Scholarly Advice for Academic Mastery
A collection of insights and advice from some of the most successful university, graduate, and professional students and scholars.
Select a topic, or browse a random selection below.
Confidence in yourself comes from the inside, not from other's opinions. Respect yourself, but put others first. Take chances, do things that scare you, and set your own path. Never make the mistake of thinking that your way is the right way and everyone else is wrong. Put yourself in others shoes. Follow your curiosity and never do something just because its what the crowd is doing. Build others up and you will also benefit immensely.
Ryan Winger
Master of Public Policy
Georgetown University
I was shocked when I got back my first draft of the first paper I had written as a college student. I was a good writer in high school, always earned the highest marks and all that jazz, but my professor told me to scrap everything I had used in the draft. He told me, "Eric, you need a thesis, this paper has none, show me a thesis then I'll read your paper." Now I was the king of the thesis statement in high school, and I thought I had written a good one for this paper, but I soon learned how papers for college course are supposed to be written.
The thesis is everything, and that is what this tip relates to. The days of "this event was caused by x, y and z" are over once you enter college. That is not a thesis anymore. A thesis is never cryptic; it shouldn't leave your reader guessing. The thesis states exactly what your viewpoint is (what point you want to prove). It doesn't explain the question you are trying to answer in your paper, it IS the answer to the question you are trying to answer. I know this might seem strange, but it's true. You answer the question with your thesis then back it up in the subsequent pages of your paper. Your thesis also has to be arguable. It can't be an obviously true statement. It needs to be controversial. Don't worry about it being too wordy, because it probably will be, and trust me, you won't lose points because your thesis is more than a sentence long.
The following is the best advice I have ever received regarding formulating a thesis. The same professor that so highly criticized my first paper told me afterwards, "with your thesis don't explain to me that you are going to throw the ball, just throw the ball." Be clear and leave no doubt in the readers' minds what your paper is going to prove.
Eric Salazar
Princeton University
There are lots of ways to study, but there is one fail-proof,
infallible method of absorbing and understanding material. That is-- you
teach it. There is no better review in the world than for you to have to go
slowly through the material and explain step-by-step how it works to someone
else. It won't work for the subject you're clueless about, but if you're
reviewing for a test and just need to soak the lessons into your brain, grab
a friend who's having trouble with it and teach it to them. It is absolutely
unavoidable that you ingrain material into your head if your objective is to
teach it to someone else. You will break the knowledge into understandable
pieces. Your brain will go over it longer than it needs to. And you can
field questions that you might not have even considered before.
You might think, "I don't know
this stuff well enough to teach it. That's why I'm studying it." Still, it's
immensely helpful to approach the material as if you're presenting it to
someone else. That's what your exam will be asking of you tomorrow. So read
it and try to simplify as well as you can and then teach it to a friend--
even a friend who's on the same level as you are. Then you can go over it
together. Maybe split the material into two parts and take turns acting
teacher and student, explaining and asking questions. This method won't
magically imbibe knowledge into your brain if you never had any
comprehension of the subject at all, but it's the best possible method of
review, memorization, and assurance of understanding.
Scott E. Olmsted
Georgetown University
My best piece of advice: look toward the future. Out of high school, I went to a community college, and got tired of the question: "Why would you go to community college?; you're smart!" The community college I was accepted to had a program that I applied to, that gave me two years of scholarship, and a summer abroad program (fully paid for) at Cambridge University, in England. Once people heard of this, they often rescinded their question; after all, who could refuse two years of school free, complemented with a trip abroad? What I learned from this lesson was to look toward the end goal. My goal was never to stop at a two-year school, and most of my colleagues at my school felt the same. I looked toward my end goal: to become a wedding/party planner for the stars. Now, I have transferred to an Ivy League school, at Cornell University, and have found a great fit for both my social and professional goals. I feel that my community college sent me on my way, and believe the best scholarly advice I can give is to look toward the end goal, and to plan well and never give up on what you want to do!
Lindsay Schattenstein
Cornell University
When I was an
undergraduate I was susceptible to being intimidated by the intelligence of
the brilliant people who surrounded me. Now that I am in a doctoral program,
the potential for such intimidation is even higher. However, over the course
of my academic career I have learned a critical coping mechanism: planning.
Meticulous planning of my projects, my days, my weeks and my semesters has
allowed me to stay competitive in every academic (and professional)
environment in which I have worked. There are plenty of people who are
smarter than me and plenty of people who work harder; my edge is working
smarter.
As an undergraduate, I planned
out my semester as soon as I could get my hands on the syllabi of the
courses I was taking. For every semester, I scheduled every reading
assignment, every test and every paper, noting not only when these items
were due but the number of days I would work on them. So for a paper due on,
say, December 10th, I would estimate the number of planning, researching,
outlining, writing, and editing sessions I needed to complete the paper, and
I would schedule each of those sessions so that the final editing fell on
December 9th. I initially used a paper day-planner for this exercise, but am
now a devotee of Outlook task lists.
Of course, plans change. Tasks
never take exactly as long as you expect them to, especially when you try to
break them down into minute chunks. The point of beginning-of-semester
planning is not to preordain my life for the next three months, but rather
to set out a general scheme within which adjustments can be made along the
way. Many people think planning is pointless because of change, but planning
is actually the best way to deal with change.
I have been surprised to learn
that even in the much more abstract, less task-driven environment of a
doctoral program, I still manage to plan my work at the level of the day,
and I still get that work done on-time with very little stress. (In all of
high school, college or graduate school, I have never pulled an all-nighter
to finish an academic assignment.)
When people learn the details
of my "dirty little secret" of meticulous planning, they usually comment
that I am anal-retentive or crazy, or perhaps a combination of the two. The
fact is that once you get these kinds of things down to a system, they don't
take a huge amount of time. And that time is generously rewarded down the
stretch. Say a paper suddenly becomes due two weeks earlier than I expected.
While others are panicking, I am tapping into a reserve of available
"bandwidth" that I set aside at the beginning of the semester. No weekends
killed, no all-nighters pulled, no slippage of schedule.
Experts in personal
organization will tell you to find a system that works for you. In addition
to echoing that general advice, I would recommend: (1) developing a system
that costs a noticeable amount of time upfront, just so you know you're
doing enough thinking to do yourself some good, and (2) keeping at it until
any feelings of being overwhelmed by work are gone. Planning is actually one
of the most relaxing things I do. It's much cheaper than yoga classes.
Nathan Black
PhD, Political Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I, Brooke Jennings, graduated with a 4.0 GPA at Radford University. I earned my Bachelor of Social Work Degree and learned how to overcome many challenges. I am the first in my family to attend college and my goal is to encourage all adolescents/adults to further their education. I would like to say that my 4.0 GPA was not easy to accomplish. I went to college at the age of 31 and I suffer with short-term memory. I am a foster-mother of four girls, birth mother of two boys and one girl, a full time wife, I work full-time as a youth counselor, and I am full time college student. Now you ask! How do you do it?
My secret to success is time
management and setting goals. As a busy person, I have to make sure that I
have enough time in the day to accomplish my employment, school, and to
enjoy my family. To manage your time you must be able to understand how to
set goals and determine how you spend your 24-hour days. You need to create
an outline on how you complete a typical week. You need to understand your
priorities and keep a calendar. In the calendar, you need to write down when
you have class, when you are going to study, and do your homework. You need
to put in your calendar when you plan to exercise/sports, go to work, spend
time with family, time for personal care, meal preparation, relaxing time,
socializing, doctor appointments, and whatever else comes your way. Oh, do
not forget to add sleep. Now this may seem to be a bit much, but you will be
surprise how much you can accomplish in a 24-hour day by managing your time.
I also learned that you cannot
manage your time if you do not motivate yourself. You need to be able to
take responsibility for your learning and recognize that “failure” is
success. Praise and reward yourself when you succeed and when you reach your
goals. Motivation is very important, so keep you head up high and do not let
failure get into your way.
You will also need to avoid
procrastination. I am the queen when it comes to procrastination, and I know
the challenges it brings not to procrastinate. It is important to remind
yourself of due dates way in advance and tell yourself once it is completed
you will have time for yourself. You need to be clear on what your final
objectives are and what the end result will be. What are your major steps to
get there? What have you done so far? You must always remember that the
longest journey begins with the first step.
You will need to learn how to
create effective study habits. Everyone studies differently so you will need
to find what works best for you. Find the most comfortable place to study
and set a positive mood. Take responsibility for yourself and again manage
your time. I try to center myself on my values and principles, and I put
first things first.
It is important to pay
attention in class. I have short-term memory so I am writing down almost
everything the teachers are saying. Sometimes, I bring in a tape recorder. I
always sit in the front row and I participate in class whenever possible. I
let the professors know immediately that I have short-term memory and I will
be taping them and may ask repetitive questions.
I learned that writing is very
important, especially in the social work field. It is important to use
proper grammar and always check spelling. Do not rely on the computer to fix
your mistakes. Most colleges have someone in the library to proof read your
papers, so take advantage of services within your college. Always proof read
and revise all assignments before turning it in.
Understand your preferred
learning style. A learning style is a way of learning, and your preferred
learning style is the way you learn best. I am an auditory learner. I learn
best when information is presented by sound, through lectures and class
discussions. This is why taping class discussions help me learn. You need to
know your learning styles. Are you a Visual Learner? Are you an Auditory
Learner? Are you a Kinesthetic Learner? Remember, your learning style is
your strength, so go with what works best for you.
I suffer with test anxiety and
I still learned how to succeed. I have a hard time focusing on
multiple-choice tests. When I take a test, I have a difficult time
understanding the directions and questions. Sometimes I read the questions
wrong or I just draw a blank. I find my mind wondering and I forget the
answers. Therefore, you ask how I got the 4.0 GPA with test anxiety. I
learned quickly how to create healthy study techniques. I tried to create a
positive attitude and tried to stay relaxed during the test. I reminded
myself it did not matter when the other students finishes their exam. When I
fail an exam, I learn from my mistakes and I analyze the test to see how I
could have done better. If I did very poor I would talk to the professor and
ask if I can do extra credit. I explained to the professor that I have
severe test anxiety and I want to prove another way that I know the
materials. I learned that most professors will work with you if you are
active in class, always turn in your materials, and you are never absent.
Your attitude with school is important and you must learn how to advocate
for yourself.
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Brooke Alston Jennings Master of Science in Social Work Radford University
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On May 5, 1983
I was born as an only child into a single parent family. Over the course of
my lifetime, I have had to face many obstacles and hardships that got in the
way of my dreams, including having to move 11 times and struggling from a
learning disability. If it was not for my mother, I would not be where I am
today.
Upon graduating from high
school in June of 2002, I made the decision that I wanted to attend North
Shore Community College located in Danvers, Massachusetts. This was one of
the best choices that I could have made because I learned the necessary
skills in how to succeed, and I received the support that I needed. I did
not hesitate to go for tutoring if I needed it and such actions paid off
because I finished my first semester successfully and was notified that I
had made the dean's list. In 2005, I graduated from North Shore Community
College with highest honors and transferred to Salem State College, located
in Salem, Massachusetts, that fall. I majored in psychology and graduated
with my baccalaureate degree in May of 2007. I graduated with Summa Cum
Laude. A few months prior to graduation, I applied to graduate school at the
University of Massachusetts-Boston. I knew there was a 50/50 chance of
getting in and I prayed that the admissions committee would accept me. A few
days after my interview, I received a letter in the mail stating that I had
been accepted. I was ecstatic by such news.
Today I am enrolled full-time
in my master's degree program and hope to have my degree by May of 2009. I
currently have a GPA of 4.0. After graduation, I will have my master's in
mental health counseling and then have to take the Massachusetts licensure
exam in order to become a licensed mental health counselor in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. My goal is to become a college counselor and
assist students reach their goals in life. I believe anyone can achieve
their goals if they really want to. There were many times that the odds were
against me, but perseverance and strength from God helped me to keep going.
One of the best tips that I can
give those of you just starting college is to always think about your
ultimate goal in life after obtaining a college degree. There may be
hardships along the way, but as long as you persevere and hold true to what
you want to achieve, you will reach your goals ultimately. Don’t give up! I
never did and I never will.
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Sean Michael Kenney Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling University of Massachusetts-Boston
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Paper Writing - Essay Exams:
When writing an essay exam or writing a paper I suggest outlining. After
brainstorming, organize your thoughts. When taking essay exams I recommend
quickly jotting down the "key terms" or "identifications" you must cover in
your essay. Gather your thoughts and make a strong thesis. Your arguments
will be supported and defined by examples, explanations and key terms or
identifications you give.
Success in projects and life:
Always do your homework as soon as possible. Doing your homework or papers
the minute you receive them will make your eventual product stronger because
you are giving yourself more time to research, develop strong arguments and
come up with ideas.
Organize your daily tasks, short-term goals and long-term goals with a list.
While working on everyday tasks like homework assignments or extracurricular
activities make sure to plan ahead and always be working toward your
long-term aspirations.
Laura L. Harkins
Master of Science in Advertising
University of Illinois
When visiting graduate programs here are some of the best questions to ask current students:
| -What is the best quality of this program? | ||
| -What do you like least about this program? | ||
| -What do you wish you would have known before you started here? | ||
| -What do you plan on doing when you finish? | ||
| -What is there to do outside of school? Which of these things do you actually have time to do and which do you do regularly? | ||
| -Do you like the city and do you have time to enjoy it? | ||
| -If you could do it again, what would you do differently? | ||
| -Are the students competitive with each other or do you work together with your cohort? | ||
| -Can you really live on the stipend they give you or do most people take out loans? | ||
| -What changes are happening within the department right now? | ||
| -Who gets to be first author on most papers? What is the system for determining authorship in your lab? | ||
| -Does everyone have their own desk/computer in the department? Where do you do most of your work and do you ever have a problem finding space to get work done? | ||
| -What do you do in the summer? How does summer funding work? | ||
| -Do you get to make your own projects or are you assisting in someone else’s work? | ||
| -What is a typical day like? | ||
| -Housing experiences – grad school housing, budgeting, distance, commute, parking, roommates, moving | ||
| General Advice for visiting graduate programs: Ask the hard questions – like about what it’s really like, or what students don’t like about the program – in a big group. This keeps people honest. If people answer a question with a negative response and follow it with “but you’ll find that anywhere”, be very weary of believing them. The next school you visit may not have those same problems. Try to talk to the first year students about how their transition was, but even more importantly ask the 5th/6th year students about their experiences – how they think it’s changed, their hardest year, if they are having success finding a job, and in general try to get a general feel for their experiences. This will often be the most useful because they have had so many more experiences. Also, ideally, you’ll be there with a group of other admitted/interviewing students. This is a good way to judge if this school attracts the type of people you want to be around, and if you would fit in with these people. |
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This message is for incoming freshman. Making the transition from living at home to college life can be stressful. College is a new, exciting and fun environment, but for some it can seem lonely at times. If you find that you arrived at your college and it's not what you expected you are not alone. Your classes may be going great, but the social life just isn't so red hot. Maybe you and your roommate aren't really that compatible and you don't feel a real connection. I'm here to tell you not give up and go home; it gets so much better so hang in there.
My first semester of college was very lonely for me. I had just broken up with my boyfriend of 4 years and was living with a roommate that I had nothing in common with. We tried to avoid each other if at all possible. I dreaded going back to my dorm. I had been popular in high school; I was on homecoming court and had lots of friends. I assumed making friends at college would be just as easy for me. I failed to realize that I needed to get involved in social functions to get to know people. I couldn't just go to class and head back to my dorm and expect to have an exciting and stimulating social life. I had heard people talk about how much fun college is and what wild and silly things they did all my life, but I was bored and down right depressed. If you can relate to these feelings, read on; I have some survival tips for your first year at college.
The first tip is to make use of your counseling center. You should have counselors on campus that you can call and make an appointment to see and talk to. These people are trained and experienced professional counselors and/or psychologists that want to listen to people's problems and have heard it all before. They want you to come talk to them and are actually expecting it. Don't worry about anyone seeing you go to the counseling center, because students go all the time for career and academic counseling, in case that is a concern for you. You can talk to your counselor about anything; they will listen.
The second tip is to get familiar with your campus. Take a walk after your classes are finished for the day and get your favorite cup of coffee or tea and explore a little. Becoming familiar with a new place can make it seem more inviting and more like home. You may even find yourself enjoying this walk around campus and make it a weekly or daily ritual. Fresh air is always a good thing. Just make sure if you go after dark that you do not go alone.
The third tip I have for you is to let yourself cry if you need to. If you know you feel better after letting it out, then let it out. Entering into a new phase in life was a little hard for me. I mourned my old life, but knew I couldn't go back. I cried now and then my first semester at college, and then I remembered an old saying that helped me out. I was closing one door to open a new one and it was up to me to walk through it. I know it sounds cliché' and it is somewhat, but it's so very true.
My fourth tip is to consider changing roommates at the end of the semester if you aren't clicking with yours the way you'd like. many freshman do this; it is not uncommon. I certainly did and it made a world of difference. I don't regret my first semester with the other roommate; I learned a great deal about myself and it was a growing experience. You may have met someone that wants to be your roommate next semester and that's great! If not, just put in for a new one and maybe your second roommate will be more to your liking. You can always switch again if you have to. People are different and it's just not easy to live someone, especially if you are total opposites, so don't feel bad. It's not personal; it's a college survival tactic that you must act on to ensure your optimum level of happiness and enjoyment while you are living on campus.
My fifth tip is to look forward. The semester will go by more quickly than you think and you'll be on winter break. I found that I came back for my spring semester excited and looking forward to living on campus again. My new roommate and I got out and involved in social activities and this was fun. We made some new friends and had special girl's night outs once a week. On the subject of looking forward, college is a portal to a new and better life. Don't forget why you are there. It's temporary and it will get you that job you so desire. Why did you want to go to college anyway? Ask yourself this and remind yourself that you are on a path to a better future. You dream job awaits; it's up to you to go get it.
Danae Colvin
Masters of Science in Counseling
Missouri State University
My first year in college was certainly challenging, however I made it through successfully with a few insights which I would like to pass on. First and foremost, go to office hours. Many professors, especially those teaching large classes, have trouble adapting their teaching styles to such a broad range of interest and ability. If you go and visit them one on one during office hours what you will often find is a much more comfortable professor who is able to adapt his/her teaching to your strengths and weaknesses. In addition it provides you with a great contact within the university that can help you with a host of other things, including those pesky reference letters that appear on applications to almost all internships and jobs. Second, it is also important to be able to relax. Whether it is going out with friends or just hanging out and watching a movie, everyone needs time to slow down and catch their breath.
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Joseph Arthur Renwick Mechanical Engineering Cornell University
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Go to the Head of the Class
The first thing I do upon
entering a classroom is to scope out a front seat. I usually don’t find that
difficult since I always try to arrive a few minutes early. This one tip
alone can make a significant difference in how well you will participate in
the class, how much the professor will call on you, how engaged you will be,
and how comfortable you will feel in asking questions. I am always amazed by
how much more connected I feel, taking a front seat.
In taking note, I write down as much as possible and sort it out later at home, through highlighting. Next, I take what I feel is the most pertinent information and organize it in a concise manner on index cards. This is useful for me, as well as for anyone wanting to partner up and quiz me. I never have a test or assignment date approach without asking my professor specifics. Sometimes, I get lots of important information that way, and other times, professors prefer to be more general. Never miss your opportunity to narrow down what needs the most study! It does not hurt to ask, and most professors appreciate the involved student. Just as I try to arrive early to class, I strive to finish assignments and studies ahead of the target date whenever possible. This way, I have more time for review and reinforcement. Furthermore, if I get sick or an emergency arises, I ‘m pretty well prepared.
So, what would
you highlight as the most important parts of my study tips? Think of
everything as a bulleted list:
*Sit in the front seat and engage fully
*Arrive early
*Take a lot of notes
*Narrow down specifics on index cards and ask questions
*Finish assignments in advance
Follow my tips and you’re sure to go to the head of the class!
Laurel Rancitelli
University of Massachusetts
I have found that the same tactics that led to intercollegiate success as an undergraduate cross country and track runner have lead to success as a graduate school student. In academics, just as in athletics, one must put in consistent effort each day; one must keep a consistent schedule including 7-9 hours of sleep each night; and one must make sacrifices. A student must have the will power to study when they don't want to; to pay attention through 3 hour seminars when it is easier to daydream; and to grind out the assignments on time to stay on top of the syllabi. In addition, I also benefit from working ahead one week on the syllabus. By doing this I do not feel the stress and anxiety of daily assignments. I put a pseudo pressure on myself to continue as if I were not one week ahead. I find this gives me more study time and allows me more time to grasp the subject matter.
David Cohen
Master of Science in Sociology
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
God knows that
there are many obstacles and hindrances to thwart the success of anyone. So,
how do we become successful or succeed at any given task. Well, obviously
one must have a certain amount of discipline, competence, dedication and
intensity, but there is one particular attribute that all successful people
possess. The need or desire for completion or closure.
