classroom time counts as study time. show up to every class focused and in study-mode.
oh yeah, and make friends in every class. it’s usually funner to study with females and they take better notes anyway…
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PAY ATTENTION IN cLASS. Don’t mindlessly copy the prof, because when you come back later to study your notes won’t mean anything. BY grasping the concepts in class, you’ll be able to review the material rather than learn it for the first time before a test.
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Go to class. Don’t skip for obvious reasons.
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Get enough sleep.
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Find a good place to study and do work on campus. This will most likely be a place outside of your dorm room.
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Read the book, it always helps.
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Find a small (2-3) person study group to review material after you’ve looked over it yourself.
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If you’re struggling with something, go see the prof. in his office hours.
Good luck.
From a more holistic perspective-
Plan a few weekly activities to stay cerebrally fresh in all respects.
By that same token- don’t overdo it!
first year, I took a full course-load, played varsity field hockey, coached a kids team, volunteered and trained.
Unfortunately, adding 5 hours to my own day while everyone stays on this trendy 24hr(or similarly sidereal) day throws the universe out of wack, resulting in subsequent and pyrotechnic meltdowns.
Don’t burn out!!! Pick 1 or 2 non-school commitments and take care of yourself.
There is some great advice in this thread - remember to breathe some life into your learning - integrate it into other aspects of your life and try to find some purpose in the more seemingly theoretical bombardment of literature.
(Political Science is particularly non-engaging in this respect from time to time)
Good luck!!
I definitely can tell you what NOT to do:
do NOT expect aderol & redbull to solve all your problems
do NOT flirt with the attractive asian girl thinking she will do your homework for you
do NOT attempt to shag your TA (well… maybe)
do NOT sleep 4hrs max a night (get at the ABSOLUTE least, 6hrs)
do NOT prepare in advanced to sleep in class (ie, wearing ur pj’s to class, bringing a pillow and a blanket, etc)
do NOT get addicted to online poker and have wireless internet on ur laptop
do NOT attempt to sell class notes on ebay while you are IN said class. (obviously not taking good notes)
do NOT try to cram 5 hrs b4 your midterm.
do NOT live off of frozen corn, trix cereal, & Grow!.
do NOT drunkenly( is that even a word?) threaten offensive linemen with malicious acts of violence against every member of his family. (Living in fear is bad for your study habits).
and last but not least.
do NOT think that you are the exception to the rule.
Show up to class, have a plan, have a set time to study. have a schedule of what you will study and how much you will accomplish when you study and be consistent.
Apply the same things you learn from training to studying and you’re game.
XN
[quote]NateN wrote:
Right on. This is similar to reading a written piece out loud in order to catch errors. Your mind tends to gloss over errors and gaps automatically.
engerland66 wrote:
I’ve found that it helps to talk out loud to myself. In history, for example, talk through the events leading up to the Civil War. In science, say, out loud, each step in Photosynthesis. You usually have to study first in order to be able to recite out loud. It has helped me to do this several times throughout the days leading up to the test. Things have become much simpler by breaking it down this way. But, I’ve also found that forcing this or doing it too often can make all the words flow into one and I get confused.
[/quote]
very true… i have the attention span of courtney love in a meth lab… so when i find myself lapse, i begin reading out loud it forces me to refocus on the words/concepts (perhaps because i use more senses than just my sight).
I was a slightly above average student in high school, but so far haven’t had anything lower than an A- in university.
I ‘discovered’ how to score well in my courses: do your assignments early, get them checked by someone. Do past exam papers so you know what to expect in the style of questions asked.
As someone else said, try to explicate difficult concepts to someone else (preferably someone in your course, or they won’t care to listen).
Also, if your lecturer puts the lecture notes on the internet, go over them briefly the day before you go to the actual lecture. This way, you know what is going to be discussed it will help you to understand it.
I met a couple of guys who just came from high school and after one semester, they have gotten only A+'s. They both study hard. At the end of the day, you get out what you put in.
Unless you have one of those teacher who just reads the books out loud, note taking and showing up for every class are key. Looking back, all of my test were based on the notes more than text.
It’s just like anything else, focus and put your attention on your work.
A good goal would be 2-3 hours per day of studying at a minimum.
Lots of good tips here.
One thing I’d question though is the importance of going to class. I don’t know about you guys, but I believe this is seriously ineffective study time. We sign with numbers and not names on exams, so the goodwill of the teacher is not that usefull. Think about it, a class is usually 2 hours. I learn not much in most such classes. But in 2 hours, drawing mindmaps (a must-learn for effective learning), drawings that explains a function, problemsolving or discussing with groupmates, I learn and remember a lot. It’s a different story if you go to class after already knowing what the teacher will teach offcourse.
Here’s some usefull numbers some late research has given (cannot give references):
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After stopped studying, stop thinking about what you studied for 10% of the study time. Meaning if you’ve studied for 10 hours, go watch tv, workout…etc for atleast 1hour. This is because the subcouncious needs time to sort the knowledge in memory.
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Use a few minutes for repetition work before bedtime (unless you’ve finished just before bedtime), allso next day, allso next 3-5 day, next 2-3 week, next 6 months, then once every year. Sounds like a lot of work, but no matter how difficult it was in the beginning, this will be stored in longterm memory, and easilly accessed later, and each repetition will take little time. Treat the numbers as thumbrules.
Get all the backtests from your frat brothers and/or older friends.
Make sure and get a decent night’s sleep before exams.
Go to class as much as possible, even when hungover. And take good notes. They go a very long way.
Study with people who are also smart.