Stay Organized
Photo Credit: Lauren
Use a planner or a calendar. I often used a planner when I was in high school but as my schedule got busier, I started using Google calendar. You can use whichever works best for you. On your planner or calendar, make sure to put your schedule and to-do list on there. I usually compile my class syllabus the first week of school and highlight all of my exams, quizzes, and assignment due dates for every class. I, then, transfer them to my calendar, and put reminders 2-3 weeks in advance when I have exams, and large projects that I need to work on. On my calendar, I differentiate all of my activities in different colors. I made my classes blue, assignment time red orange, exams yellow, hang out with yellow orange, etc.. Make sure to include a weekly study schedule on there. Above is a picture of how I have organized my calendar.
Photo Credit: Blake
Organize your backpack and desk. Clean them once a week or twice a month. This will prevent you from losing anything. Also, if it is messy, you may have a hard time concentrating and finding things. Have a binder specifically for each of your classes. Put dividers in each of your binder and write, “Homework,” “Class Notes,” “Exams,” “Quizzes,” and any other section you can think of putting that relates to your classes. As you get your homework, exams, and quizzes back, put them in their specific sections. This will help you later on when you are studying for your quizzes, midterms, and final exams. If you do not want to take all of those binders to school, you can leave it at home, and get a 5 Subject Notebook to school. Make each section on the notebook be for each of your classes. On there, you will write your class notes, and anything your professor went over that day. Later, when you arrive home, you can transfer those notes into your “Class Notes” section of your binder.
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Learning the Material
- Know the best way you learn. Once you know your learning style, you can use that learning style to absorb the material.
- You prefer learning by…
Photo credit: Tanseem. Please click to enlarge.
Photo Credit: Reader’s Theatre
Actively read your assigned book. Try to read the chapters before your go over it in class. Although this can be extremely boring and a pain, you will soon find that it is really helpful. Make sure to write notes and summaries of each section or page. If you do not have the time to read all of your books, go over the important details. Oftentimes, it is the sections that are underlined or bolded. In your notes, summarize what you read and the important details you read. If you are confused with something on the reading, write it down and include the page number you had that question on. The next day you go to class, ask your professor. For math books, make sure to do the example problems on there, as they will help you on your exams and homework.
- If possible, print your lecture notes in advance and read them before class. Write down any questions you have so that you can ask your professor in class.
- Take great notes in class. Make sure to copy down everything your professor draws on the board. Also, if your professor repeats something, make sure to write it down as well because it may be important for future exams. Write neatly so that you can go back to your notes and read it after school. When going over your notes, highlight the important things you need to know for the exams. It may be good to rewrite your notes so that you can understand the material more. Make sure to look over your notes after class.
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Ask questions. Make sure to ask your professor any questions you have regarding homework, readings, exams, and etc.. You can ask if his or her office hours. It would be good to ask in front of the class because your classmates may have the same questions but if you would prefer to not talk in front of class, you can always ask your professor after class. If you would like to meet your professor after class to talk about your questions, coordinate a time that works best for you and your professor to meet. You don’t want to show up in his or her classroom afterschool and find out that your professor has already left. If there is a discussion leader, student instructor, or teaching assistant for the class, make sure to talk to them and ask them questions that you may have. Participate in class activities. This will help you remember all of the things you learned.
Photo Credit: Tony Alter
Do Your Homework. Do your homework right when you get home after school. This will make you less stressed later on. If you can, try to finish your assignment at least 2 days in advance. This will give you time to ask your professors and classmates for help if you cannot do a certain problem. Go to tutoring if you need help. Most colleges have tutoring, which you pay in your tuition so make sure to take advantage of that and go get help. You can even get help on your essays at the writing center in your university. If you have a paper due and you need to print it, make sure to print it at least 2 days before it is due. Print 2 copies in case you lose one or something spills on it. Also prepare for technical difficulties. When you are planning to print files in school the next day, or if you have a presentation, make sure to email the file to yourself, save it on a flash drive, and a google drive. This is to ensure that if in case one does not work, you have a backup. Your professor will love this because it will show that you are responsible and reliable.
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Study for exams
Photo Credit: Hans Villarcia
Study by yourself. If your professor gives you a study guide, fill out what you know and look over your notes and books for the things that you are not familiar with. If you do not have a study guide, make one from all of the important things you learned for the past few weeks or months. (This is when having an organized binder will really help).
Tips to studying for exams:
- Use mnemonic devices to remember important information from your class. An example is “King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk.” That is used to remember the metric system based on the powers of ten.
- Study in a good environment. Make sure you are in an environment that you can study effectively in. If you are somewhere you cannot study at, move to a different location. Make sure to bring water and snacks in case you get hungry.
- Reserve the rooms in the university library for you to study in. You can do this weekly or before your exams.
- Do not procrastinate. Having study intervals instead of studying the night before an exam will help you retain more information and do better in your exams. It will also help you feel more confident instead of anxious for your exams. Cramming is stressful and it is not good for you. Make sure to do your assignments well in advance so that you do not have to stress out about it.
- Relax. Make sure not to not get so anxious when you are studying or doing your exam. If you get too anxious, you will most likely not retain all of the information that you are studying. Also, when you are too anxious during your exam, you may forget some of the things that you studied prior to it.
Study with groups. Form study groups with your classmates. This will help you make friends and it may also make you less stressful knowing that there are other students that are going through the same things you are going through. Forming a study group will help you because your group may be able to help you on problems that you may have.
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Take care of yourself
Eat healthy meals every day. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, it is important to meet your physiological needs such as food, water, warmth, and rest. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast every day. Not eating enough or eating too much can distract you throughout the day.
Get enough sleep. This will help you focus more throughout the day instead of getting sleepy. Most teens need about 8.5 hours of sleep each night.
- Exercise. Your classes may be stressful at times. Exercise daily to reduce stress. It will help you feel better and sleep better. You can either exercise on your own or join a sports team. That’s fun!
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Other Tips
- Ask other students about your classes before the semester begins and what to expect in each of them. Are the exams based more on the readings or lecture? Are the exams more similar to the homework? Getting student feedback from those who have already taken the class with the same professor is useful because you have an idea of what are in for.
- Improve your memory by playing games like Sudoku.
- Watch educational documentaries on your free time. They may be helpful in your classes and it may get you even more excited about the things you are learning.
- Keep track of your grades throughout the semester. Make sure to go over your homework that was handed back to you to see if there is anything you missed. Make sure you look over your mistakes and learn from them because they may be on the test later on.
- Take breaks and reward yourself.
- Create small goals that will eventually lead you to your big goal.
- Stay positive and keep going.
- Ask your professor if you can do any extra credit to improve your grade. If your professor says yes, do it and turn it in the next day.
- Have a positive environment for yourself. Make sure to not hang around with friends who are not serious about their education. It is difficult to do well in school if you are surrounded by people who do not want to do well and don’t care about school.
- When you are losing motivation, look at some motivational videos.
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