As a young man, I often pursued
finality or closure in every area of my life. While I experienced great
success in academics and athletics, a few areas still remained untamed.
There are some things that we can control and then there are some things
that we cannot. One of the most important things that we can control is the
level of success we have in education.
Most people find it easy to
begin a college education but find it difficult to finish. Those who find
success in completing educational goals have one thing in common, closure.
These types of people do not like loose ends and unfinished goals. That have
a passion and drive to finish whatever they start. This mainly because there
esteem is directly tied to their success at achieving preset goals. Once
these goals have been achieved, they receive confidence, acceptance and
esteem in those successes.
So, if you have begun your
pursuit of educational success and have become weary in your pursuit, just
remember that you must complete your goal, no matter how long it takes or
how much it costs. Never give up, never quit because to quit is to not
achieve and to not achieve is to not succeed.
Terry Blissett
Master of Science in Education
Nicholls State University
I had a professor tell me, "school is the only business where the customers (students) want the least for there money." Go to class. Get your full investment out of your education. Even when you think you are too tired and only going to sleep through class -go and sit in the back if you must. When the time comes to study or review you will be glad you have at least been exposed to the material before.
Robert Loftus
Masters in Science
Colorado State University
Work ahead. I kept track of all of my assignments, and whenever I had a chance, worked on the next one due - even if I still had several days. Instead of killing time when I had no imminent assignments, I just went on to whatever assignment came next in the list. Using this strategy rather than allotting study time as necessary, I never had a disaster when an assignment took longer than expected or when a surprise or emergency interrupted my work. I also made sure to take time every day to exercise and a separate amount of time to enjoy myself. Some days the "me time" was just watching a television episode or taking 20 minutes to chat with my housemates, but I usually had the time when I wanted to go to a sporting event or watch a movie. I may have spent more of my time working, rather than watching TV or browsing the internet, but when something unexpected, but really fun came up, some of my friends had to miss out because they had not planned the time into their schedule. Unlike many college students, I never had to pull an all-nighter, and I usually felt relaxed knowing I was ahead of schedule for my assignments and studying. So... don't procrastinate!
Melissa Lynn Ising
Master of Music Education
Oberlin College
TESTS ARE THE HARDEST PART (but only if you aren't
prepared!)
When it comes to studying for tests, figure out how long you need to really
learn something. If you can thoroughly understand a topic or issue instead
of just temporarily memorizing it, any future related information will
become easier to learn.
For me, the process starts with note taking. My advice is write everything
down, even if doesn't seem particularly important. It's the little anecdotes
and extra information that make any topic more interesting, and thus easier
to learn. Also, personalizing notes with comments or associations will
reinforce the subject. Depending on how complicated or difficult the subject
matter is, re-typing and organizing notes within a week will help to
reinforce ideas and form a stronger base for any new lectures or reading.
Up to a week (sometimes you may only need 2 or 3
days) before a test, review all the relevant material. Make sure to
highlight or make a list of any main topics the professor has focused on, as
well as any concept you are not confident with. After 30 min to an hour,
take a break for at least 15 min. Have a snack, fold some laundry, call your
mom, or anything else to switch your mind to a different gear. When you go
back to studying, start with the information you are not 100% confident
about. I read once that when learning, you remember the beginning the best,
the end the second best, and anything in the middle is mush. Since then, I
take frequent breaks and always mix up the order when I go back to studying.
After your first review day, spend 30 min each day to reinforce the
information. If the test is for a class you are more competent in, or you
have experience with, you may only need a couple of hours the day before to
refresh less clear material. The night before or the day of the test, set
aside several hours to work out any details that are still not clear. This
is usually the point where I make flash cards for information I am unsure
about, which you can look over between classes or during lunch.
If you go into a test well prepared, you don't have to worry about test
anxiety and A's will become a habit.
Remember:
- GO TO CLASS - I know it's a drag and you will hear this a million times,
but even if your school does not have strict attendance policies going to
class pays off
- TAKE DETAILED NOTES - even if you seem to be the only one taking notes,
you won't feel silly when you make A's on every test
- STAY ORGANIZED - you don't want to miss something on a test because you
lost the notes for that day
- STAY CAUGHT UP ON READING- don't waste test-studying time catching up on
10 chapters of reading. If your reading is already done, all you have to do
is review.
- MAKE FRIENDS - with your professor as well as others in the class. Many
professors will meet with you during office hours for one-on-one catch up
time if you miss class, and if not another student who takes good notes can
really help you out.
- PAY ATTENTION - If your professor talks about it a lot, they probably
think it's important. Which means it will probably be on a test. Professors
also will sometimes say "You need to know this, it may be on a test."
While studying:
- KNOW YOUR LEARNING TIME - be aware of how much time you need with any
particular subject and set aside appropriate amounts of study time. You may
still end up pulling a few all-nighters, but after awhile this hopefully
will not be necessary.
- TAKE BREAKS - the more breaks the better! It may seem counter-intuitive,
but mixing it up really keeps your brain on top of things.
- NAIL THE DETAILS - the more thoroughly you understand the specifics, the
easier the general concepts will be to remember. Little details will help on
multiple choice and short answer sections, and can make the difference
between a B essay and an A essay.
- REPETITION - 3 hours over 3 days will pay off a lot more than 3 hours the
night before!
- GET A BUDDY - or two or three to study with. They can help with concepts
you aren't clear on, and when you explain something to someone else it
cements it in your head better than anything else. You can also fill in
unclear notes or topics from missed classes.
- FLASH CARDS - save them for really difficult details or things you have
trouble remembering.
One last piece of advice: your first test for any class will be the most
difficult because every professor and every subject have different test
styles. The first test is where you will figure out how much your professor
uses from lectures, how much from books, and how much detail you have to
know on a topic. After you know if you have to recall specific dates,
biographical information, technological history, or be able to apply
principles, studying for subsequent tests becomes much less stressful.
Amelia Clark
University of Texas
On studying:
Studying is without a doubt a skill that needs to be mastered in order to be
successful in your college career. Personally, I made it entirely through my
high school career
without ever having to actually break down and study. It seems like a
miracle looking back at it. Because of this, I was quite unprepared when I
came to college. I had to learn how to study in a hurry. As with any other
learned skill, you have to practice in order to become proficient. Listed
below are a few tips that I have personally used quite successfully:
1. Pick a study location and stick to it. - Your study location can't double
as your playground either. The area you choose to do your studying should be
quiet, secluded, and free from any major distractions. When you walk into
your study area, you should be in a mindset to learn. Good examples are the
library, a quiet coffee shop (NOT STARBUCKS), or even somewhere outside.
2. Study groups are NOT for everyone. - It may seem beneficial to study with
others to gain perspective or to ease the "pain" of studying. Many people
get too distracted by the presence of others and studying quickly goes down
the drain. If you have a relatively short attention span, group studying
might not be for you. This does not apply to everyone. Many people do quite
well in group sessions and thrive on the personal interaction.
3. All-nighters are not always a good thing. - After the first exam in any
class, you should have a pretty good idea of how thorough that professor is
when it comes to exam material. Start studying a week and a half or two
weeks before the exam. Start with small doses of two to three hours and
build up to ten hour long days if you need to. Cramming the night before
does nothing but make you extraordinarily tired before the exam. If you
study all week, you shouldn't need much more than a refresher the night
before the exam.
4. Break up the monotony of studying. - Take a 15 to 20 minute break every
two hours or so to break up the monotony. Your brain will become less and
less responsive if you stare at paper for hours on end. Do something
refreshing. Take a bathroom break. Go for a walk. Get some coffee. Play a
computer game for a few minutes. Do something that doesn't require your
brain to be overly focused.
5. Redo your notes if needed. - Often times the notes you take in class may
be sloppy, illogical, and incomprehensible. This may be due to poor note
taking skills, professors that opt not to teach in any logical order, or
even professors that talk so fast that you have to struggle just to write
everything down. In any case, it may be beneficial to rewrite or retype your
notes and put them in a clearer, more logical order. Color coding is another
study aid that has come in handy many times. The material is always easier
to learn if it is presented in a precise, logical form.
6. Ask questions. - You'll never be able to learn all the material if you
don't understand it. Ask your friends, your neighbor, the professor, or even
a TA. People that have been in or are in a similar position to you will
often have helpful learning tricks that have helped them. Many people use
mnemonics and other learning devices and are usually very willing to share
them with you.
7. Reading textbooks is an art. - We've all been there. Stuck with our nose
in a textbook, reading words that are meaningless. Reading textbooks takes
practice as well. Learn to skim passages and glean important information.
Sometimes, you can read a passage twice quickly faster than you can once
slowly. Bolded and italicized words also help to fine tune your speed
reading skills. If you have continued trouble with accelerated reading, look
into taking a speed reading course. Many universities offer these courses on
site.
These seven tips should be a start to forming better study habits. Always
remember, "practice makes perfect."
Matt Sellers
Master of Animal Science
Texas Tech University
Recopy your notes as soon as you can after class. The repetition will make the information easier to recall when you have to study for an exam at a later date and when you look through it yourself, you will figure out points that may not have been so clear during lecture.
Michael Emil Wagner
Cornell University
TOP 5 REASONS TO GO TO CLASS
5. Attendance Policies - This is what most people consider the most
important reason to go to class. No matter how well you do, if you don't
make it to the required number of classes, you won't pass. Yes, even with
A's on all the tests.
4. Professionalism - Many professors expect you to treat school as a job.
Attendance is one area where you can demonstrate professionalism and gain a
really great reference from your professor. This is particularly important
in small departments, where all the professors in the department know all
the students.
3. Friends - You can't make friends with people you never see. The people
you meet in class may be in the same department as you or in future classes
with you. These associations pay off when it comes to tests, notes, rides to
class, potential roommates, campus activities, and even social connections.
If you are in a department where you may need cohorts on assignments you
need to meet as many people as possible. Class mates are even potential
future job connections.
2. Reputation - This goes hand-in-hand with professionalism. Professors know
which students go to class. More importantly, professors know which students
don't go to class and then try to make excuses. If you have a legitimate
reason to not be in class that's fine. If you make it a habit, however, your
professor will lose patience. School approved extra-curriculars,
illness and family deaths are generally considered acceptable reasons.
Transportation failure, losing your glasses, and work are sometimes ok, but
try to keep these minimal. Concerts, incomplete assignments, road trips,
break-ups, work for other classes, hangovers, and sleeping late are not
acceptable reasons.
1. Grades - If you go to class, you make better grades. Even if it is the
most boring class on the face of the earth that you already know everything
about, going to lectures pays off. Test dates change, assignments change,
groups are formed, presentation requirements shift, office hours get
adjusted, research guidelines change, guest lecturers
(who may actually be interesting) visit, and key information about
the way your professor wants things done is communicated in class. All of
this can affect your grade. In addition, grades sometimes hit a gray
borderline area where the professor uses their discretion to determine your
grade - class attendance can make the difference between a C and a B (or
even passing and failing).
Amelia Clark
University of Texas
I used to
believe that as I got higher and higher in the pecking order of school --
high school student, then college student, then graduate student -- the
questions on my exams would get more and more complicated. I suspect I
imported this idea from high school, where it was true to a great extent.
(My junior-year biology exam had more complicated questions than my
freshman-year biology exam, etc.) However, now that I am a doctoral student,
I am finding that the opposite is true. The toughest questions in the world
are the really simple ones. It would, for instance, be acceptable to ask
this question on a doctoral qualifying exam in international relations:
"What causes war?"
The point is that the advice to
"never be afraid to ask questions" in class needs a little nuance. If it
seems like a simple question to you, and your professor has not addressed
it, you should probably ask it; you are probably touching on an issue that
is deep and important. If, on the other hand, your question seems really
complicated, rethink it. If you boil it down to its essence, it's probably
pretty simple.
Nathan Black
PhD, Political Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Always prepare a study guide when you are studying for exams, whether you are given a formal one or not. This will help you organize your thoughts and see the larger picture that the instructor is presenting. Also, they are crucial to studying for finals because it makes all of the information easy to find.
In preparation for final exams, look through your old exams and rework the problems. At the least it is good practice, but a lot of instructors tend to reuse questions or use very similar questions from regular exams on final exams. You will kick yourself if you realize they asked the same question twice and you never made sure you answer it.
Michael Emil Wagner
Cornell University
Find your ideal study environment. Some people find it best to study in the library, some like to study under a tree. It is always good to focus and study alone, but do not neglect your classmates. Sometimes subject will become clearer to you if you explain them to other people. Furthermore, difficult classes like Organic Chemistry or Biology are often easier if you can work through problems with a friend, after all there wouldn't be Watson with out Crick (and Rosalind Franklin).
Michael Emil Wagner
Cornell University
I have two words of scholarly advice for academic mastery: (1) priority; and (2) balance. One does become wiser with age, and looking back on my academic career, there are some things I know now that I wish I'd known then. I would like to begin with priority. While I was an undergraduate student, I allowed myself to become distracted with social influences and began to lose focus of my goal of academic success. At the time, the sorority and fraternity parties seemed more important than reading the biology text, but in retrospect, the bed for my future was being laid out right there in undergraduate college. Decisions that I made at that time, whether to study or go to the Greek party, would affect my future career, income, success, and status. By choosing the Greek parties over the Greek literature, I caused myself an unnecessary diversion off my path to success. Now in my thirties, and no longer in my twenties, I understand the implications that being successful in academia has on income and status. Now, I refrain from the alcohol, focus on my studies, earn scholarships, earn higher degrees, and seek a higher professional assignment. Now, I look back, remembering the students that I partied with, and realizing I only keep in touch with them on random occasions. It was not worth sacrificing my future or shortchanging my future for the immediate gratification.
Following
priority is balance. One cannot study all the time or work all the time. You
must make time for fun. Actually, taking a break and balancing fun with work
or study will cause you to be more productive. First, place the priority on
studying, set goals, including time commitments, but also reward yourself.
Make time for breaks, relaxation and fun. Prioritize what is important to
you. Think to yourself about the important people in your life. Think to
yourself how you would feel if you earned the PhD, but lost that loved one
in the process. To me, the PhD would be worthless. There, you have your
priorities set. Make time for the important people in your life first, make
sure those people know they are valued by you, and then, set aside your time
to study. Then, you can imagine your important people by your side,
congratulating you when you graduate and celebrating with you.
I hope this helps. Your past sorority girl; present doctoral student.
Robin Dianna Evans Matutina
Medical University of South Carolina
When I study I go into a silent room and study by myself. Some people can study in a group of people but I find it easier to be alone and be in the quiet. When it comes time for testing I take the most important parts of the lecture and make flash cards. Listening to the professors inflection can tell you what is important and what isn't, I listen closely to everything my professor says. Making flash cards and then going over them at least 10 times is the trick for me, after the tenth time it is time to test myself. I have my partner take the cards and quiz me over the information, once I've done that I feel I'm ready for the test. However, an hour before a test I go over my flash cards one more time just to be sure.
Melinda Brown
University of Arkansas
Throughout my college career, two things allowed me to succeed - determination and organization. As soon I entered the college atmosphere, I was completely determined to succeed. I could have done well in school without sticking my mind to it, but I would never have done as well. That is something that just has to come from deep within and that no one can force on you.
Organization has taken me a long way in my education. It prevented all-nighters, kept me from becoming stressed near the semester's end, and kept me on my toes throughout the semester. At the beginning of each semester, I would break open the planner as soon as I received my syllabi for my courses. I would then write all the dates for each course in my planner so that I could "map out" my semester and pay attention to potentially stressful weeks caused my overlapping assignments. I always kept multiple planners and looked at least two weeks in advance so that I could begin assignments ahead of time and have plenty of time to check and double check anything that I handed in.
Lastly, always remember that the work that you do is a reflection of who you are not only as a student but also as an individual. If you consistently turn in top-notch work, your professors will remember that and will likely remember that when the time comes to write recommendations. However, if you regularly turn in poor work, your professors will likely remember that as well.
Wallace Derek Dupuis
University of Mobile
Though it may seem counter-intuitive, I've always found that scheduling myself for a really exciting course first thing in the morning at least two or three times a week helps to make me more productive, academically. I know, it goes against a lot of modern stereotypes and expectations for college, but think of it this way: if you get up early for a class you really want to take, and take advantage of the resulting free time in the mornings and afternoons, you'll be much more free during the evenings. How else will you free up that time for those "deep hallway conversations about the meaning of life?"
Conor Williams
PhD, Government (Political Theory)
Georgetown University
Go to alumni
events-any that you can make time for. Not only is it never too early to
start networking for your after college years, but plying enthusiastic alums
about their strategies for success is a great way to improve your own
approach to academics and professional life. Remember, anyone who comes back
to their college for one of these events wants to be involved and cares
deeply about the students at his or her alma mater. They are already
interested. Don't miss your chance to take advantage!
In terms of effective
networking, the most important thing is to do your homework ahead of time.
If you have specific alums that you want to speak to, use college resources
or the internet to learn as much as you can about them, and have a few
unrelated questions to ask them. I say "unrelated" because it's important to
be able to move the conversation in a different direction if one of the
tacks you take isn't working. Also, it pays to have your contact information
available in an easy to pass out format, something akin to a business card
or a sheet from a small notepad. If you don't have any particular alumnus
(or alumni) that you're hoping to meet at a function, be free in talking
about yourself to the first few that you meet. Without being egocentric or
pushy, make sure that you talk enough about your interests and aspirations
to make it possible for the person (or people) that you're talking with to
suggest friends they may know that could steer you in the right direction.
Lastly, if at any point you get advice that you aren't entirely sure of (or
in agreement with, etc), let it slide. At the end of the day, you're
entitled to your opinion, but it's best to take alumni's opinions into
consideration so that they take YOU into consideration.
Conor Williams
PhD, Government (Political Theory)
Georgetown University
Be honest with yourself about your study habits. It's entirely possible to convince yourself that "you study best with music on," or "you can only get work done when you're in your room," or "if you don't have friends around, you can't focus," but in the end, it is highly unlikely that those things are true. It may be relaxing to read with music on, but it isn't likely to be "more efficient." It may be comfortable to work in your room, surrounded by familiar scenery, but it probably isn't "more effective," and so on. Not only does research show that academic reading and writing is best done in a quiet, well-lit area, but most of us will admit, in the end, that these "alternative" study strategies are really about meeting other, non-academic needs. It's important to relax, to be comfortable, and to be social in college (in fact, these may be equal objectives to academic success in some regards), but it pays psychologically to be honest about which needs you're actually meeting with your study strategies. That way, when you are facing a serious academic challenge, you'll be ready to prepare in a serious and effective way.
Conor Williams
PhD, Government (Political Theory)
Georgetown University
Go to your professors' office hours, no matter how shy you may be. It makes all the difference for how much you will love or hate a class. This should be for every class, starting during your first semester of your freshman year. The best recommendation letters four years later will come from the professors who've known you the longest and are the most committed to your success. Nothing irks a professor (or a TA, for that matter) so much as committing several hours outside of class to students and having no reciprocal commitment from them. If you show up, it communicates your interest in the class, identifies you as a student who is committed to his or her education, and puts a face to your name. None of those things can hurt you or your standing in the class.
Conor Williams
PhD, Government (Political Theory)
Georgetown University
Take some time to clear your mind before taking a test. For a long time I thought I had to "cram" as much information into my mind as I could before sitting for a test. Sometimes this would happen right up to walking into the classroom, and sometimes the very moments before the Professor actually handed out the test! It took me years to realize that this wasn't helping any. The truth was, I knew everything I was going to know hours before taking the test, provided I had prepared accordingly. Much more important for me today is taking the critical hour before test time to clear my mind and focus on more important things in life. Many times I was so situated that I could walk to class and admire the beautiful day. Also helpful is to participate in deep breathing exercises. This would calm my nerves and any anxiety that might be looming. Most importantly, always remember that a test is just a test. It is not the determinant of who you are, or what you are capable of in life. Have confidence in yourself. Intend to do well, and you will.
Michael McCormick
Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling
University of North Texas
Interest is so important in academic success. Let me give you an example. For years I studied as a Business major. Convinced that this was surely a quick way to financial freedom, I stayed the course despite my seeming lack of interest in many of the subjects. Now, by no means am I saying that Business is not an honorable field. To the contrary, life as we know it today would not be without the great minds of Business. Yet, I still felt out of place. It was such a struggle for me to stay tuned into the lectures and projects. I followed my heart and made a huge chance in the direction of my academic career. Although risky, it was the best decision I ever made for myself. Now studying in a discipline that I have genuine interest in, I find it much easier to become motivated in my academic studies. Interest is truly the dog that leads the way!
Michael McCormick
Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling
University of North Texas
It may seem
strange, that the same letters, the B.A. or B.S., the college degree, is
rewarded to individuals no matter what experiences they had leading up to
this reward. Online university, state school, or private college each can
produce the same outcome. Of course, anyone with a college degree has taken
courses, and gained knowledge about a specific field, however, the true gain
of the college experience is something different, not reflected in our
degree title after graduation. It is our peers along the way who truly teach
us about life. The memories, the talks, the emotions, the passion
experienced with other individuals within one’s college experience are what
matters. It is our classmates, roommates, teammates and best friends who
shape our college experiences and alter us forever.
From the first day of
orientation, we learn about what high school is like in another town or
state. Through the intensity, stress, and competitiveness of academia we
learn poise and compassion from those around us. We have long talks and big
laughs. We hurt from damaged relationships, and we share our deepest
worries. Trust commences. We watch some struggle and others succeed, and we
learn how to deal with each. On the day of graduation, we finally receive
those two little letters, but few tears are shed for the ending of chemistry
exams and long nights in the library. Instead, we look back and cry for the
beauty of our time together, our growth, and how much we truly love one
another. This connection, the trust, the truth, the love, is the greatest
benefit of college.
| Karyn Wheeler Master of Human Development and Family Studies Case Western Reserve University |
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My belief or
philosophy to success in college or academia in general is quite simple if
you think about it. The biggest road to success is for students to listen,
keep an open mind and stay on task. Listen to your professors and advisor,
they are there to help students succeed. If you hit a snag in an assignment
do not wait until the last moment to talk to the professor, they are happy
to help. Make sure that you don't fall behind, time management is key for
success too. Keep a notebook or day planner and write all assignments and
their due date down and look at this frequently.
Other ideas for success, use
the resources provided by the college, use the library and the staff for
assistance. If your university has a writing center, get them to assist in
writing professional college papers. Also use the tutoring centers provided
by the college.
It is also important to become
involved in the college itself. Take advantages of membership of clubs, and
social networking, it can pay off in the experiences one has at school, and
it's a great use of time and can provide networking opportunities
post-college in getting a job. It's also a good way to meet new people and
develop lasting friendships
Leigh A. Dudley
Master of Performance Improvement, Training and Development
Northern Michigan University
“Good teachers are unquestionably the thing that matters
most. Studies indicate students with more effective teachers showed 6 times
greater gains than those with less effective teachers, regardless of the
students’ background.”
Haycock, 2002
Understanding that teachers
make up a major component in student success is not something that is new to
students or educators. Typically adult learning theories are embedded with
the basic concepts of behavioral change and experience, but never mention
the active role of the educator. We understand that adults learn differently
than children by the great work and research completed by Piaget, Knowles,
Gardner, Fry, Merriam, and Caferella. We must than turn to the remaining
factor left in the equation. Will the educators and the university or
college you choose provide you with the best opportunity to succeed?
All major university are making
changes in the way education is being delivered, but does that meet your
needs. Before I buy a car, I take it for a test drive. Have you played an
active role in sitting in on your university or college? Walking around
campus and visiting the dorms is a ticket to failure. Visiting the
classrooms and observing the teaching methods of the professors is one way
to ensure that your university or college will help you succeed.
Read the sticker and ask about
the many options available with this model. Take time to ask for syllabus
and get an understanding of the strategies and methods used during
instruction. College students are interested in learning subjects that have
immediate relevance to their job or personal life. Make sure that your
professors customize all deliverable processes and that you are really
spending your money (or your parents) wisely.
In conclusion, make the most of
your educational experience by asking that they provide you with the most.
The days of lecture, test and grade are over. Universities around the world
have recognized that canned education belongs in the can. Sempre Audi –
“Dare to be wise” Horace
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Robert Williams Adjunct Instructor - Buena Vista University Master of Educational Leadership Viterbo University
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Determination
would perhaps describe the motivational tool I have used to travel the
academic road to success. The more determination a person has for success
will inspire the most motivational skills to become successful. I came from
a family who did not know or recognize the greatest importance of
educational values needed for success. I am what you might call a late
bloomer. I wanted my children and my grandchildren to know the significance
an education can make in their lives. I started to college at the age of 42
years old, and I have not stopped. I intend to graduate with a Masters in
Guidance and Counseling this December 2008.
Being determined means to be
ready to study and work toward the goal(s) set to see a fruitful end. Life
has a way of teaching us the important steps to take and to give honor to
whom honor is due. I do my best to walk a Christian life and to encourage
those around me not to give up. Faith and determination go hand in hand.
Secondly, I place the value of doing my part. My part is allowing time to
study and to plan time for every facet within my life such as, church,
family, work, school, and my self.
Finally, using the experiences
of life as a stepping stone to keep me on a path to reach my goal (s). Life
is the motivational tool I use the most. I believe we need to live life to
its fullest.
Joyce Ann Wolfe
Master of Science in Counseling
Murray State University
Although it may be intimidating at first, it is definitely helpful to go to your professor's office hours before a test or whenever there is something that you don't completely understand either because it's difficult material or they didn't explain it clearly or you didn't have enough time to write down good notes in class. It has been my experience that most professors care about you and want you to understand and do well in their class, so they are very willing to take the time to answer all of your questions. In spite of their busy schedules, they set aside specific office hours for their students, so they want you to take advantage and ask them for help. It also shows them that you are genuinely interested in the class, that you care about how well you do, and that you want to learn more. I recommend that before you go to meet with your professor, you should make a list of all the questions you have so that you feel more organized and prepared, and then you won't forget any of the things that you wanted to ask while you were there. In addition, if you are concerned about a test grade or any other matter relating to the class, just go and talk about it respectfully with your professor, but don't whine or argue with them. It will make you feel more comfortable and they will appreciate your honesty and maturity.
Joann Kelly
Master of Marine Science
University of North Carolina
Studying Techniques and Habits:
I use various types of study tools. I am also a creature of habit; I have
created a designated place to study. Along with the designated place, I have
created a designated schedule at the beginning of each semester for each
class with an allotted time to work on lessons and to prepare for test. I
mark on my calendar the due dates of papers, assignments, and test
schedules. One of the most important tools I think a student can use is
acquiring information from the teaching Professor if early submission of
assignments is acceptable. When early submissions are acceptable, it will
allow you extra time to study for upcoming test or to work on term papers
that are due at the end of the semester.
I create a list of bold faced typed words out of the book I use for the
class and define each one. Another important tool is outlining
each chapter. This will allow you to read but also write the information
acquired out of the chapter. When the professor goes over the information
during the class time, you will be familiar with the topics that are spoken.
I also create a test for my self to take on the information that has been
given during class. I study the material each week to keep my self familiar
with the topics that are given during a semester.
Joyce Ann Wolfe
Master of Science in Counseling
Murray State University
My advice has
to do with students who are married and are either in school or returning to
continue their education. It is essential that your spouse has a full
understanding of what to expect when returning to study for your graduate
degree or continued education. Before making this decision you and your
spouse must establish roles and responsibilities regarding child rearing,
family income, meal obligations, and even day to day schedules.
Likewise, it is very important
to have the full moral support of your spouse for the challenges that you
will face in school. You must both be fully committed to each other and
fully committed to the academic goals that you have set for yourself. This
will be very valuable support during the trials and tribulations of school.
Matthew Joiner Lozier
PhD, Public Health
University of Iowa
I could not have succeeded in school without the support from my friends and loved ones. I have had to ask for it on occasion. People who have not experienced college first hand, may not understand that you may not be able to do everything and anything with them. Having explained how important my grades were, I have received much needed encouragement and praise.
I have sought out others who are willing to study with me. I have searched for like-minded students, who are trying to succeed as well. Surrounding myself with people who have a successful attitude keeps my attitude up too. I think it is imperative to ask and receive positive feedback for your success. It appears to help keep me on the right path.
Angela Davidson
Clarion University
One thing that helps me be successful in the classroom is the time that I spend outdoors. I spend 2 hours a day commuting to school, four hours in a classroom, and four hours doing assignments on any average day. I cherish the time in between that I spend with my family and I love my sleep time as well! However, even my family knows that I need that "ME" time in order to be a successful student, mother, and wife! I strive for 30 to 45 minutes of activity on most days of the week. I love to run and ride my bike. Being outside with nature and having time to reflect on my day gives me energy and helps keep me healthy. In a world where everything, including school, moves at such a fast pace, I make a point to have time a few minutes a day doing what I love to do! When I return home after a run or a bike ride, I am energized and ready to tackle the tasks at hand. While most college campuses offer a workout facility, a fancy gym is not absolutely necessary in order to get a quality workout! As a student I spend lots of time reading, writing and forcing my brain to focus on what I have to learn. I enjoy learning, but I have found that by giving my brain a much needed break during the day, I am even more successful in the classroom. I try to make appropriate food choices and always eat breakfast. You can't concentrate in the classroom if you are preoccupied with hunger! The next time you feel stressed out and overloaded with school work, try taking a break! Go for a 30 minute brisk walk, get some air, and love the sunshine! When you return, your mind will be refreshed and your body will love you for it!
Amanda Carter Rorrer
University of North Carolina
As a returning
student after thirteen years, I was excited as well as apprehensive about
going back to school. Not only did I leave my home of seventeen years, but I
also left my friends and family to move to a town I knew nothing about.
However, as a single Mother, I knew I wanted to further my education in
order to provide a quality lifestyle for myself and my daughter.
Months before the fall semester
even started, I emailed all my professors, introduced myself, and asked for
the required texts and materials for each class I had registered for. By the
time I arrived in Flagstaff, I had already purchased and received all my
books for my fall classes. I found most of the books online at a
significantly lower cost than purchasing them at the university bookstore. I
also arrived a week before classes started and toured the campus, walking
and exploring on my own, with my daughter in her stroller. I familiarized
myself with the route to my classes from my apartment on campus. When the
first day of school arrived, I felt fully prepared to tackle my first
semester of classes since 1995.
I kept a detailed calendar,
noting all due dates of assignments, required readings and upcoming tests
and papers. I made flash cards for my Spanish class and practiced a little
bit each day. I also used the breaks in between classes to read literature
and finish any written assignments. In addition, I qualified for the Federal
Work Study Program and worked in the front office of Family Housing where I
currently live. I was able to complete much of my homework while sitting at
the front desk when I was not assisting residents. By studying between
classes and during my office hours, I was able to decrease the amount of
study time at home with my daughter. Despite taking 13 credit hours and
working 20 hours each week, I never felt exhausted or overwhelmed due to
excellent time management.
Organization and time
prioritization are both essential to succeeding in school. Academic success
is possible no matter what stage of life you are in. Remember that you will
make mistakes but determine to learn from them and avoid the same pitfalls
in the future. Reach out to your fellow students, learn names and faces and
take down phone numbers and email addresses. Put together study groups at
home, the library or at a local coffee shop. Get to know your professors and
take advantage of their office hours. Your teachers are there for you and
want you to succeed. Talk to them, ask them questions and do not hesitate to
express any frustrations or concerns you may have with the class material.
Do not forget...your professors were all students at one time or may still
be working on their own education.
I am proud of my
accomplishments and am grateful to friends and family for their support and
suggestions. Do not let anything or anyone get in the way of your education.
Just Do It!!!!
Melissa Gay Reiswig
Northern Arizona University
Here are a few
helpful tips that I have used over the years to make sure that I keep moving
forward with my education and do not get stagnant. First of all - do not be
afraid of your professors! I think that saying for bears goes with
professors, they are more afraid of you than you are of them. Seriously
though, they have office hours for a reason and they may seem grumpy or
scary or very knowledgeable, but go and talk with them and create a bond.
This is beneficial in large lectures and small seminars because they get to
know your face, your name, how you think about things and then they can
teach accordingly - not to mention the brownie points. If you are not sure
how to approach them, find something they are interested in or researching
and open a conversation about that, ask them how you can improve in the
course even if you are doing fine, anything to start a conversation and
build a connection will help you feel more comfortable and connected to the
university and will help when you need recommendation letters in the future.
This tip is for graduate
students and ambitious undergraduates. The first part of this advice is very
simple and every student going to school knows it: DO THE READING. Do not
fall behind with the reading, or not read it because you read it a year ago,
or the myriad other reasons. At this point in your career you should be
excited and into the readings so read it. If it is a book you read before,
read it again because you will probably read it with new eyes and pick up
things you missed last time. Also, the bibliography, work cited, reference
page is your friend. If you notice that a certain author keeps being cited
in the works you are reading, look in the bibliography and then go read
their original work. This may blow some of your minds, but authors cite
their sources for a reason one of which is if you want to question the
assumptions, their reading of the author, or just find our what was said
earlier - you use the bibliography. All graduate students should become
friends with the bibliography and consider it part of their assigned
reading. This will help prepare you for quals and your dissertation not to
mention class.
Natasha Jankowski
PhD in Higher Education
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
I would say
that the key to getting a high GPA in college is to learn how to study. I
know that sounds easy and you may already think that you know how to study.
Well the truth is everyone studies differently. It took me until was almost
a Junior before I knew the best way to study for myself. I used to have a
really long study session just before tests where for hours at a time I
would read over the same information. I would still do well on the test
however, I wouldn’t retain the information for long after the test was over.
This of course made writing papers and final exams where I had to recall
that information extremely difficult.
I started my Junior year
studying everyday for about 20 min at a time. I would study for 20 min and
then I would get up and do the dishes and come back to my notes and see what
I remembered. If I had retained the information I would study something else
for 20 min and so on. Not only did I retain information but I was able to do
other things around the house and in my life that needed to be done.
I strongly recommend bringing
your books with you where ever you go. If you get caught at a train then
pick up your book/notes and try to pick one thing to remember. It’s all
about time management. I have and have had a full time job all through my
college career and I know that I am not alone. I found that every moment of
studying would have to count. I couldn’t afford to read for an hour and not
retain the information. Sometimes that hour was all I had.
I know these days it is very
common for people to try to juggle work, school, relationships and sometimes
families. I can tell you right now that when you are in any of these
situations you have to make time for school, even if it’s a small amount.
Get up 20 minutes early or look at your notes while you brush your teeth.
Ask loved ones to help you study. Make a game out of word association so
that you can remember the material. I am a criminal justice major and I
would have my boyfriend try to help me remember court cases by word
association. It helped me on the test and we were able to spend time
together. You need to make school a priority but you can’t make it your
life.
Learn the best way for you to
study and learn how to manage your time. Most importantly try to interweave
studying and your other responsibilities/relationships together. Otherwise
you will have to choose between them and one of them will lose.
Amanda Elane Meyers
Western Michigan University
For those that are interested
in retaining knowledge from their classes beyond the semester (which I
highly recommend) and those that are going to head into graduate school I
offer the end of semester review advice. At the end of every semester, after
finals are over and everything is done for a heartbeat, I sit down and go
through each of my courses one by one. I start by reviewing any notes that I
wrote, books that I read, etc and I organize all of the class materials into
a binder. Once they are organized and I have gone back through the entire
course reflecting on my experience I type up a one page synopsis of the
course to put at the beginning of the binder including major themes, big
ideas, questions left unanswered, and others so that I can go to that binder
anytime in the future and with a glance at the beginning see if it will be
helpful to my current semesters classes or projects. It is also nice to look
back over the semester and see all the work you have done as well as how you
grow throughout the class.
The last tip that I have to
offer is this: organization skills are very important! Whatever system works
for you please employ, but there must be some sort of organizational
structure to get through the educational system. There are so many forms,
offices, due dates, etc. that it is necessary to succeed (even in getting
scholarships, studying abroad, etc. this focus on
organization will pay off) and to enjoy the opportunities that college
presents. You need to be responsible for yourself and your dates. I use a
planner and highlighters where I mark (using a different color) personal
activities and dates, classes, departmental dates, thesis dates, etc. so
that by glancing at my planner I can tell by the color what areas I need to
focus or take of next week. Also, highlighting helps me to remember but
whatever system you use, I plead with you to be organized to make it
through.
Natasha Jankowski
PhD in Higher Education
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
I'm amazed at
how many students try to write their essays in one night. Even if you don't
care, or even if you have tremendous faith in your own ability-- it's much,
much easier to break it down. I don't mean you have to take weeks. Just
going from one step to two can make a huge difference.
Typing with one hand while
skimming through notes and books with the other is inefficient, stressful,
and difficult. Don't wait until the night before your essay's due before you
look at the assignment. Your writing will be anchored every time you have to
skip to another chapter or look up a reference you want to use or call a
friend to ask what page something is on. Your sentences will be shoddy and
disconnected and you could be up all night and barely meet the page
requirements.
You can still procrastinate if
you want to! But do some basic organization the night before you write. Look
at the topic and decide what you're going to write on. I always spend an
hour or two looking up the quotes I'd like to use. Bookmark the relevant
pages, or write the pages down. Scribble some web addresses and what
information you got from them. Jot down a few sentences, just a few
sentences, of points you want to make or possible paragraph topics. You
don't need Venn Diagrams or Graphic Organizers or Rough Drafts. But take the
information you want to use, and without even starting your essay, just make
it accessible to yourself. Writing the actual essay will be infinitely
easier, because everything you need will be right in front of you. The
writing will inevitably be better ordered, because you'll have something of
an outline of what you want to discuss from the very beginning. An hour on
Wednesday will save you from an all-nighter on Thursday.
For the ambitious, give it even
more time. I always take at least a week to write an essay, even if I don't
start until just a few days before. Gather what you're going to say and link
the related pieces together. The better idea you have of what you're going
to say before you sit down at your keyboard, the easier the essay will be to
write.
This is also my advice for
long-term research projects: essays of ten or more pages for which you have
months to write. Don't start writing yet; do the research and get all of
your information. In this situation, before I even think about writing, I do
a secondary run-through of my research and re-catalogue
everything into groups which I eventually manipulate into paragraphs. It
sounds tedious and useless, but if you have pages and pages of information,
just an hour of organization can make a brilliant and far-reaching essay out
of a chaotic mess. Some people are in such a rush to get the paper started
and get it done that they add on extra hours.
Scott E. Olmsted
Georgetown University
Tips for taking/preparing for Exams:
•Familiarize yourself with your
exam schedule well in advance of exam time.
•Begin studying at least 2
weeks prior to each exam (This doesn’t have to be 2 hour sessions. If you
only have five minutes, use it to study). Cramming has been clinically
proven to be ineffective!
•Make flash cards for yourself.
Writing it down will help you to learn it!
•Test yourself with your flash
cards. Go back and study those that you haven’t yet mastered.
•If the professor spends a
great amount of time on a particular subject, chapter, etc., you can bet
that it will be on the exam. For example, if you cover Chapter 3 in five
minutes, but spend 2 entire classes on Chapter 11, you should know Chapter
11 front to back before your exam.
•To prepare for essay exams,
make up acronyms for your answers. That will make up the “meat” of your
essay. Example test question: What four factors affect the cost of money?
Remember "I’m Trying to Reel it In" (ITRI)
Investment opportunities
Time preferences for consumption
Risk
Inflation expectations
Jamie Tidwell
Master of Health Administration
The University of Memphis
I have found that when writing an essay for a professor, it is best to write it as soon as possible. For example, writing the essay about a week before it is due, then taking the time to schedule an appointment with your teacher to discuss and proofread your paper to ensure it is what was expected is extremely helpful. In my circumstances, my professors have not only helped me in making my paper the best it could be, they got to know me. Therefore, a certain amount of rapport was established. This could also be useful in the future if you are thinking about applying to a graduate school, because you could use that teacher to write a recommendation for you to further your academic success.
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Kristen Harris University of Tennessee
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I think that the key to being successful in any given task, academic or otherwise, is to believe in your abilities and apply yourself to achieving your objectives. If it is important to you to score top marks in your studies, then you should "study to show thyself approved" if you will, and devote the necessary time and energy to achieve such honors. I personally don't consider myself to be that "smart," just well-disciplined in my studies. I put a certain amount of time, energy, and preparation into all my studies. I also involve myself in class discussions so that I can absorb the communicative aspects of learning. At the advanced level of education (masters and PhD), it is incumbent upon the student to take the initiative and properly prepare for, and devote ample time to, all coursework. No one forces you to be a good student, it should come naturally.
There are basically two types
of loci in this world: extrinsic and intrinsic. One is either driven by an
internal locus of control to succeed, or motivated by an external locus of
control: money, fame, acceptance of others, etc. My personal locus of
control happens to be an internal "need to succeed" in my studies. I am by
nature, a neurotic student. I prepare for assignments very early and begin
studying for tests early as well. I am not in school just to "get a degree,"
rather, I am a part of the educational dynamic in order to become a more
well-rounded individual and academian. As one
reaches the higher echelons of academic success, one realizes how much of an
honor it truly is to be recognized by others for academic accomplishments.
The purpose of intelligence is to enlighten oneself and share this accrued
knowledge with others. Awards and degrees mean nothing if one doesn't apply
that knowledge and help others.
Jonathan Todd Wigle
Master of Early Childhood Education
East Tennessee State University
Extracurriculars: Get involved. I found that my general happiness was directly related to being involved on campus. As I got more and more involved, joining club athletic teams, volunteer groups, the student newspaper, social clubs, and fund raising groups, I had more and more fun and was happier. When I was happy, I was more dedicated to my school work and had a stronger drive to do well. You will also get to know more people. When you know more people in your classes you will have people to call to get notes for missed classes, you can form study groups or ask questions about confusing topics, and you will also have motivators for going to class. So, get involved, your GPA will benefit and so will you.
Kelly Laura Hocutt
Vanderbilt University
One of the best professors I ever had told me to never be afraid to raise my hand first and ask a question or a make a comment. She said whomever speaks first guides and shapes the discussion that follows. I discovered she was right: class discussions did follow the questions or comments of the first student who raised his or her hand. After observing this dynamic, I became more confident in being the first one to raise my hand and initiate the class discussion.
Shauna Lee Manning
Master of Education in Instructional Design
University of Massachusetts Boston
| Maintain excellence | You need to have excellence in your attendance. Show up early for class. Turn in your excellent home work on time. I took notes at class and then typed them out at home. This helps to review your work too. |
| Attitude of gratitude | Keep a thankful, positive heart towards your professor and also your fellow students. Do not grumble or complain. |
| Goal setting | Set short term goals to achieve the best grades on the way to your final exam or final project. |
| Never give up | There will be obstacles that you will face but keep on persevering towards your goals. |
| Appearance | Dress well. Don't be sloppy in your outward appearance. |
| Team up | Join with other excellent students in class and help each other out in your studies too. |
| Inspiration | Let your faculties be stimulated to a high level of
activity or feelings. |
| Pray | Yes, pray that the Lord will help to guide and to strengthen you in your academic pursuits |
| Servant | It helps to have a servant's heart. Be humble and willing to do extra things for the teacher or for other students. Give a greeting card, share a snack or give a cold glass of water to someone who needs it. |
Yes, you are right. This is an acrostic that just happens to spell: Magna Tips.
Ruth ann Pulaski
Master of Music
New Mexico Highlands University
Something that is very easy to do that will help you and your grades a lot is to look over your class syllabus and schedule your first week. It helps to know what is required of you throughout the course of the semester and to know your deadlines before they surprise you. Some assignments require more thought, time, research, and planning than others and it helps to know about these assignments further than a day in advance. Also , some professors are not as good at warning you about upcoming assignments and events and still expect you to have your work in on time-- and they will not be very lenient with late submissions, giving point penalties for each day late. So get a planner and put big assignments on the calendar. You may also find that you have 3 big exams or papers due the same day or week. If you know this at the beginning of the semester, some professors will be more likely to let you request more time or alternate submission dates. Even if you are a big procrastinator, spending 1 hour at the beginning of the semester going over dates and deadlines will save you from a ton of stress, will help you avoid late assignments, and will help you submit stronger work on time.
Kelly Laura Hocutt
Vanderbilt University
Go see your
professors during their office hours! Many students do not avail themselves
of this benefit. Few things are more rewarding to a faculty member than
having an interested student in class, and meeting them one and one will
build a relationship with them. I made it a point to always go to office
hours for each professor I had at least once a semester. Frequently, I would
discuss my upcoming paper topic with them and always left with valuable
resources and advice. Usually, the discussion helped me hone my topic and
develop my thesis question and often gave me a new perspective on the
subject.
In addition, meeting my
professors face to face let them know who I was. Therefore, if I emailed or
called, the professor immediately knew which student I was. Since few
students at my university take advantage of office hours, students who do
distinguish themselves as interested in the course work and subject matter.
Faculty are more likely to give such students the benefit of the doubt in
grading in addition to writing better recommendation letters for them.
Shauna Lee Manning
Master of Education in Instructional Design
University of Massachusetts Boston
There comes a time in every busy student's life when your mission- to complete all tasks to the best of your ability in a given amount of time- becomes impossible. Some choose to let their work suffer or to make considerable sacrifices ("Oh, I can't be your maid of honor anymore... finals week is approaching!") But fortunately, mission: impossible need not become mission: hopeless. The clever student will use this opportunity to connect (or reconnect) with teachers and- gasp!- communicate. With an honest assessment of your predicament, a sincere commitment to uphold your responsibilities as a student, and a proposed solution, you will find a way to succeed. It is important to remember that teachers are there for YOU. Get to know them! With that said, never abuse your power to ask for assistance; your "get out of jail for free" pass should be earned.
Sarah Ludwig
Master of Violin Performance
Rice University
Freshman 15.
The infamous weight gain that comes with your first year of college.
Sometimes, Freshman 20, or 30, or more! It is the phenomenon that morphs
hordes of fresh-faced, energized, svelte freshmen into nameless blobs
swathed in university hoodies and sweats. Here are some tips to help prevent
you from packing on the pounds...
1.) Prioritize sleep. It's important to your health, happiness, brainpower,
and sanity. Did I mention metabolism? Because if you're needing more sugar
to stay awake, the candy, the soda and the Starbucks will only go so far.
2.) Fried chicken is not your new best friend. Neither is ice cream. Or
pizza. Real friends are much better, so use your free time to join a club,
go to free events, and socialize with complete strangers. After visiting my
fair share of colleges, I guarantee there is a free ballroom dancing class
somewhere on campus.
3.) Chances are you can get to the gym. For free. Don't be scared or
intimidated. There might be TV! (Why else would I work out for a full hour?
Must survive commercial break. Must see end.)
4.) Drink in moderation. Enough said.
5.) If you do gain some weight, don't stress. Just make sure it's not a
symptom of stress, depression, or loneliness. And for heaven's sake, get to
the mall! There might be a sale at the Gap!
Sarah Ludwig
Master of Violin Performance
Rice University
The most important step to take in succeeding in college is to learn your own personal learning style. For example, some people learn best visually while others are auditory learners. If you are a visual learner, flashcards may prove to be very helpful. If you are an auditory learner, it might help to record something and listen to it daily. Once you find out what type of learning style is best for you, it is likely that you will learn an ample amount of material in an efficient amount of time.
Kristen Harris
University of Tennessee
Office Hours and Letters of Recommendation
As an undergraduate at
Princeton University, I was often hesitant to visit office hours, and later
when I had to ask professors for letters of recommendation, I was even more
terrified. I assumed they were busy or wouldn't remember me or just wouldn't
feel like writing a letter of recommendation.
Then I became a graduate
student instructor at University of Michigan, and I realized how wrong I had
been. As a teacher, I love when students stop by my office hours.
Instructors are required to be in our offices a certain number of hours each
week, and we're just sitting there waiting for someone to come entertain us!
Plus, I'm more relaxed in my office and better able to give one-on-one
assistance than when I'm trying to manage an entire classroom. As for
letters of recommendation, I'm always happy to write them, especially for
students who sought me outside of class. Because I got to know those
students personally, their goals and work ethic, I can make their letters of
recommendation stand out.
As for my own requests, I no
longer hesitate to ask a professor I know well for a letter. I can store it
indefinitely through Career Services and send it out to as many future
employers as I like. Moreover, I keep several types of letters in my files
at Career Services: one that speaks to my academic interests, another that
recommends me as an instructor, etc. Depending on what a future employer
asks for, it helps to send a letter tailored to one aspect of my academic
career.
On a side note, I've had the
pleasure of writing a letter of recommendation for one of my professors who
came up for tenure. So the letter writing can go both ways!
Kristiana Kahakauwila
Master of Fine Arts
University of Michigan
Study Tip for Comprehensive Exams:
One thing that I have learned
is that it takes consistency when it comes to studying for a comprehensive
exam, whether it is at the end of a course or at the end of a degree
program. A good way to start out studying for a long range exam is to find a
place that you will pass two or three times daily. A good example would be
the inside of a door to your apartment or residence hall. Other places could
be walls, mirrors, and even a refrigerator. For a consistent examples sake,
I will keep the example of using a door. You would then create note cards
and visuals of the information you would need to learn and you would place
them onto the door within your passing visual range. As you pass the door
you can take a few seconds or minutes to read over the material in your
daily routine. You can add or take away information as needed. This creates
consistent and constant reinforcement of a lot of information that needs to
be covered.
Adam J. Robertson
Master of Science in Counselor Education
Mississippi State University
I waited ten years to begin on my doctorate at MU and as I look back on my life, my advise to others is to avoid being scared to achieve what you want in your educational life. I was scared to death to take statistics and to write at a level of a doctoral student only to find out that I am capable of both. So as I said before, Don't be afraid of what you dream to achieve! GO FOR IT!!!
Cynthia Kaye Jorgenson
PhD, Educational Leadership
University of Missouri
As a single parent for many years during my education, it was always my priority to keep my family first. In the end it was my family who supplied the support to complete my education and share in my success. My advice would be to be very selfish with your time, plan well, don't wait until the last minute (although some of us work better under that pressure), and take failures as a learning opportunity to become successful.
Clara Ervin
Master of Special Education
Pittsburg State University
Note-taking
Taking
detailed notes was one of the most important factors in my academic
success. Ideally, I would take notes on my laptop. Barring that, I would
record the lecture on a micro-cassette player (with the professor's
permission), and at the earliest opportunity I would type the notes and
print them out. This accomplished two things: it would give me a permanent
record of the lecture and it would re-emphasize the information, which would
enable me to retain more of it. I found that it is best not to rely solely
on the recorder, though; I would also jot down the high points of the
lecture in the event of a problem with the recording.
If the professor objected to
being recorded (which some did), I took notes by hand. I did not try to
write everything word-for-word--most of my professors talked too fast for
that. Instead, I developed my own form of shorthand--I would write only the
most important words, leaving out articles, adjectives, and verbs. If the
professor was lecturing from the book, I would highlight important
information or make notes in the margin, such as an asterisk or brackets. I
would then write the page number in the corresponding section of the notes
for future reference. As with the recorded notes, I would type the
handwritten notes as soon as possible after class, while the lecture was
still somewhat fresh in my mind.
Prior to the test, I would
re-read the notes, usually several times. If the professor provided a study
guide or review sheet, I would go through the notes and highlight areas that
the professor had stressed. I often scanned the review/study guide into the
computer and typed the answers in red. I would print them out and read them
over and over, right up until time for the test.
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Tina Marie Shelby Master of English Texas A&M University
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STUDY TECHNIQUES / MEMORIZATION
Success in college can be guaranteed if you focus on three major areas of
your life while enrolled:
1) Resting ~ Make sure you get some sleep. If you are a procrastinator and
wait until the night before to cram for a test, keep in mind that research
shows that an extra hour of sleep is just as advantageous as an extra hour
of cram-studying. Sometimes you will have to force yourself to make time for
sleep, but "rest" assured, it is one of the single most important study
habits that you can form. Without adequate sleep you will not be able to
focus and that precious GPA that you are trying so earnestly to protect will
be in jeopardy.
2) Memorization ~ If your professor says it, references it, or alludes to it
indirectly -- you should try to memorize it. The ABSOLUTE best way to
understand and memorize concepts is to find someone ignorant of the subject
matter and teach it to them. Go through the material step by step with them
and explain it to them so that they can also understand it. The hard part is
finding a volunteer (start with parents and siblings) who will listen for
any length of time. Yes, this technique is time consuming, but it is
extremely effective. It also works in ANY subject matter -- from English
literature to organic chemistry.
The second most effective technique with regards to memorization is making
flash cards. Sure, they seem childish and bring back those nostalgic
feelings from the days of memorizing multiplication tables, but they are
effective. The important thing about making the flash cards is the actual
MAKING process. You will memorize ("learn") as much from making the actual
cards as you will flipping through them and studying the material on them.
Making them is easy. Just take your notes (professor made study guides are
even better) and turn each note or fact into a question. Put the question on
one side of the card and a correct response on the reverse. Yes, this too is
time consuming. As you can see, there is no "quickie fix" in the world of
studying.
3) Networking ~ This is just a common sense way of saying "ask those around
you for help and suggestions." I would never advocate anyone being an
educational mooch, but if the stranger sitting beside you has had your
current professor before, maybe she can tell you a little about his testing
styles or the types of questions he asks. This is NOT a form of cheating! So
many students feel as if they are committing a crime by trying to network to
make things easier for themselves. Networking can also include forming study
groups or joining academic related clubs. Many times the professors who
sponsor these clubs or honor societies will offer you private advice and
suggestions for success within their department. Networking is just another
way of saying "make friends and work with them."
Jonathon Fields
PhD, Educational Leadership
East Tennessee State University
Especially at
large universities it is easy to become a number. This can make you feel
alone in your quest to get an education—but this is not the case. To feel
involved you must get involved, even if you think you don’t have time.
Prioritizing a school or hobby-related job (or volunteer opportunities) over
partying and being stuck in the library will pay off. You will find that
there is time to do it all and your study time will probably be spent more
efficiently. Working and volunteering while I was a student gave me
much-needed breaks from studying, connected me with my professors and the
community surrounding my college, and helped me keep a healthy perspective
on life rather than being bogged down by school.
I got a job in my department
within the first two weeks of college. This gave me money and place to make
friends with students from other years. Their advice helped me in numerous
ways. Working within my department also let me get to know some professors
outside of classes. This connection made it so that I never felt like a
number and their recommendations got me a job the week after I graduated.
If you find it hard to get a
job or you don’t want to commit to a schedule, there is always volunteering.
Near most colleges you can find after-school programs, food pantries, or an
SPCA that needs help. Connecting yourself to the community outside of your
school will be rewarding in many ways, and you might even get a home-cooked
meal out of it! I helped out with a local Girl Scout troop for three years.
Spending time with them was a great way to get my mind off of school.
Babysitting and house sitting jobs also came my way as a result of being out
in the community. Give your time and you won’t feel at a loss
Allie Taisey
Master of Arts in Teaching
Cornell University
Most colleges or universities give students agendas at the beginning of the school year, for free. My advice: use it! (Okay, so maybe your school doesn't give out agendas; go to the grocery store and buy yourself a planner.) If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. During the first week of classes each semester, professors each hand out a detailed syllabus, which usually includes a course calendar. Take the course calendar with your agenda and write in all assignment due dates, quizzes or tests, etc. It's not a bad idea either to write in which chapters are to be read for that book. Use different colors, pens, stickers, or highlighters to organize the assignments by course. For example, if you see blue you know there's a math assignment coming up. Staying organized and on top of your schedule saves a lot of stressing over due dates and assignments.
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Mary Elizabeth Burr Florida State University
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One of the
biggest contributors to success in college is proper and efficient studying
methods. Each person and class will have its own unique requirements, but
some general rules are applicable in all situations. It is best to spread
one's studying over a period of several days, not several hours. Leading up
to the test, one should have test-related material designated for each day,
with the final day being a full-scope review. Not only does this allow extra
time for unanticipated difficulty in studying specific sections, but it also
prevents last-minute cramming that often leaves a student stressed and
lacking a depth of knowledge of the target material. A regular, steady diet
is always better than a feast-and-famine routine when it comes to one's
health. Studying is no different.
Other study tips include
getting a sufficient night's sleep before the exam. Pulling an all-nighter
to study for an exam is rarely justified and can usually be avoided with
proper planning. A good night's rest will ensure the brain is in its optimal
state for recalling memorized information and for computational tasks. Also,
one should take breaks at regular hourly intervals to prevent study-fatigue;
a simple 10-minute stroll around the library can be enough to rejuvenate the
brain for further studying. Lastly, study groups can be particularly helpful
in collaborating several points-of-view about a single subject.
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Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida
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In my opinion, there is no straightforward or objective methodology to obtaining the holy grail of academic mastery- the 4.0. As a student that was able to reap the copious rewards of the 4.0 for at least one semester, I can say that it is truly an incredible feeling to achieve academic excellence. However, I would argue that one does not merely need to work hard if they wish to over-achieve at their respective College or University. Good grades are a product of passion and interest. Professors appreciate students that are on top of their assignments and spend countless hour at the library writing papers. But it is the student who goes above and beyond; the student who does work that is not on the syllabus that receives the highest praise and reaps the greatest reward.
My philosophy is as simple as this. Professors are academics and as such, they have immersed themselves in knowledge specific to their fields of interest. If you want to get a professors attention, don’t just spit back the information they lectured on verbatim. They have no interest in reading a paper that they have already written themselves. Rather, be contrary or better yet, say “this is good, but this is how it could be better.” By critiquing a professors beliefs or by seeking a reconciliation between two contradictory theories that both have strong arguments, you are undergoing a sort of collaboration that is unique to academia. It is this unique quality that makes the college campus so special and that allows groundbreaking and trail-blazing research and theory to emerge.
So as you embark on your wonderful journey known as college, keep in mind that academic excellence is a product of passion. If you are taking courses that stimulate and intrigue you, it is nearly impossible not to do well.
Eric Leiberman
Vanderbilt University
One of the tips I use before I begin to read a textbook for class, is to read the Index first. If you read the Index first, you will get an idea of what is important in the book you are about to read. An Index gives you a good idea of what topics are important to the author, and as you read the book, you will have an idea of what to look for in the book.
Ray Danieli
Master of Arts in American Studies
Georgetown University
To succeed in college can be quite a balancing act between personal life and academic life. Many students don't care to balance the two and that leads to many students not completing their degree. Only a handful of my senior class in high school graduated with a degree. A majority entered college but let the social realms of university life pull them from the sole purpose of going to college, to become educated. I enjoy having fun like the next person, but a line must be drawn. Time can very easily slip away while you are pursuing an education. You must set up times and dates you plan on working on big projects, papers, or studying. If you have this in your mindset from the beginning, the party going on at the same time takes a back seat. I learned that lesson the hard way my freshmen year of college when I received a C in a history course. I have never received anything close to a C in my life and it taught me a very valuable lesson on balancing fun and school. It is the only C I received while I was in college. It is very easy to used to C's but I challenge you to push yourself above mediocrity. The pressure of living it up while you are young are very strong and I pray you remember the importance time management. Most of my friends who rather have "fun" while they were young can be found at the local bars trying to make ends meet. It is hard to see that while you are in school but if you can discipline yourself while in college, you will already be very ahead of the majority of people your in age group when you enter the job market. Good luck.
David John Pietzman
Masters, Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning
Harding University
Preparation, and Studying
Methods and Habits
1). Take clear, concise notes. You may have to abbreviate a lot because of a
fast-speaking professor, but as long as you understand your notes that’s all
that matters.
a. By the time you enter college, you may have developed a note-taking
style; however, there’s always room for improvement.
b. You will need to learn to adjust your style
according to the style of the professors and the way they present the
material to the class.
2).Do not be afraid to ask questions of your professor and/or your peers
during and outside a class session.
3) Do all work that is graded, and do as much of the suggested work as
possible. While it may consume some of your free time, it will be well worth
it, especially if you struggle in a specific area.
4) Always read what is assigned prior to the introduction of that material
in class. This allows you to benefit yourself with interaction in class and
come to class prepared with questions.
a. When I read material for the first time, I
always put a star or asterisk next to trouble spots or areas that I do not
understand.
5) Studying is entirely dependent on the personality and work habits of the
individual, but your habits can be adjusted towards successful studying,
too.
a. I only begin my actually studying for an exam 2 days prior to the date of
the exam.
b. Find your “hot spot” for studying – the library, your bedroom, outside,
whatever works best for you.
i. I have to be in my bedroom closed off from all possible distractions so
that I can put my full concentration toward the material.
ii. Your “hot spot” should be an area that allows you to remain focused and
motivated, and should be a place you will not be miserable in after studying
there for an hour or more. Finding your “hot spot” may take several tries in
different places, but trust me – it will be well worth your time.
c. I reread all textbook chapters/material. I take my time to understand
everything that I read to my best ability.
d. I suggest studying with a classmate; you don’t need to interact directly
while studying but you can be resources for one another. Many times your
classmate will understand a specific area of the material much better and
have a good way of explaining/demonstrating it to you, and vice versa with
you providing assistance to that person.
e. Re-work any problems/calculations, in relation to the exam material that
have been assignments so that you will have an answer. Be sure to re-work
the problems/calculations until you understand the process fully and not
just how to do that specific problem.
f. Re-read notes several times, but at least 3 or 4 times depending on the
amount of notes you have for this exam.
i. Memorization: Re-read notes as many times as possible before you begin to
read and be able to recognize when you are not taking the material in
anymore. At that point, you are merely wasting your time and actually
harming yourself because you may begin to mix-up material in your head since
you will not be concentrating as well.
6) Be willing to dedicate time to your studies; do not allow yourself to get
frustrated. If you begin to get frustrated, take a break from your studying
and return in 15-30 minutes with a motivated, open-mind.
Samantha Lynn Farris
Frostburg State University
My simple advice is that before taking a class that you make an appointment with your teacher or professor and to always keep an open line of communication with them. When you meet, respectfully let them know your goals and go over their expectations for students in their class. Always work hard to keep the goals that you have set for yourself and never settle for work that is not your best. Never ever be afraid or think that it is stupid to ask for help. Getting an A is important but it is not the most important thing in getting an education. Remember that if you do not get an A it is not the end of the world. To summarize if you do your best and respect yourself as well as others then you are going to do well. The most important thing is to just be yourself and do not try to be something that you are not.
Howard Allen Hoover
Masters, Criminal Justice
Sul Ross State University
When I was in middle school, I remember my parents inviting some family friends over for dinner. Their daughter, a junior in high school, was working on a FIVE PAGE PAPER for her honors English class. At the time, that sounded like an insurmountable task! I couldn't imagine finding enough to say to fill a five page paper -- at least, not enough quality material. But a few years later, I was writing five-, ten-, and fifteen-page papers and doing it quite well.
At each stage of education, it seems at first to be too much. College is a step up from high school. But when you make a few adjustments and finally adapt to the differences, you realize that you're PREPARED for this! Our education system, despite some flaws, is set up to help a person progress naturally to the next step and be able to succeed. Hence the reason we don't begin preschool pursuing a master's degree.
After college, I taught for two years before beginning my master's degree. I was putting it off until I just couldn't find any more excuses to wait. How would I do? I hadn't had to study for an exam, take notes, or write a paper for a couple of years. And frankly, I was enjoying the break. However, once I began, I found that I was just picking up where I left off. Yes, there were challenges (, but I was prepared to face them. In December, I graduated with an M. S. degree in Educational Administration and a 4.0 GPA. What next? Perhaps a doctorate degree is in my future.
If you find that you're not quite prepared for your next step, remember that there are people who will help. Your friends are resources, and most of your professors truly do want to see you succeed in their classes. So, RELAX. You're ready. Take the next step.
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Carissa K. Goodlet Master of Educational Administration Youngstown State University
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Tip 1: Extracurricular
Activities
Instead of joining a bunch of clubs and becoming only superficially involved
in each one, join the two or three that interest you most, go to all the
meetings and events, and run for an executive board position. You will meet
lots of great people, and you will make more of a difference by focusing
your energies on only a few difference causes/activities. Also, join some
kind of community service organization. You are lucky to go to college, and
it's nice to show your appreciation by giving back to those who do not lead
such a privileged life. Also, a lot community service is relaxing and gives
you a chance to wind down between going to class and doing homework.
Tip 2: Exams and Papers
Let's face it, college students procrastinate. Even if I tell you to start
writing your papers or studying for finals ahead of time (yes, you should do
this), you probably will only start writing or studying a few days before
the due date. However, even if you do not start writing until a few days
before the due date, you should still do your research ahead of time and
come up with a thesis. Writing as you go, without any intended direction,
just does not work in college. Also, avoid summarizing; you have to analyze
in college to get an A. Also, if a professor offers to read your rough
drafts and make suggestions, TAKE HIM/HER UP ON THE OFFER! This is an almost
sure way to get an A, because usually if you follow the professor's
directions, you will have a near perfect paper. Regarding exams, be sure to
do all the readings and take notes well before the exam. Once you get behind
on reading and note-taking, it is practically impossible to catch up. Also,
always attend class, even if the professor does not take attendance; you
could miss something important (like a due date or requirements for a
paper/test). Finally, if you need help with your paper, talk to the
professor during office hours. Professors are generally happy to help, and
you can get to know them better (which makes them favorably disposed to
giving you the benefit of the doubt when trying to decide your grade).
Tip 3: Living and Eating Healthy
It is very easy to become unhealthy and gain weight during college. Be sure
to go to the gym at least three times per week (this especially helps clear
your mind during finals and can energize you to continue working). If you do
not have time to go to the gym, bring your readings or notes to the gym and
read them while exercising at a slower pace. Also, never study in the
kitchen or anywhere near food, because when you study, you tend to get bored
and start eating. Without realizing it, you could eat an entire bag of candy
while reading. Also, reading in bed is a bad idea; there is such a thing as
a too comfortable study environment, and you almost always end up falling
asleep. Finally, the cafeteria generally has fattening and oily food, but if
you mix this with a salad or sandwich (or something grilled if they have
it), you can avoid the "freshmen 15." I know the dessert looks enticing, but
remember, it will be there all year, you do not have to sample every flavor
of ice cream at once!
Brenna Anatone
Georgetown University
Letters of recommendation are one of the most important tools when applying for a graduate degree, scholarship or other academic program. A number of steps go in obtaining a positive letter of recommendation. The first is an excellent relationship with your professors, especially those in your major field. Develop a good relationship with your professors, both in and outside of class, by working hard in class and seeking them out for one-on-one interaction.
The second step to obtaining a good letter is to ask your professors in the appropriate manner. Discuss your plans for an advanced degree or scholarship with your professors, so they can understand your goals. Provide them with the proper information to help them write the letter. This could include the address the letter should be sent to, information on the program or scholarship you are applying for and specific details on your individual successes so your professor can include them in the letter. Ensuring your professor has all this information will make the process go smoothly.
Lastly make sure to thank your professors for the extra time they took to help you. Also keep your professors updated on the programs you have applied for, so they can celebrate in your successes.
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Jessica Lynn Taylor Master of Arts in World History East Tennessee State University
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Always take notes while your reading! Even if they are only brief summaries. I write down quotes and page numbers as I go so that when I'm writing a paper I don't have to reread the article in order to discuss it. This is especially helpful when you are reading several pieces on a similar topic.
Kathryn Navickas
Master of Arts in English
SUNY Fredonia, and Binghamton University
For many people, college is a challenging experience as they try to juggle working full time along with their academics. Through my own experiences and in observing others, I have come to the conclusion that what helped get me through school were the small moments. As anyone who juggles a full load of courses along with 40 hour work weeks can attest to, there is very little time for big moments. By big moments I mean going out all night with friends, heading to the gym to work out, or even just going out for coffee. When opportunities arise for moments like these of course I would encourage anyone to take them. But the reality is they do not often for those students who are committed to both work and his or her academics. So I say, embrace the small moments. When living in the dorms this for me was meal time with my roommate or someone on my floor. It was the first snow of the year and just standing outside and watching it fall for a few minutes. It was late night study sessions (but know who you can and cannot study with) at the local diner with the really bad coffee. It was dancing goofy while folding laundry, and spreading post it note reminders on the alarm clock so I would not hit snooze. It was being social with co-workers who at times felt like my only friends. But most importantly, it was taking a minute here or there to take a deep breath. A really deep one. And remind myself that I could do it. So if anything, in the crazy chaotic episodes of the full-time student/full-time worker, always stop to breathe.
Steven Kitowski
Master of Arts in Bilingual/ESL Literacy Education
Northern Illinois University
Balancing a Variety of
Extracurriculars With a Pre-Professional Degree
As a pre-med student at Emory University, I knew that I could be engulfed
with work from my various classes as well as the pre-med required courses.
That being said, it was still of the highest importance for me to be
involved in non-academic activities on and off campus. This was true, not
only for my sanity, but to set my medical application and resume apart from
the thousands of other candidates applying. As a social escape, I joined a
fraternity, knowing that it would take up a serious amount of time. While a
fraternity of sorority is not for everyone, it could be an easy way to stay
socially involved with your peers as well as have a way to perform
philanthropy and take time to volunteer.
Another possibility to become
involved is a sport, whether it is a varsity or a club sport. I was a 4 year
member of the varsity track team and 3 year member of the club rugby team.
Why should you put yourself through that much activity on top of your
studying? There is no better or cheaper way to travel while in college than
being on an athletic team. Most teams will travel out of the state as well
as all over the country, and the best part is, they will pay for it.
Other avenues of extracurricular activities include music groups or
ensembles, debate teams, academic teams, among others.
Here are some tips to the balancing act. First, make sure that you do not only join the club, but become involved or even hold an office. Professional programs as well as employers love to see involvement and leadership. Leadership experience is a key ingredient to any application. Second, please do not stretch yourself out so thin that you do not have time to study. After all, that is your overall reason for being in college, and no matter how many activities you have, they could only help you stand out as a good student. To avoid this, become involved in activities over time. You should find out how much free time you have on top of your studying commitments.
On top of proving your ability to be well-rounded, extracurriculars serve a very important purpose-networking. Networking allows you to meet a variety of people, and it is important to stay on good terms with everyone. When applying to professional programs, letters of recommendation will be of the utmost importance. Teachers as well as coaches can be of great help if they see someone who is not only involved, but committed to his or her respective club or activity. At application time, you will need to call on these mentors and ask for their help to make you stand out as someone that has helped make a difference through a non-academic activity.
Let's say, however, that you do not get into a school of your choice or are put on a wait list. Your best options will be to take more classes, work in a lab or on a study, or just get a job in other avenues of life. This is where networking is an absolute necessity. In our job market and economy, you must stand out with employers, and many of your peers or people you have met along the way will be in a position to help you. If they recognize you as someone who has been involved and driven, they will go out on a limb and hire you or even refer you to their colleagues. I saw this many times, and the phrase still holds true, "It's not what you know, it's who you know!" This mythical "who" could just be that senior who was on your track team or junior who was in your string ensemble or just a fraternity alum who you impressed on a alumni relations dinner.
All these activities could be your key to success in school as well as professional programs, but extracurriculars are only a part of it. Balancing your schoolwork with other activities is your ticket to success.
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Stan N. Tolkachjov Emory University University of Tennessee Medical School
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I would like to address the
aspect of motivation. Is seems as though the true difference between living
life to other peoples' expectations and smashing through the boundaries of
these expectations comes down to motivation.
In my particular case, that motivation was a promise. In my late teens,
after a long battle with leukemia, my mother passed away. At that point in
my life I was without parents, my mother and father having divorced during
my childhood. I spent a long time following this event deciding what
direction my life would take, while others in my peer group where attending
college.
Before my mother passed, my promise to her was that I would do well enough
in school to attend college. I have now kept that promise, and decided to
attend college. After much hard work, maintaining focus on the objectives at
hand, I finished in the top of my class.
Becoming a member of such a prestigious group as this was not my original
goal. My goal was keeping my promise.
My advice is to make yourself a promise, and keep it.
I love you mom. This is for you.
David J. Hickson
Becker College
Talk to your professors. Don't just go to office hours. Take them out to lunch or bring them to your dining hall. Most are actually quite pleased to get to know students. Their knowledge and background make them interesting. Their connections and ability to land you jobs and admission to the graduate schools of your choice make them useful.
Have fun - however you can and want. College is the only time in your life when you'll have so much free time (even in the middle of the week!) to do what you like. Study, but don't neglect the benefits of being happy and relaxed on your memories, your education, and your future.
Alex Harris
Harvard University
When I first started to apply to graduate programs my only concern
was getting into a good school. It wasn’t until years later that I
understood the true complexity of selecting the perfect program. In some
disciplines, selecting the right program is simple. In others, the
reputation of the program, and its strengths and weaknesses may not be so
readily apparent. Here is some of the information that I wish I had when I
started my journey:
1) If you have the opportunity to attend an academic conference within your
discipline, you should absolutely go. You will have the chance to hear the
original research that is being conducted and it will give you an edge over
other applicants when writing your personal statements (see below for more).
You will also get a chance to meet with the faculty and interact with them
on a personal level. Many conferences have social gatherings organized by
various graduate programs specifically for the purposes of networking and
graduate student recruitment. Most importantly, you will have the chance to
see how involved the graduate students are in that particular program by
looking to see how many student papers are presented from each program, how
many panel chairs there are, how many students attend the conference, etc.
Finally, it will give you a chance to speak with the graduate students to
get the “truth” about the culture of the school, department, program, etc.
Graduate students are usually very good about answering questions that you
may not feel comfortable asking the faculty, and in some cases they can put
in a good word for you later once the faculty begin to make admissions
decisions. Many conferences also sponsor graduate student open houses that
allow prospective students to register some face time with current faculty
and graduate students.
2) Don’t overlook the importance of a social life. I felt silly and
superficial asking students much more seasoned than I was about how often
people “went out” and how much socializing took place amongst students. In
hind sight, I realize now that this is an incredibly important
consideration, and should not be overlooked. Graduate student
camaraderie can be your saving grace when it comes
to dealing with the stress of a rigorous program. Having a healthy support
system of other people going through the same thing is imperative to keeping
one’s sanity. My advice would be to allow yourself to take this into account
when making your selection. If nothing else, many disciplines require a
large amount of collaborative work, and if you don’t think you are likely to
get along with the students in a particular program, your life can become
very difficult.
3) Consider the reputation of the program over the reputation of the
University if you plan to stay in academe. A degree from a well known school
that is weak in a particular department might sound like a big deal to your
family and friends (especially if your area of study is not well known), but
it may hurt you later when you are looking for a job.
4) When applying to schools, write a separate statement of purpose for each
school. Taylor these to the research that is being conducted at a particular
school and focus on specific projects faculty are working on. You can find
this out by looking on the faculty web pages and reviewing their CVs. I
would recommend reading some of their published research and linking your
own research interests to theirs. If you can’t find anything in common, then
maybe this isn’t the right program for you, regardless of how prestigious it
may be. This is a good time to include anything you may have learned about
faculty research interests while attending a conference. Avoid the
temptation to write one generic statement of purpose to send to all of your
programs. It may take a little more time to personalize each one, but don’t
forget that the admissions committee is looking to see that you will be a
good fit for the current faculty.
5) If invited to an orientation or welcome weekend, always go. Some schools
even provide travel stipends to admitted students to come visit the program.
Don’t let anyone pressure you into making a decision too soon. Some schools
are very unethical about this. Keep in mind that it is ultimately your
decision. You should pick the school that is the best fit for you based on
your own criteria, and visiting all of the programs may provide you with
information about them that you would never have otherwise learned.
I have successfully applied to, selected, and completed a wonderful M.A.
program and am in the process of completing my Ph.D. I work a lot with
graduate students as part of my campus graduate branch of student
government, and I also actively help my department with recruitment.
Luckily, I have been provided with a forum to pass along these pieces of
information, because it’s the things that “they” never tell you that may end
up mattering the most in the end…
Alice E. Veksler
PhD, Communication Studies
Arizona State University
Get to know your classmates. By getting to know your classmates you can form a study group. Study groups are helpful for mid term, finals, and any other test. Two heads or more are always better than one when studying for a major exam. What you may have missed in class, your classmate may have the answer you need. Never under estimate the power of making friends and networking.
Barbara Keith
Master of Education
Prairie View A&M University
Active Involvement =
Success
In order to advance skills and
develop as an individual, it is essential to be involved in activities. Join
clubs, decide which ones are right for you, and immerse yourself in your
favorite activity. Enjoy volunteering and interacting with community
organizations. Experiences, education, and service have developed my ability
to communicate effectively through verbal, written, and nonverbal means. As
a future Physical Therapist, these skills are essential. As Vice President
of Service in an organization called Alpha Phi Omega, APO, development of my
verbal and written communication skills was demanded. Contact with service
sites and members through electronic mail, telephone, and personal interview
required poise, professionalism, and clarity in my presentation.
Miscommunication with APO members or service site managers resulted in
failed project execution and discouragement among members. To communicate
effectively, I had to be concise, but detailed, and always include contact
information. Leadership is more than control. It is active listening,
effective communication, and delegating tasks to others. The only way to
excel as an individual is to become involved and take an active role.
Practice leadership! Through experience in situations that challenge your abilities, you will develop interpersonal skills that will contribute to your success in all that you do. My experiences with conflict in a variety of settings exposed me to different strategies to handle conflict. Since I am uncomfortable in approaching individuals when conflict erupts, I need to improve in this area of conflict resolution. I need to learn how to work with others cooperatively in order to achieve optimal results. Immersion in conflicts that make me uncomfortable are necessary for me to practice new approaches to conflict and focus on a cooperative resolution. Writing out my concerns before approaching others about conflict needs to be done. Continued practice of various techniques will increase my comfort level with handling conflict. However, in order to develop as an individual, you must reflect upon your experiences. In order to learn and refine your skills, you must identify your strengths and weaknesses. With only minimal experience interacting with other cultures, I lack in this aspect. I have experienced communicating with patients through translating family members, and the difficulty is inexplicable. Certain words do not translate, the process is lengthy, and constant clarifications are necessary. Experience and further language training are necessary for this deficit to be filled. By attending cultural seminars and intercultural activities, such as Healthy Families, I gain insight into cultural obstacles and learn culturally sensitive practices to improve patient care as a future physical therapist. Remember that involvement is essential to developing professional behaviors, and success will be the result. Although classes are necessary to gain essential theoretical knowledge, it is the application of knowledge that is important in life and interviews as well. This is done through experiences and action.
Cassandra Regine Chalker
Creighton University
Roommate Problems
The feelings experienced when
starting a University are very complex. You are taking steps out on your
own. Experiencing a new level of educational level, and your surroundings
are altered exponentially. You must make new friends, and live with someone
you do not know. When I first started my undergraduate education, my
roommate was chosen randomly. At first we were excited, got along well, and
spent much time together. However, as we learned more about each other and
our living habits, conflicts arose. We were vastly different, and as time
lapsed, it became increasingly difficult to live comfortably. We fought
about cleaning, study time vs television time, lights out, boys in the room,
and hurtful manners we imposed on the other. At the end of the semester, my
roommate moved out. She was looking for someone to be her best friend, not
just a roommate.
You need to communicate with your roommate. It is essential! Roommate problems can be distracting and even debilitating when they escalate. Set a cleaning schedule. Make lists about study times, sleep patterns, and class schedules. Include in your list behaviors that may trigger you to become angry, shy, uncomfortable, outgoing, or happy. I know it sounds silly, but you can prevent many issues from ever occurring by these simple tasks. You might just learn a little about yourself in the process. If there is an issue, be polite to your roommate, but ask if you can compromise. It might be best not to spend all your time with your roommate. Meet other people in your dorm, and join organizations to expand your acquaintances. By interacting with other people, you will not allow small annoyances to bother you or your roommate. Be understanding. Everyone is different, and this is a new experience for you and your roommate. No one is exactly like you, and you must be compromising in order for a good living environment to be present. Remember, in the workplace, you may have issues with your coworkers, but you must be able to cooperate to achieve goals. It's difficult at times, but roommates are a good thing. They help you to learn adaptation, conflict resolution, and can be your best friend in times of need. A roommate can be motivational, someone to have lunch or workout with, a friendly hello, or even a shoulder to cry on. Enjoy living in the dorms, having roommates, and learning about others. Even if problems arise, you won't regret it.
Cassandra Regine Chalker
Creighton University
The sticker shock of buying textbooks in college can be mitigated by some careful research and thrifty shopping. Typically, most teachers submit their class curriculum before the semester begins, and the campus bookstore may have a list of textbooks required for each class. Fortunately for the thrifty student, this translates to a few weeks to search around and get the best prices on books. With the book information (ISNB, author, title, etc), a student can search most big-name online retailers for a better price and save on standard shipping since the books aren't needed for several weeks. Just a $25 savings per class's textbook will translate to a $1,000 savings over the course of an average 120-hour degree. If the books can be sold back to the local bookstore as used textbooks, the thrifty student can save even more money.
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Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida
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Internships are a great way to get experience in a career field and have an edge over classmates graduating with the same degree. Yes, a high Grade Point Average is very important to future employers, but nothing proves your worth like showing you can make it in industry. Furthermore, an internship allows a student to put classroom knowledge into practice, making the invaluable connection between academia and industry. When graduation arrives, a student with internship experience will better understand the different directions or tracks of his/her field of study and can pursue the best one for him/her. Some internships are paid positions, providing income for the student to use towards academic or living expenses. While an internship may extend one's graduation by a semester or two, the professional experience gained will be invaluable towards starting a lifelong career.
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Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida
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Assigned reading is often
looked upon as tedious and time consuming. Though some might consider this
true, assigned reading is certainly important.
You should read every assignment given and never skip a reading. When given
an assignment, it is important to start reading early, otherwise you will
not have time to finish. For longer assignments, it helps to plan how much
you will read a day. For example, divide a book by the number of days you
have to complete the reading and write down each section as a separate
assignment on your calendar. You may wish to skip a day or two for rest.
It is important to take notes while doing any assigned reading. The notes
need not be detailed, especially for longer assignments. Use a separate
notebook and write down key ideas and the page number in case you need to
come back later for reference. I often find that for assignments over 100
pages I write down a note about every 2-3 pages.
Skim each section before reading it to get an idea of what the section is
about. When reading longer assignments, try to skim through the chapter
reading a few sentences from different paragraphs. This helps focus your
mind on what you should be thinking about as you read the chapter. For
shorter assignments, it helps to go through the entire assignment reading
each section heading as well as a few sentences at the beginning of each
paragraph before beginning any reading. Some people recommend reading short
assignments twice, but if you skim through the assignment effectively before
reading it, twice becomes unnecessary.
If you budget your time efficiently and develop good reading techniques,
assigned reading can be easily managed--which will help not only in your
class, but also in your overall education.
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John Burr Computer Engineering University of Virginia
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As a four-year starter on an elite Division I softball program, balancing
school, softball, and other extracurricular activities could become quite
challenging at times. Our coaches and administration always stressed the
student in student-athlete to us, but as any competitive athlete knows,
success on the field is critical as well. So between the hours of practices,
competitions, and spending time in the weight room, combined with community
service activities and serving on the Executive Board for the Student
Athlete Advisory Committee, where did time for studying come in? After
receiving a 4.00 in Speech Communication and being named as the 2008 College
of Liberal Arts Valedictorian while keeping up on the field, being named an
Academic All-American, studying was definitely one of my top priorities.
Time management is absolutely
crucial in being successful in the classroom as well as on the field, or
whatever extracurricular activity that you decide to partake in. For me, I
took advantage of the little breaks I had between classes or between
practices. In addition, our softball team would sometimes travel 11 hours to
get to a competition, and nothing helped pass the time quicker than studying
for a test or finishing up some problems on my laptop. The key to this was
being focused on the task at hand and being responsible enough to finish the
needed homework or studying for the upcoming test, instead of taking the
easy way out.
Will it be hard and frustrating
at times? Absolutely. There were so many times in my career where I knew
that I could take the easy way and not finish an assignment, but I had too
much drive and competitiveness to let myself go down like that. I approached
my schoolwork like I would approach a softball game. I knew what I had in me
and never settled for less. I couldn't settle for less because of my
competitiveness. It was a game to me- a much more important, life-changing
type of game- but none-the-less, a game. It was a game of skill. I had to
map out my next move. What did I have coming up in the year when I got my
syllabus? How could I strategize early to get some of the material at the
end of the year done now?
I even competed with other
students- secretly of course. If I knew they were getting ahead in their
assignments, I didn't want them to beat me, so I got even further ahead. If
they got a good grade on an assignment, I knew I was capable of a good grade
and strived to receive one better. Not that I didn't want others to do
better than me, but I wanted to compete to make myself and drive myself to
be the best I could. When looking at it in a sports mind frame, it no longer
felt like something I had to do, but rather a game I enjoyed playing
everyday to experience new methods and strategies. And by the end of my
career, it all paid off. I received two post-graduate scholarships, a
graduate assistantship, and now I can carry that competitiveness into my
graduate studies, as well as my career.
So my advice to each and every
one of you is use your time wisely. Plan ahead and strategize your next
move. See your college experience, inside and outside of the classroom, as a
game that you can ultimately win if you use common sense to make your next
moves. I promise, even if you have a little bit of a competitive drive in
you, you will not want to fail and will find yourself in a mound of success.
So enjoy the game, achieve great success, and never sell yourself short!
Krystal Joy Stein
Southern Illinois University
As a graduate student in chemistry at FSU, I have witnessed first-hand, what
is expected of, and how to succeed at being a PhD student. The first and
most important aspect of graduate student success relies on commitment.
Being a professional student brings along with it the higher expectations
than what an undergraduate student is accustomed to. Without the proper
degree of dedication, the level of success to be obtained is limited.
I have found that it is
necessary to implement a daily agenda that you as a student adhere to
closely. I have a list that I update every evening. I make sure to have more
tasks on this list than is possible for one to complete over the course of
an average day. This ensures that you always have more than enough to keep
you busy and limits the time that would normally be used for leisure
activities.
Upon receiving a doctoral
degree in any subject, the student is then considered a master of that
specific topic (inorganic chemistry in my case). In order for one to be
considered a master of their subject, it is essential that they learn to be
as independent and responsible as their mentors. This is achieved through
the student’s involvement in every aspect of their subject consistently
throughout their graduate career. It is my hope that this message reaches at
least one other person so that they can take what I have learned in my early
years as a graduate student, and build upon these values and become one of
the great students in the NSHS.
Lawrence Keith Keniley Jr.
PhD, Chemistry
Florida State University
Through the years I spent as an undergraduate student at Eastern
Illinois University, I learned many valuable lessons on how to perform well
in a classroom setting. It is my belief that one’s success in a classroom
starts with the student, and more specifically, the student’s attitude. It
is essential that the student begin a semester by observing the professor
and what he/she expects out of the student. Through “gauging” the professor,
the student is better able to live up to what is expected of them. Without
knowing the expectations, how can one live up to them?
Another aspect of importance to
a student’s success in the classroom is note-taking ability. At the graduate
level, the speed of which a lecture is delivered and the amount of
information covered is much more than I got used to as an undergraduate. I
had to quickly learn what needed to be done so that I could stay ahead of
the curve. I often record lectures on a handheld tape recorder, with the
permission of the professor of course. Then after class, I usually take some
time to rewrite my notes in an organized and more legible manner. Rewriting
lecture notes reiterates the material and gives you time to think about and
comprehend the material. While rewriting, I usually listen to portions of
the recorded lecture that I did not fully understand.
Finally, and possibly the most
important aspect contributing to success in the classroom, is a student’s
test-taking ability. It is essential that each student develop their own
study habits that fit their personality and thought process. As for myself,
I found that for any given test, it is necessary to start studying the
material ‘at least’ one week prior to the exam. I usually take my own notes
from the text on the specified chapters. Then I make a more condensed set of
notes, utilizing my notes from the text and the notes I took in the
lectures. I then make a final, fully-condensed set of notes from all three
of the sets. This final set is what I use the morning before the test.
Through writing the material several times, one is forced to learn the
material since they have already seen it more than a couple of times. As I
said previously, this is my technique and it is important that every student
develop their own strategy to tackling those tough midterm and final exams.
Lawrence Keith Keniley Jr.
PhD, Chemistry
Florida State University
There are so many benefits to participating in On-Campus Work Study. When I was an undergraduate I worked in the Financial Aid Office at my university. I felt like I was able to get another entire degree by doing this! I learned so much about how financial aid works in colleges. It was also a great chance for me to see and experience how an office functions. Additionally, I was able to get to know many people in different departments on-campus. It was a great way to meet people and build connections. It was also a great way to see how the university system works as a whole. Furthermore, working on-campus helped me get to know the layout of my campus better and faster than I think I would have without an on-campus job (That helped so much when I was a freshman!). The greatest part though was that I was able to interact with people, help them understand how the financial aid process works, and answer their questions.
Meredith Worthington Michael
Master of Curriculum and Instruction
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Perseverance. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2008) says that the word persevering means "to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement." College can be rough during those times where you may feel burnt out, discouraged, frustrated, and overwhelmed. But, my advice is to push through if you can because you will come out stronger. Also, remember a semester is usually only about sixteen weeks, so it will be over before you know it!
Meredith Worthington Michael
Master of Curriculum and Instruction
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
I make "study tapes" for myself about once a week with new
information and listen to them when I run for an hour each morning. I ask
myself questions, quiz myself on the tapes and leave a little time to
answer. I am "killing two birdies with one stone", and utilizing my time
effectively.
I find that if I am fatigued and do not want to exercise, I do so anyway
because I need to study.
Monique L. de Graw
University of Central Florida
We are all busy, and as a
single mother of four children I found that taking my books with me
everywhere I go enables me to squeeze in reading a chapter here and a
chapter there while waiting in line or while in the waiting room of the
dentist, etc.
The benefits add up quickly, giving you more free time at home. Another
added benefit is that people that observe you studying automatically assume
that you are super-intellectual!
Monique L. de Graw
University of Central Florida
It is commonly known that getting involved in some kind of
extracurricular activity(ies) throughout your high school career will have a
positive effect on your college application process. Whether its a society,
club or athletic team, it is important for the colleges/universities you are
applying to to know that you are a person of integrity, dedication, and
commitment. The best tip that I can give you for your application process
regarding your extracurricular activities is to not only list them and your
commitment to them in the past, but to specify how you are looking forward
to getting involved in these or other activities in college. For example- I
played volleyball all four years of high school (both for my school and for
a club). I based one of my essays entirely on the hard work and dedication
that I committed to this sport and on my plans to try and become a walk-on
on Georgetown's team; I was specific to say that I wanted to be involved in
representing my school and that I wanted to get involved in the Georgetown
community. In my acceptance letter, the school really stressed how important
it was to see a desire to get involved in the community, and that my plans
to do so made my application stand out. Luckily, everything worked out and I
am now a Georgetown varsity athlete! :)
So whether it's a team, an vocals group, a performing arts program, a
foreign exchange program, or anything else particular to a school, be sure
to mention your interest in it! (also, be sure to research the name of any
specific societies etc that you could have an interest in so that you can
mention that specifically).
Good luck!!
| Paola Annoni Biology Georgetown University |
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When I enrolled at Washington University, I was so excited to choose my courses from the vast array of subjects available. I wanted to take everything my freshman year and join all of the extracurriculars that interested me. I knew I should take it easy my first semester while I was getting acquainted with everything so I took 5 classes. I also joined a great cultural organization in which I formed some of my closest friendships. I handled the semester very well: good grades, a solid activity, and time to hang out with friends. Judging by my success, I decided I could handle more my spring semester... except I overestimated HOW much more. I became part of a sorority, executive of my dorm, a tour guide, part of a dance team, and topped it off with 7 classes (19 credits). The semester started ok, but my schedule was hectic with no time to relax. My friends began asking me where I was or why I always had to leave. Gradually, I became more overwhelmed as the semester continued. I had no time to even think about slowing down because some obligation was always calling. Even though my grades did not drop, I was spending many late nights studying for classes that should be easier but my stress made it difficult to focus and work efficiently. Also, I wasn't even dedicated to my activities as I had been my first semester. So here's my advice: Before you enroll in a million classes or activities (as exciting as they sound), know what you are getting yourself into. Try making a hypothetical time management table of what your schedule would be like everyday and see if you could handle it. The key to this tool is KNOWING YOUR OWN LIMITS. Each person is unique and works differently. Accept how much time you need to relax each day and ALLOT that time in your table. Choose two maybe three extracurriculars you really like and commit yourself to them. It is true that you go to college for an education. But I believe many (including myself) have the misconception that taking as many classes as physically possible will excel your education. Yes, you will get to say you took the most classes when you graduate or you had the most majors. But, did you truly learn the material? Did you get the grades you could have gotten if you had lightened your load? When you are stressed out, you waste so much time worrying about what you have to do next that you do not concentrate on the work in front of you. Usually, this leads to cramming right before an important test. You might even get the short-term grade you want but you probably won't retain that knowledge in the future. This advice hit me during my semester exams, when I realized how much I had forgotten, but it was to late to pull out. So plan ahead and think smart. Remember, a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle is the key to being a successful student.
Roshni Shah
Washington University in St. Louis
One popular method of exam preparation is meeting in study groups.
You have to be careful with study groups. They can be a lot of fun, but
they're not always productive. Sometimes you get a lot done and you learn
things that you never would have gotten alone. The danger is if you rely on
the study group. You don't want to decide, "I don't need to study now,
because I'm meeting with friends later." If everyone in the group shows up
completely unprepared, the studying will be disorganized and useless and
you'll likely miss a lot of material. It can be extremely time-consuming, as
it's easy to get distracted and discuss other things. And then you go into
the test thinking, "I studied for five hours," when you really didn't do
much.
A better approach is to study
the material first and know where you're weak. Then you can go into the
study group as a secondary measure, a review, and be able to ask questions.
Study groups are much more productive if someone's organized the material,
and that person might as well be you. If you're the one that makes sure
everything's covered, you're only going to understand it better. I'm not
saying you shouldn't trust your friends to ensure that everyone's ready for
the test. But trust yourself first.
Scott E. Olmsted
Georgetown University
Working With College Professors Personally
and Creating “A” Student Behaviors:
Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume
that you can perform these same tasks on the tests. So doing homework
accurately definitely pays off. Don’t be tempted to do a slouch job on
anything. Use it as practice and preparation! Professors also may not remind
you of incomplete work. It’s up to you to keep your deadlines straight for
all classes.
Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate
contact if you need help. Realize that they have busy lives just like you
filled with work, research, teaching, family, and university commitments.
Their time, (as well as yours), is very valuable and they deserve the
courtesy and respect you desire for yourself. Don’t miss appointments with
professors, or if you do, be sure to send the appropriate apology.
Professors expect and want you to attend their office hours. They are
usually required to have office hours for their classes by their Dept.
Chair. These hours are for your benefit. Make yourself available during
their office hours first, and then at other times only if you cannot attend
the appointment during their office hours. Be flexible. You don’t want your
professor to remember your tardiness or absenteeism at appointments when it
comes time to submit grades.
When meeting with professors realize that they have been trained as experts
in their fields and know much more than you do. While intelligent challenges
are a part of learning, criticizing their lectures generally will not get
you very far. Professors are human, too, with egos and feelings that can be
affected just like you and I have. If you disagree with your professor,
approach it with understanding and ask for help in breaking down the
conflict you’ve encountered in learning. Remember that college is a time for
changing worldviews and perhaps there are “knowledge myths” you have been
living by that need to be addressed. If you still disagree, continue to be
respectful and do your best to at least appreciate a different point of
view. Intelligence is considering opposing viewpoints.
Professors expect you to get notes and information about classes you’ve
missed from your classmates. There are some professors who will work with
you if you miss a class, but most won’t. They are not there to babysit
students or track them down. It is your responsibility to make-up missed
class work. Be sure to check in the professor’s syllabus regarding how they
handle missed classes and late class work. If it isn’t listed, then ask, but
realize that in asking you may be suggesting to the professor that you are
going to be “the problem child.” If you are a part of an athletic team or
group that travels, be sure they know this as there are exceptions to any
rule. Work with them to make appropriate concessions for the times you will
be gone that consider the needs of both parties. Address issues of foreseen
absenteeism in the beginning of the semester and send gentle reminders
before and after an absence in class. Professors sometimes forget and
appreciate students who stay on top of things.
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Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma
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Creating a “Master Deadline Document” for
each semester, digesting syllabi:
Professors expect you to read, save, and consult their course syllabus
regularly during the semester. The syllabus spells out exactly what is
expected of you, what is due, when it is due, and how your will be graded.
Many faculty think of syllabi as an informal learning contract between the
student and themselves. The problem is EVERY course had a syllabus, and it
can be confusing and overwhelming to keep track of them all.
Something that helped me deal with the piles of syllabus pages was to make a
“master deadline document” at the beginning of every semester to keep track
of my assignments, exams, quizzes, and overall due dates. You should have
time at the beginning of the semester to do this as the first day in most
classes is known as “syllabus day” where not as much can be accomplished or
assigned quite yet. “Syllabus day” is a good day for you to prepare a master
deadline document since all of this information is still fresh in your mind.
I would organize the document by class with due dates, assignment
descriptions, and grading weight assigned to each task. This way I could
refer to my document at any point in the semester and know what is due for
EVERY class in any given week and focus my attention accordingly.
I did not put everything needed to be done for everyday, as this was not a
good use of my time and could prove to be overwhelming if it all stared at
me at once! I would certainly have weekly readings to do, which would not be
included. I accepted these daily tasks as “a given” and would do those
regularly without having to refer to deadlines as much. If you have classes
that require readings or review, then those are routine tasks that you will
be doing normally anyway. This document is intended for the graded items
that are turned in sporadically throughout the semester that tend to creep
up on you unless you read ahead on the syllabus.
Think of the “master deadline document” as having the critical
grade-intensive items all in one place. It’s sort of like having 5 syllabi
in one document. This way you can leave off the other “noise” on the
syllabus that take up space and pages of paper like the professor’s contact
info, the academic rules/regulations, the course objective, the names of the
textbooks, classroom management, etc. You should NOT throw away or replace
the syllabus at all. You need to know those other pieces of information of
course, but just not continuously. You don’t need to shuffle through those
things on a daily or weekly basis, just “as needed.” You will use your
syllabus most for identifying your readings in your texts and for checking
deadlines. This “master deadline document” allows all the deadlines to be in
one place to simplify things for you and allow you to sort your tasks week
by week without having to shuffle so much paper and so many notebooks.
With such a document I also could set and manage my own deadlines for those
projects which had flexible due dates (such as final project and papers that
just need to be turned in “just sometime before the end of the semester”).
If you look at when all the final projects are due for the 4-5 classes you
are taking at once, you can stagger the work much more easily and decide to
finish a paper a few weeks before final exams and other deadlines occur.
As assignments are turned in I use a big black marker to cross out that item
off the list for that class. This helped me see what I had finished, and
identify what was left without getting distracted. It also helped give me a
sense of encouragement and progress during times of stress. If I could see
that I had already marked off over 75% of the graded item required for the
class, it gave me the needed energy to persevere through the end of the
semester and not feel so buried. Realize that some classes will allow you
finish you graded requirements earlier that others and use this document as
a tool in those cases. Focus on the “top heavy” and “bottom heavy” courses
first. The “top heavy” courses load the work up front, while the “bottom
heavy” courses make everything due towards the end. By balancing “top heavy”
and “bottom heavy” courses together, you can easily make progress and have
something to work on each week as the semester go onward and take
satisfaction at having an easily workload during finals week than most other
students.
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Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma
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Scheduling work in advance!
You always need to schedule your work in advance! Realize that only BAD
papers are produced overnight with little revision, and sometimes no
editing. You can’t expect a decent grade without any preparation invested.
Schedule appointments to have your papers reviewed and revised for clarity
at local campus writing centers in advance, well before the paper is due.
Understand that professors may not follow the textbook. Instead, to amplify
the text, they give explanations, illustrations, provide background
information, or include relevant research on the topic you are studying.
They expect you to make the connection between lectures, classroom
experiences, and your assigned textbook readings. This takes time and occurs
at different moments throughout the semester. Lectures and assignments are
designed in the assumption that you’ve already done your readings! Take time
to do your readings in advance if possible, as class time will become more
meaning and familiar to you. This is a better use of your time and you will
find that exams will be easier to tackle as the learning experience has
happened continuously rather than all at once (e.g. such as in a cramming
session).
Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to take adequate notes that
identify the most important points. When professors write on the board, they
are amplifying the lecture, not summarizing it. That’s your job! Invest the
time into solid note-taking skills. The more you do it, the better you will
get at it. Make sure you can read your own handwriting and use summary
abbreviations for longer words such as “govt” for “government” or “intnl”
for “international.” You do not need to write down every word, but you
should try to capture the main ideas and themes of what is being presented.
If you intend to electronically record lectures, be sure to ask ahead of
time if this is ok with the professor. Most are fine with this, but realize
you may run out of time to listen to every word of every lecture. A good set
of notes usually works better than a recording.
Professors expect you to synthesize unrelated topics together. In fact, this
is what most exams try to accomplish. Rote memorization will not carry you
as far if you cannot apply and integrate what you have learned. Synthesis is
a skill that requires thinking at the next level, beyond familiarity with a
term or concept. Invest your study time into a deeper understanding of
concepts and use office hours to ask questions when they arise. Of course,
one way to practice mastery is to teach someone else through a study group
session.
Spend time reviewing class notes from the previous class before your class
begins that day as an exercise to help you connect the ideas from one day to
another. Learning is a fluid exercise and happens cumulatively, and usually
not all at once.
Not all of your learning will occur in a classroom. Be open to practice your
ideas and experiment with this new knowledge you have acquired.
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Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma
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College is a meaningful life experience that most students enjoy, but unfortunately time flies by quickly and students need to make the most of every opportunity provided for them. When I started college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro I spent tremendous time learning how to read the undergraduates’ bulletin so that I could plan out every class I needed to take each semester until I graduated. I looked at all the prerequisites that I needed for every class when I made my preliminary schedule. By preparing this schedule, I knew what classes I needed to take before I went to my advising sessions; therefore, I was able to make better use of my time at the advising sessions discussing with my advisor my future plans at the university. Also, by making a schedule beforehand, I found it easier to network with other students who had taken classes that I needed to take in order to graduate. I discussed with these students whether or not they thought a particular professor taught a specific class better than other professors.
On the first day of my classes, I
was always given a syllabus, and I would write down on my wall calendar the
days I had exams along with the days that projects and large assignments
were due. I used this calendar to plan ahead and organize a work schedule so
that I would not procrastinate and so that I would not have too large a work
load any night of the week.
Throughout my college career, I have learned that it is easier to always
attend class because professors give hints in class as to what they will
emphasize on their exams. The professors will always say things like “this
idea is really important” or “this concept is needed to understand any other
topic in this class” or “this material is the most significant element in
this chapter.” Statements like these helped me plan out the topics that I
needed to focus on and study the most. I also learned that it is best not to
wait until the last minute to work on group projects because problems may
arise in delegating tasks. Furthermore, the group may need to ask the
professor to clarify project requirements, and I have found that most
professors are far more willing to help out the groups of individuals who
seem to be putting in a better effort by starting the assignment in a timely
manner.
Classes are not the only important aspect in college though. Other social aspects are also essential to making the college years great. I sincerely believe that every student should consider studying abroad because it is a remarkable learning experience. Most colleges offer students the opportunity to pay tuition at their home university while attending a university abroad. While abroad, students can interact with individuals from different cultures and gain a worldwide perspective. I recommend looking into a university’s study abroad program in the freshman or sophomore years because it is easier to take general education requirements abroad versus taking specific major requirements abroad. I would also urge students to get involved in their college communities by joining different clubs and organizations. Not only will these organizations look good on a resume, but through these groups students are able to meet more people on campus and are able to develop life long friendships with people who have similar interests. Overall, college can be a wonderful, exciting experience so I advocate making the most of it by taking advantage of every opportunity that arises.
Sarah Elizabeth Compton
Accounting, Economics
University of North Carolina
Before entering college, the thought of going to bed past 11:00 on a school night was scandalous. I prided myself on my strong work ethic and effective time management. After a few months of college, I had come to the point where I had often HEARD about all-nighters, but viewed them as something that happened to "other people." Lazy people who couldn't handle the freedom of college and made poor life choices. But as the year wore on and I saw many of my most responsible, studious friends sacrificing entire nights of sleep to write last-minute papers, a sick sense of curiosity overcame me, in the same way a child is envious of a friend who gets braces or breaks an ankle. I also began to see the all-nighter as one of those college traditions that one ought to experience in order to heighten one's sense of solidarity with one's peers- a right of passage, or an initiation, or a battle scar you wear with pride when you say, "Oh, do I seem out of it today? I'm sorry... I just PULLED AN ALL-NIGHTER!" or "Well, I'm gonna make it an early night tonight... because last night, I PULLED AN ALL-NIGHTER!"
Those who had actually experienced all-nighters told me I was crazy. "Nobody purposely tries to pull an all-nighter for the "experience"!" was the response I got. Yet still I felt that I was missing out on something. This change came around the same time that I decided I "worked better under the stress of waiting til the last minute" and "did my best thinking at night," which, as any college student can tell you, are the factual equivalents of "I drive BETTER when I'm drunk!" as far as feel-good justifications go. One afternoon found me lolling around idly with a deadline for an International Relations paper- 2,000 words- hanging over my head. The fact that I had let this moment come- the dreaded "night before"- meant that I had sealed my fate weeks ago. And so the count-down began. I was off to a positive start, since it was before my usual bedtime of "whenever my eyes failed to remain open." I typed and typed in a rather uneventful, nondescript kind of way until the I hit the wall. What wall, you ask? To this day, I do not have an answer. Whatever it was, it involved lots of jumping up from my chair, fruitlessly searching for a more comfortable position. But my position was not the problem. I was restless because I was panicking and exhausted. Though had you come up to me at that point and mentioned it, you would have lost an eye. I valiantly worked through my self-imposed anguish, trying to keep my mind on the task at hand by blasting up-beat pop music I would never have listened to had I been in a right set of mind, and eating sugary snacks like they were... well... sugary snacks. Do I NEED an excuse? I was TIRED, OK? And tired I remained, until about 5:30 am, when the giggles of my fellow all-nighter-pulling dormmates were becoming less comforting (at least I'm not suffering alone) and more irritating, in that kind of "grounds for murder" kind of way.
At this point, I was so jumpy I was wondering when the gym opened. The sun was beginning to rise. It was mocking me, I just knew it. "Well, look at me, I'm the sun, just rising from a long, restful night of sleep so I can shine brightly over the world today!" I was not amused. My essay was by now about a thousand words over the limit and contained phrases like "And because of the neoconservative of this article, one can surmise that the war in Iraq was, to a large degree, the author argues on page 61." I decided that the best course of action was to have a quick lie-down, for only a few minutes, and then resume my work. Six and a half hours later, I woke up feverish and with three hours left to complete my paper. I'm not quite sure what happened within those three hours, but before I knew it (literally, since my mental function had hit a low point by then), I had a conclusion. In the loosest sense of the word, since I am told that a conclusion traditionally ties together the points made in the paper and applies them to a broader context. Or something. In any case, something that I would, if put to a bet, say that I lacked. But I washed my hands of that mess and turned it in.
I got a B+; the ideas were good, just "not clearly articulated." No, really? Now, why on Earth could that be? I wondered. In the end, I got a respectable A- in the class, and all was right with the world. I took away many valuable learnings with me, all of which I will now share with you since you sat through my tale, or knew which parts to skim. Firstly, it was horrible. Absolutely horrible. The bragging rights- "I'm strong and resilient enough to write a paper the night before it's due"- never came, because I was far more likely to bite someone's head off in a rather undignified way than engage in a civil conversation. I quarantined myself from humanity until I had gotten some sleep. Secondly, I learned that it works- you may not get the A, but if you have to chose between a B+ and an F, you WILL suck it up and stay awake. Thirdly, this will NOT teach you to manage your time better- I pulled at least two more all-nighters since then.
There are times when you have no other choice, no matter how well you plan your time. For those unfortunate occurrences, here is what you do:
(1) Stock up on the coffee. I was too lazy to leave my room for some, but it is a wise investment, and you at least know that coffee comes from a plant, as opposed to energy drinks and caffeine pills, which come from... well, you don't know where exactly they come from, do you? Coffee is also a great appetite suppressant, so you won't go through a bar of chocolate and 3 chocolate pudding cups like yours truly.
(2) Do not go for quantity. Yes, you have a word range to shoot for when you write an essay, but if you are like me, you can find a way to reach the maximum in the conclusion alone. Just get your main points out and insert fillers later. They may not be stylistically brilliant or even coherent. but you're not exactly aiming high at this point.
(3) You WILL make yourself sick. Happens to everyone, in one way or another. I always end up with a sore throat. I recommend stocking up on that spray that numbs your throat. It works wonders.
(4) Recover. Pick which classes you can skip that day (Who you can get decent notes from, which lectures are Podcasted, etc) and SLEEP.
(5) Once you are back to your old self, you can finally see this as a positive experience, something you share with your peers and pulls tighter the bonds of community and camaraderie in the great halls of academia. Next time someone you get in line for coffee in front of someone sporting extreme under-eye circles and a searing death glare, just smile knowingly to convey to him that you understand his pain. Then duck as he tries to take you out for getting between him and his caffeine.
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Isabella Maria Janusz International Relations Georgetown University |
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Every one dreads the infamous Organic Chemistry class. Everyone hears the rumors about the level of difficulty and how most people do not pass it the first time. I want to clear up any confusion and let you know this is FALSE! Organic chemistry can be very enjoyable if you understand what is going on. Many medicines we use today are here because of Organic chemistry.
I was a tutor in Organic chemistry for several years and here are some tips I have for the class:
1. Make sure you study the class 30 everyday! This is important because I notice that most people wait a day or two before the test and end up failing it and do not understand why. This is not a class you can wait until the last minute to study for, you need to constantly be learning the material. Going over the material everyday will help you really understand the material instead of just memorizing it.
2. Know the chemical reactions forwards and backwards. Many people benefit making these reactions into note cards, one side showing the starting material and the backside showing the product. In addition to knowing the starting material and product make sure you know the reactants. This will help when you get to synthesis problems.
3. When doing synthesis
problems be sure to look at the problem forward and backwards. Look at the
product and the given starting material and work forwards and backwards to
find the answer, the answers always lie in the chemical reactions you
learned for the test. Just go through all the chemical reactions from the
chapters and the answer is right in front of you. Also, take these type of
problems step by step. Do not panic and and start feeling defeated before
you even begin.
Good luck with the class and
remember just study all of this a little everyday and it is amazing how well
you will begin to really understand the material.
Carissa Janice Smith
PhD, Chemistry
Rice University
On going above and beyond....
When I got my first job at the age of 12 (babysitting), my dad gave me
advice that has proved to be invaluable. He said, "Anyone can do the job
they are hired for. Always do a little more than expected."
This has helped me to be successful in a multitude of different jobs over
the last 30 years. It also applies to schoolwork. Anyone can turn in the
project as assigned. Always go above and beyond what is required. You will
be remembered for it and in time rewarded for it as well.
Cathy Hooper
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Texas A&M University
Whether you are in high school, undergraduate college, or graduate school, it is very difficult to keep all of your facts straight. We all know that "cramming" for tests does not work. Instead, try re-writing your notes after each class. This will give you an opportunity to find an organization strategy that will work for you while the information is still fresh in your mind. Also, read through your notes OUT LOUD- not to yourself- once a night. If you will do this, when it comes test time, you will have the facts that you need to pull from.
Donna Ann Scoggins
Master of Arts in Library Media Technology
Georgia State University
Seven Keys To Academic Success:
1. Read slowly and analytically - Make detailed notes to complement your
readings while drawing references to other literature and synthesizing
information.
2. The professor is your ally - Feel free to discuss the course with your
professor and if you are having difficulties, those should be voiced early
on so that you can get their assistance.
3. Time blocking - have a dedicated portion of time completely devoted to
school work and allow yourself extra time for subject areas that are more
challenging.
4. Knowledge is power - Always research more than what the paper or subject
matter requires. Additional information can be quite useful for subsequent
assignments, making the process easier the next time around. Also
collaborate with classmates exchanging information and ideas.
5. Plan for the semester - If you have a syllabus and course outline, do
advance reading and preparation for class. Note when assignments are due and
coordinate with other course workload so that you are not overwhelmed.
6. Take a load off - In moderation, make sure you give yourself enough time
for rest and relaxation where school work is not pressing. If your brain is
overworked and overloaded it will be of no use to you anyway. Don't force
yourself to do school work when you have a mental block, instead do
something enjoyable then get back to it sometime later.
7. Positive energy - Have a positive outlook on the semester, the courses,
school work and the professors. Negativity is self-defeating.
| Jason A. Ellis Master of Arts in Public Administration University of Memphis
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Two of my hardest classes taken during my college experience were both of my Western Civ. classes. They were difficult for a few reasons: large class size (80-100 students), no textbooks, and the information was very detailed and not applicable to everyday life. Every class consisted of the professor standing behind a podium and lecturing straight for 90 mins. Here are some tips and strategies that I used for both of these classes that helped me be successful and do well in the class. These strategies can be applied to any type of lecturing class, not just Western Civ. classes.
First off, you need energy in order to be able to keep up for 90 mins. and be able to write fast. Make sure to eat before class and/or bring something small and simple with you. Bring a coke, coffee or energy drink with you to help keep you going. The next piece of advice is a personal preference. I ALWAYS handwrote my notes. However, many people prefer to type their notes because they type faster than they write. While this maybe true, I find that by handwriting my notes, I learn the material better. The material seems to stick with me and I remember what I wrote rather than what I typed. Make sure to bring a lot of paper, pencils and extra writing utensils.
After class was over I would make sure to go back to my notes at some point THAT day to highlight keywords, people, dates or events. I also reread my notes to make sure they made sense or that I could read all of my handwriting. Going back over your notes on the same day of class is so important because the material is fresher in your mind. Each day you wait the easier it is to forget what you were writing, meant to write or to remember what the professor said. Also this gives you time to meet up with a classmate before the next class to compare notes to see what you might have missed or any incorrect information (such as dates or names, etc) that you may have written. ALWAYS date your notes and keep them in order because this will help you keep the information straight. This is key for Western Civ. classes since chronology is crucial to understanding history.
Next comes the test. For history classes where the material isn't common knowledge allow yourself MORE time than normal to study for these tests. I usually started studying for my tests a week ahead of time. However, it doesn't matter how much time you spend studying for the test, but rather HOW you spend that time. USE TIME WISELY AND EFFECTIVELY!! I always went somewhere quiet where I would not get distracted. Studying should be in designated chunks of time. For example: I would study for about 2-3 hours a night. After 3 hours I was burnt out and knew I couldn't study for this test anymore so anymore time spent was a waste of time. During these 3hours I took 2-10min. breaks. I used the bathroom and maybe made a quick phone call in order to get my mind off of studying. Breaks are a crucial part of studying.
This is how I studied for
these tests: I took my notes and read over 1 page at a time. After
each page I rewrote my notes to make a condensed version This technique
helped me pick out the important stuff that I wanted to remember and leave
out the extra stuff that wasn't crucial to know. Once again handwriting my
notes helped the information stick with me!! This is the approach I used for
all the tests and it worked so well! Studying in groups is great if done
effectively. I recommend studying the material on your own FIRST. Then go to
your group studying session. Here you can ask any questions you have or
clear up any confusion. Secondly, since you already have a good handle on
the information, you can help "teach" your peers the information if they
aren't understanding something. Teaching someone else the material helps you
gain a better understanding of the material too!
I hope these tips and strategies help you to be successful in class!
Katie Marie Daniels
Clemson University
Dormitory Survival
Many students have some unrealistic expectations for dorm life. Although
dorm living is most often costly, a part of that cost is the convenience
offered to the student. As with other aspects of life, the student will have
a better outlook if they identify the positive aspects of dorm living versus
focusing on the negative elements of the experience. The convenience and
immersion into the campus community are strong incentives for living in a
dormitory. Another incentive is that it relieves the student of trying to
find appropriate accommodations, avoid lengthy leases and increase the added
stress of monthly financial obligations. Keeping in mind that dorm living is
a temporary solution can sustain one through their educational experience.
If you are faced with a shared space then it is essential to find those
places where you can go to find solitude. For example the campus library, a
coffee shop or even city library are good spots to study. It is crucial to
have good communication in place from the very beginning of a term between
roommates. A beneficial action to consider is for all roommates to sit down
together and decide on conditions of sharing the space that all can agree
on. If a conversation takes place at the beginning and as necessary, it can
prevent conflict that can escalate and cause undue stress during the term.
It is essential that everyone remember the primary reason for being there
and that is to complete their education!
One must also remember that dorm living will often include rules of living.
Many young students will rebel against the rules because they feel it is an
infringement upon their adulthood. Abiding by the rules, which are often
very minimal, is a good preparation for adult living. The society we live in
has rules we all must abide by and it is an aspect of maturity that teaches
us to abide by the rules or use appropriate avenues for advocating for
change.
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Marjeanna Faye Burge Master of Indigenous Nations and Peace & Conflict Studies University of Kansas
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The Crucial Act of Support
I am an older student that made a decision to return to school full-time and
even relocate to a different state. I come from a very active community life
in Fort Worth. I worked with a non-profit and was on many boards and
committees in the area. It was a difficult decision but one that I am
thankful I made. The ability to immerse myself in the academic environment
has allowed me to succeed to levels that I would never have imagined. I know
it is not always possible to pursue an education full-time but the
difference has been dramatic for me. It changed from ‘getting by’ to
‘savoring the experience’.
Something that is essential for success in my opinion is support and
encouragement from friends and family. Although dedicated and persistent, I
am not sure I would have continued on to where I am today without that
support. We are all social creatures and we need each other. As my ancestors
have said “we are all connected in the web of life”. Balance is necessary
for success and creating the space for interaction with friends and family
is essential, even during our academic endeavors. Too many students along my
path have not been able to sustain themselves when there was not the support
of their family or friends. Some drop out, some go back home. My hopes are
that they continue their education where they are close to their support
network.
Remember if there are those that you are aware that need some friendly
support, let us try to help each other out and encourage each other both in
action and verbally.
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Marjeanna Faye Burge Master of Indigenous Nations and Peace & Conflict Studies University of Kansas
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I have learned that organization and time management is the key to a successful academic career. I utilize lists for every aspect of my life, but I find them most helpful for School. I make lists for short term goals I plan to achieve in my classes, like weekly work that needs to be accomplished, and I make lists for the long term items for planning purposes. Before beginning any assignment I make a list of what I want to achieve and a plan of action. This technique is especially good for papers and helps to keep you on track. Also, if there is an assignment in which I need to read a book, I find it helpful instead of reading the entire thing in one shot to divvy it up into sections. Again, I will make a list of which pages need to read by which dates. I find it easier to retain the information in smaller doses. The planning ahead helps to reduce stress and ensure that I am able to concentrate on other facets of my life besides just school.
Mindee Weiss
University of Virginia
Time Management:
1) Use an assignment calendar and write everything in it every day for every
class.
2) It will SAVE your life!
a. Things get busy and it’s easy to forget certain smaller assignments or
assignments that have a due date that’s a month and half away.
b. Many professors will not remind you about the assignment except for the
first time they assign it to the class.
Miscellaneous Tips:
1) DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
a. This stresses you out.
b. This forces you to provide work that’s not your best because you are not
relaxed and not giving yourself enough time.
c. It is a great feeling to be done early and have free time for the
weekend.
d. If you just set your mind, restrict yourself some to do work at specific
time intervals then you’ll be much more productive and you will not despise
doing the work as much.
2) Set Goals for Yourself.
a. This is good practice for the rest of your life.
b. You do not want to be an aimless wonderer who stays in college forever to
“find themselves”. You will get tired of it as you mature and look forward
to the next stage in your life.
c. This will help you accomplish more and opens your eyes to the many
opportunities available to you.
d. This will also help you manage your time and succeed overall because you
will have something important that you want and will enjoy working towards.
Samantha Lynn Farris
Frostburg State University
When I was in high school (back
in the 1980s) I started out as primarily a B student in most of my classes
with a few A's. My parents told me that if I studied harder that I could get
A's. I took their advice and I did do better. During my last two years of
high school I was mainly taking home A's with a few B's. I graduated in the
top 10% of my class with regards to my GPA. I noticed then that I liked to
be challenged academically. I carried those words from my parents with me
while taking my college courses later in life.
In my mid 20's I decided that nursing would be the field I would excel in. I
knew intuitively I could do well if I worked hard, studied hard and applied
myself. In my 20's I pictured in my mind where I wanted to ultimately go to
college to earn my four year degree and graduate school and what road I
would have to take to get there. It's been a long road but a very successful
one.
I enjoy challenges and reaching goals that I've set for myself. Once I
accomplished one goal I would look to see if there was another goal that I
could achieve, both academically and career wise. I started out in nursing
in an LPN program. After that I looked to see what classes I would need to
take to get my RN in the two year program. I then looked ahead to the
additional classes I would need to get my four year degree and also took
those while I did my RN two year program. When I transferred to my four year
college I had all of the prerequisites done and then took the rest of the
classes I needed for my undergraduate degree. I still looked ahead during
undergraduate school and checked out what programs I would eventually be
interested in pursuing for graduate school and saw what the curriculum
required and what the entrance requirements were to the schools I applied to
and made sure that I did everything that would get me in the door at those
particular schools.
If there were courses that I could take for honors credit I did those since
that gave me an edge in the admission process over other applicants. I also
made sure that I met whatever GPA requirements were needed to get into
particular honor societies and to include those memberships on my
application process. These steps show college admission committees that
you're willing to work hard and to excel and your achievements will be a
step above other applicants into getting into competitive colleges.
For my study methods, if there was a test or paper that needed to be done I
would start working on it early and do the proper research. I would include
all the material that they would request. If there was a test coming up in a
couple of weeks, I would usually start studying a week or two ahead of time
to get all of the material into my long term memory. I would know when I had
studied enough because when I tested myself I was retaining all of the
material. I would then periodically review the material for a small amount
of time before the exam. I always took time on my tests. I never crammed for
tests. I never rushed through an exam. I went over the material 2-3 x before
submitting it into the professor. I was usually the last one left in class
but since I always took my time I did very well. I have always had to work,
so I also always looked at how many hours a week a class would require of my
time and balanced that with my work schedule.
Looking back over the course of my life, I've been blessed to attend all of
the schools I wanted to go to. I went to schools that were my first choice
and got in. Both the LPN and RN schools were my first choice. Also, I was
privileged enough to attend the four year college and graduate schools that
were my first choices - Johns Hopkins University for my undergraduate degree
and Georgetown University for graduate school. It's been a lot of sacrifice
but overall worth every step. I can definitely say without a doubt that
attending these schools has been the highlight of my academic success.
Best of luck with your career and successes in academia!
Nancy M. Gruber
Master of Science, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies
Take care of your body. Your
body houses your brain. When your body is healthy, your brain is healthy.
When your brain is healthy, your academic life goes well.
We all know this. It makes good sense. Yet the more you delve into academia,
the more you'll find people who are experts at making excuses about why they
don't have enough time for it.
Do any of these statements sound familiar?
1) There are nights when it's impossible to get eight hours of sleep. I just
have too much work to do.
2) I often have to eat on the go, and sometimes it's just a bag of chips. I
don't always have a full hour just to sit and eat lunch.
3) I like being physically active, but spending time at the gym (or at the
park or on a yoga mat) every day is just not going to happen.
4) Spending time in "stress-reducing" activities like meditation or Tai chi
just make me feel like I'm wasting my time when I could be doing work.
Besides, I'd rather have a few drinks with my friends to get my mind off my
stress.
5) Sometimes it's inevitable. A deadline creeps up on me and I have to spend
most of the night working on a paper. I'm wrecked the next day, but my body
gets back to its usual pattern soon enough.
The odds are pretty good that a few of these statements apply to you.
Here's my situation. I got straight A's last year. I had a full course load,
an assistantship, a part-time job, and a social life. I don't have a
particularly brilliant I.Q.: I work hard. But I don't identify with any of
the five statements above.
This is my advice to you.
1) Learn to say no. Example: I always arrange my schedule so that I have a
full hour for lunch every day at noon, no exceptions. If someone tries to
fill that hour, even if it's a professor, I say, "Sorry, that's my lunch
time."
2) Learn to sleep. You may need to relearn the entire process in order to
break old habits. On weekdays, you'll need to go to bed and wake up at the
SAME TIME every day. The best way to do this is to set an alarm for bedtime.
That's right - an alarm for going to sleep AND for waking up. Take 20
minutes after your alarm goes off to physically and mentally pack away all
of your daily tasks. Know that they will be there in the morning. Here's the
hardest part - if a friend asks you to go out, you might actually have to
decline. (Don't worry, there's still the weekend.)
3) If you're going to procrastinate, at least be realistic about it. If you
don't follow this advice, the above ideas on eating and sleeping will never
work for you. Example: You are assigned three weeks to complete a 5-page
paper. You know it takes you about an hour per page, plus some extra time
for research. Wait until four days before the due date to begin, but make
sure you spend two hours each day. You must be done with your two hours
before your bedtime alarm goes off. This way you can sleep AND
procrastinate. (If you actually start your paper three weeks before it's
due, more power to you. You can treat yourself to some extra sleep.)
4) Find an activity (that doesn't involve drinking) that takes your mind off
school. I personally love yoga, meditation, and weight-lifting. Spend part
of your day in a mindfulness activity, and part of your day being physically
active. (If at all possible, save the purely social activities for the
weekend.) But if you ever have to choose between the cardio machine and
sleep, ALWAYS choose sleep. Sleep makes everything else possible.
5) Be strong. You've made it this far, so keep it going. Breaking habits and
beginning new ones might be the hardest task you'll face during your career
as a student. But if you can do it and stick with it, everything else will
be easy.
Lauren Marie Hayworth
Master of Arts in Music Performance
Appalachian State University
Being a huge procrastinator in high school, it was an enormous challenge for me in college to stay on top of my work. It's easy to put off assignments or studying since you know weeks and months in advance when things will be due. However, one will quickly learn that falling behind makes it very difficult to succeed. Suddenly, you might find yourself with two major tests, two papers, and five hundred pages of a novel to read and analyze in a single week. The key is to know what work needs to be done and by when. Stay on top of your assignments and the length of time that will need to be spent on each one, and, whatever you do, don't wait until the night before to begin an important assignment... or three.
Alexandra Ernst
Biology, Philosophy
Vanderbilt University
Professors
Professors are one of the most important tools in succeeding at academics.
Not only are the professors the ones who grade the papers and tests, they
are in charge of teaching their students. For that reason, the professors
make themselves available through office hours, phone numbers, and emails.
Students are aware that the professors are available for questions, but only
those who utilize those office hours and that email are truly successful. In
my time in college, I have come to love many of my professors for their
knowledge in a given field as well as for people in my intended profession.
In asking questions about class as well as life, I have learned more from
professors outside of the classroom than in any lecture hall. Personal
experience can be a teaching tool by showing example. Those professors who
stand up in front of class and lecture, etc. have been in your seat,
sometime literally. Without tapping into the wealth of knowledge and
experience of your professors, you won't gain all that can be taught.
Instead, a void between student and professor will keep the student in the
lecture hall rather than out in the world becoming as successful as the
professor.
In short, tap into your professors. Get inside their heads. They are
teaching your classes for a reason; they have something you can learn. It
may be hard to see at first, but each and every professor is pushing you to
push yourself and succeed as a student and a professional.
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Annette Peterson Southern Illinois University
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A Note on Dorms
My freshman year, I got
randomly placed in The Social Dorm. Upon hearing of this, I was initially
overjoyed, because all I thought was, "The Dorm Without Private Bathrooms,
Meaning I Don't Have To Clean a Toilet." Well, I suppose every silver lining
has a cloud... "Social" was the euphemism I would hear many times that year,
most noted in the spring, when I had been living there for almost a full
academic year and high school juniors were being led around on campus tours.
"And to your left you'll see our most SOCIAL freshman dorm!" I was tempted
to stick my head out my window and yell back a response something along the
lines of, "I strongly feel that a more truthful adjective could be found to
replace yours!" Except I would have narrowed that down to one word which I
would not want to shout to the parents of the prospective students. Though
my bitterness may have stemmed more from the tour guide waking me up every
Saturday afternoon than from actual dorm hatred. But to be honest, I did
experience many different instances of "social" that year.
The range and variety were endless. I can offer up a handful of examples, but it would only be scraping the op of the Petri dish. There was, usually between the hours of 2am and 4am, weekday or weekend, "EEEIEIEIIEIEIEIEIEIIE!!!!! giggle giggle EIEEEEEIEIIIEEEE!!!!" amplified by the echo provided by long hallways, a la prison. There was loud, pulsing music played at all hours, in total disregard for the never-enforced quiet hours, and I considered it to be a good day when the music was not in the form of drunken karaoke (a surprisingly common occurrence). Even when my dormmates were sober, they were piled into too-small rooms, laughing and blasting music or TVs, and generally using their rooms for the opposite of what I used mine for- avoiding people who went out every night and then piled into your room to giggle.
Now, I liked to socialize, but compared to my floormates, I was the hermit on the mountain. The initial awkwardness of the first weeks of college, where you are bound to any and every other freshman by your common desire to not seem like the token leper, taught me that I had nothing in common with all but about 2 people on a floor of approximately 200. I had made every effort. I had initially piled into rooms and struck up conversations and went to meals with people I didn't know, and the more I spent time with them... well, the less I wanted to spend time with them. I used my room for study and sleep and not much else.
My roommate left halfway through the year, and I had my own room. It was magical. I could socialize as much as I wanted to outside my dorm, but once I came back to my room, I could relax, recover, and write that 15-page research paper without interruption. There was just one fly in the ointment- I began to feel guilty that I was spending so much time behind a closed door, studying by myself, when it seemed like everyone around me was constantly making friends, connections, and being a normal, well-adjusted college student. I knew I was exaggerating. I knew that, at any given moment, others were toiling away in silence like I was. But toiling away in silence does not, by its very nature, call much attention to itself, so it went unnoticed. Whereas the group of girls trying to piece together what they did last night was VERY hard to miss.
You may wonder who I would feel guilty to, and I suppose that was myself. I thought that I was limiting myself by not practicing social skills that may be more important in the real world than the book learning I was doing instead. This was something I had always struggled with- getting enough of a balance of social and academic training. My resolution was this- I should not feel forced to interact with people. If I simply "didn't click with them" (or secretly wished they'd all drop out and leave...), why force myself to suffer? When I was feeling like the world around me was getting ready to party, I would leave my room and find places where I was surrounded by other solitary studiers, like the library or a bookstore. This stopped my anxiety that I was missing out on something, and reassured me that there were, in fact, others who studied and stayed in during the week. And the amazing friends I met- NOT in my dorm- allowed me a more positive social experience.
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Isabella Maria Janusz International Relations Georgetown University |
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Curriculum Vitae:
Leverage your university career
services to help hone your resume-writing skills. Most students don't even
know that such a resource exits, but career services is enormously
invaluable. Not only to they provide resume and job-hunting tips, but they
also possess connections with job recruiters. Go early and go often. Since
most internships start accepting applications in January, start thinking
about constructing your resume in November. Once you have a rough draft,
bring it to your career services office to have someone look over it. Some
of the staff there were once recruiters and thus have a vast bank of
knowledge about how to revise resume and make them stand out. For those
students who are apprehensive about allowing a stranger critique a resume,
don't worry. First, that's a completely natural feeling to have. Second, the
staff isn't there to judge your resume accomplishments in comparison to
other students who use the service. They are there to give you advice, and
the advice they give is often extremely valuable.
Anna Peng
Economics
Princeton University
I believe the best “scholarly advice for academic mastery” that I could
offer is what I have learned about studying for exams. Often, my university
courses are assessed solely on three cumulative exams. My psychology of
learning class taught me that spacing material while studying helps one to
memorize content and be able to access it later with greater ease. From my
own experience, this has been completely true. The best way to prepare for
an exam that will count as one-third of your grade is to study in parts.
Ideally, I try to look over my notes from lectures after each class.
Realistically, that doesn’t always happen, but I really try to at least
re-read my notes at the end of each week. This way, when the exam date
approaches, I won’t have to worry about what will be on it, because I
remember the topics from the notes that I have seen several times.
The most helpful tactic in
spacing out studying occurs in the week before the exam. First, it is really
helpful to set aside at least three periods of time to devote to studying,
as to avoid studying at the last minute. The first session, I read all of
the designated text chapters. The second session, I usually study all of my
notes thoroughly, and try to memorize and understand them completely. I also
take any available practice quizzes; usually they come as an online package
with textbooks. The last time that I study before an exam, I look over any
material that I don’t feel I can recall easily. I make sure to scan over all
the material a final time, and concentrate on the parts that are most
difficult for me. This method has really helped me to achieve success, and
it is actually a lot easier than staring at a huge pile of notes and a huge
textbook the night before! Always remember to just stay relaxed and allow
yourself lots of time… good luck studying!!!
Autumn Barthelemy
University of South Florida
Working Smarter Not Harder:
Sleep and Diet in the Face of Academic Stressors
It sounds absurdly elementary.
Eat a healthy diet. Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. As simple and
incredibly important as these lifestyle factors are, I have been repeatedly
astonished by the prevalence of poor eating and sleeping habits among highly
motivated and serious undergraduate students, particularly when confronted
by academic stressors.
When pursuing a rigorous academic regimen, it’s easy to convince yourself
that you lack the time or money to maintain a healthy diet. It’s also
tempting at times to pull the ever notorious, “all-nighter,” in which a good
night’s sleep is forfeited for eye-straining exam cram sessions. And
finally, who has time for exercise when you have four examinations and a
presentation next week?
It wasn’t until my senior year of undergrad that I realized just how
pervasive this problem truly was. I was a student instructor for the BIO
190, CHE 195, and CHE 197 courses my junior and senior year, which are
workshop/problem-solving courses designed to accompany introductory biology
and chemistry courses at UK. After meeting and talking with several hundred
students, I found that a significant number of students were eating very
poorly and pulling all-nighters the night before examinations (and some on a
routine basis).
The rationale behind such habits is that they enhance time efficiency or
provide some sort of academic edge. The reality, of course, is that these
habits are entirely counterproductive. When students maintain substandard
diets, they deprive their bodies of the raw materials needed in order to
adequately sustain themselves. As a result, more energy resources are used
to compensate for nutritional deficiencies that could otherwise be used to
efficiently process information and assimilate knowledge. A poor diet can
also predispose individuals to illness, which is certainly undesirable in
the face of exams, quizzes, and term papers. It is thus worth the time and
energy to invest in a healthy diet where you are much more likely to study
efficiently and handle the academic challenges ahead.
The notion that eating healthy is expensive is also false, in fact
the opposite seems more likely the case. Eating at the local burger joint
(or often worse, campus dining) is frequently of poor nutritional value,
quite expensive, and can involve your food being prepared in unsanitary
conditions. Buying and preparing healthy, simple meals will save you money
and maintain your health. Routinely drink water with meals instead of the
soft drink, and try replacing the greasy fries with a salad. If your class
schedule is such that cooking and preparation of meals is not possible,
prepare your lunch the night before and bring it with you to campus. You can
either pack a lunchbox with ice-packs or bring non-perishable items in a
grocery bag or in your backpack. This way you are eating healthy while
simultaneously saving time and money.
The all-nighter is a concept I can’t seem to wrap my head around. Students
stay up all night feverishly cramming for exams, only to find themselves
snoozing in class or at work the next day. Furthermore, their sleep cycle in
relation to day/night becomes skewed, and they may have trouble sleeping
during the nights that follow. All-nighters the night before an examination
are even worse. Students performing pre-exam all nighters are considerably
more likely to forget both the information they crammed as well as
previously assimilated test knowledge. They are thus better off simply
approaching the examination somewhat unprepared but with a fully functional
brain, than they would be if they had studied all night but have a brain
functioning at much less than 100%.
In summary, the importance of effective eating and sleeping habits is often underestimated by serious and highly motivated undergraduate students. Although it seems overly simplistic, mastering these crucial life processes will have a tremendous positive impact on both your academic performance as well as your long term health.
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Edward Matin Kobraei University of Kentucky College of Medicine
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1. I know it sounds silly, but
on the day of an exam, I always dress up a bit. I read a study that said if
your personal confidence is up due to your physical appearance, then you
will perform better than average. So now I make sure to leave my normal
school days sweat pants at home on a test day, and shine up a bit. And I
tell you what, I have felt better and performed better on tests!
2. If I am taking a big lecture class, I always take a few moments at the
end of the first day to introduce myself to the professor afterwards. It
shows respect, dedication, and I always prefer to be known as a name and not
a face. Should you need to set up an appointment or email your teacher, they
will know you by face, and that always helps.
3. The day before a test, I always make flash cards on index cards. The
topics can be broad or specific, but by just writing things down, these
facts stick in my mind better.
4. To help me remember material, I use word association. For example: I was
taking a test in a film class, and I couldn't remember who was considered
"America's Sweetheart". It was Mary Pickford, so I started to repeat over
and over "Mary is picky, but she sure is a sweetheart". This stuck in my
head, and I then associated Mary Pickford with America's Sweetheart. If you
can tie the question to an answer with a little phrase or rhyme, the
information will be easier to recall on test day.
5. I always look at homework as a job that I will get paid for. Please TRUST
ME when I say that you it is far better to do the bad stuff first, (ie:
homework) then get rewarded, (ie: watching tv, or going to meet friends.) I
will set limits to what I can be rewarded with based upon how much homework
I have done. It takes a bit of self-discipline, but there are plenty of
hours in the day to enjoy if you just manage your time well.
| Emily Burge University of Nevada Las Vegas
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It was chaos in the classroom. I was trying to quiet down my 4 year olds,
but they were yelling and running around the room. Quickly thinking of any
idea, I got out some crayons for them to color with. No, that didn't work.
Neither did a storybook. Finally, I shouted, "Everyone get a chair! We're
going to make friendship bracelets!" The children loved that idea. They all
were seated immediately, and I grabbed the strings and beads. I explained to
the class what a friendship bracelet was and how they will each trade it
with a friend. I repeated it so I knew that they understood. Well after the
bracelets were completed, I told the 4 year olds that it was time to trade
it with a friend; hence the meaning of a friendship bracelet. You know 4
year olds, they don't want to share anything; so not one child wanted to
give their bracelet up. "But it's mine! I made it" was all I heard in the
classroom. My lesson didn't go as planned, but I thought it was okay because
the class was finally settled.
Parents were starting to pick
up soon after. Each child went home, and we showed off our bracelets. Amir's
mom had just shown up. I explained to his mom about my lesson objective of a
friendship bracelet and how it didn't work out. Then randomly, Amir looks up
at me and says, "Miss Heather, I want YOU to have my bracelet." It was a
moment that I will never forget; the power of a child. My lesson got through
his head, and I was a proud teacher.
And this was the day that I
knew that teaching is what I am meant to do. We all have those "ah-ha"
moments, and it is then that we are lucky to have a profession that we love
(now we just have to graduate and do it!).
Heather Leckey
Arizona State University
I think it is really important for all
students to keep their heads straight in their freshman year.
There will be some “cool” kids in any environment your will be in, that are
always partying and bragging about how wasted they were at the awesome party
they have hosted a night before their final exam, and they are still
drunk….etc… (You get the picture)
You always have to remember that those people usually end up with bad
grades, re-taking classes, or the worst, dropping out the college, hence
wasting thousands of dollars for nothing instead of the quality education
which could have lead them to a great job (and hopefully a great life
thereafter.)
No matter how people around you make fun of you for studying hard for your
exams when they are partying, or calling you a geek for keeping your
4.00GPA, you have to remember that your hard work DOES pay off at the end.
(Believe me!!) And there always be some “Really cool” students that are as
dedicated as you are, and are glad to be study buddies of yours.
So, surround yourself with right crowd (you will have fun with them, just
not “I was wasted and did something stupid and got kicked out the college”
fun) and study hard because it will pay of at the end!
Hitomi Abe
Masters, Mathematics
Drake University
From College Computer Science to the Games
Industry: Your Big Break
You’re getting top grades at a top computer science program. Or maybe you’re
getting okay grades at a mediocre computer science program. It doesn’t
matter. The truth is: you missed the boat. The kids who knew they wanted to
make video games in high school attended gaming boot camps like Full Sail in
Florida and DigiPen in Washington State. Many of them died, but those that
survived will be snatched up by expanding studios long before you, if anyone
will. The grades will not matter much, for those blessed acolytes of gaming.
They already know how to get along in the industry. They know the technology
and all the right algorithms.
Duke University did not teach me about the games industry or technologies.
At Duke I learned how to program Java and C++ on UNIX machines. I learned
about operating systems and design principles: important things. Completely
insufficient things. As in the theater, if you’re like me, you need a Big
Break. Below are the best tips I can give, followed by my own tale.
1. Know People. This is a no-brainer, which is why I’m starting with it. If
you happen to have acquired any contacts remotely related to the industry,
use them; but use them politely, or you risk losing them.
2. Know Stuff. College probably failed to prepare you for games, unless you
attended a college with a truly sweet computer science department. It’s up
to you to fill in the gaps. Plenty of books exist about game programming. I
suggest studying Microsoft DirectX, useful graphics algorithms involving
trig, and popular artificial intelligence techniques. Yes, you’ll need to
recall a little math, but just a little. The best books give real-world
examples and guide you through steps to a finished game, which leads to my
next point.
3. Do Stuff. Game companies love to see a portfolio, and not just for
artists. Those applicants from Full Sail are showing their final project.
What have you done? As much as possible, put together simple games to
demonstrate your grasp on the principles. Another big win is if you can get
involved with an amateur project. These projects usually advertise on
underground development forums or the forums of free and cheap game engines.
An amateur project that even comes close to a final product looks great on
your résumé and in interviews.
4. Grab the Small Break. A good step to a Big Break is a Small Break. The
more flexible you can be and the more you’re willing to sacrifice, the
better. The only person I know who went into games straight from our class
flew to an unknown startup in Wyoming. Of course, now he’s doing well at a
successful company. Everything is easier once you get “in”.
5. Watch and Wait. It’s not called a Big Break for nothing. Stay on the
lookout for opportunities, and apply for the ones that conceivably describe
you. Companies usually keep your application on file, so don’t bug them
about it. Try not to obsess. Relax, do something enjoyable, get a steady job
to support yourself, and await the alignment of Mars, Jupiter, and Jupiter’s
forty-second moon (Thelxinoe) to herald your lucky day. Theater hopefuls
wait tables in their spare time. With your computer skills, you shouldn’t
need to wait tables. But you can if you want.
I did not go straight to the games industry. In fact, I did not go straight
anywhere. I didn’t want to stray too far from my girlfriend, and, as already
indicated, I knew next to nothing about game development. After several
months, through a twisted series of events, I ended up working in the tiny
Data Systems department at the Supreme Court of the United States. That’s
right. An ultra-exclusive national institution welcomed me, but the games
industry did not.
My job at the Court taught me all about Microsoft development technologies, to the point that I became a wizard at them. In my spare time, I started programming out of a gaming book my parents bought me. I created a breakout game with bricks that did special things when you hit them, which I shared with a co-worker. We competed for high scores. In our spare time, of course. I also started a primitive DirectX game, but my art looked horrible. This prompted me to look into amateur game sites, and I began experimenting with the free Wintermute engine (www.dead-code.org). On the forums, I learned about cool games being created by people sometimes thousands of miles away from each other. I actually performed a few programming assignments for a game that ended up garnering some name recognition, but not in a good way. If you search for Limbo of the Lost, you’ll see what I mean. Fortunately, at the time I was applying for gaming jobs there were no such connotations. I think it really helped me, and it would have helped greatly if I could have proudly pointed to a game demo or snazzy website.
At the end of my rope, I emailed a professor from freshman year that I was sure didn’t remember me. He had taught AI, which was related to games, so maybe he could possibly offer some advice. Well, he exceeded all my expectations, and I began working at a research institute in North Carolina simulating human emotion and language. Never underestimate the power of a polite email to an estranged professor. It wasn’t gaming, but it was closer. While at the Research Triangle Institute, I took a class on video games through the continuing education program at North Carolina State University.
Finally a new company came to the area, and they were looking for people with simulation experience. By this point I knew my stuff, I had a couple of years of engineering under my belt, I had received my small break, and I was ready. It turns out that the lead programmer at the new studio had worked at RTI before me, so we had an innate affiliation: A surprise bonus!
It was my Big Break, but it didn’t fall into my lap. It only arrived after I had done all I could do myself, leveraged a contact I hadn’t even believed in, and waited, sometimes despondently, for the right opportunity. Maybe if I had sacrificed more, traveled farther, I would have struck gold sooner; but then again, maybe not. You have to make those decisions for yourself. My girlfriend and I will be getting married this fall, and I couldn’t be happier.
Jeff Stanley
Master of Science in Computer Science
North Carolina State University
The best advice I can offer for "academic mastery" is to have multiple positive forces outside of your world of work. Having places, people, activities, rituals, and thoughts that make you feel content and strong are essential to being a fully developed individual. These elements rejuvenate your creativity, make your life happier and therefore make you more effective, and most importantly, they allow you to look at academic problems from new perspectives and remember why you want to excel in the academic world.
Lindsey Gael
Cornell University
In order to be successful one should :
1. "If a drop of water falls in a large water body, it has no identity but
when it falls on a leaf, it shines like a pearl". Think about the short term
and long term goals for yourself and the right place for you so that you can
be the pearl at that place. Like what do you want to achieve in life and
where do you want to see yourself 5-10 years from now. These goals can be in
terms of levels that you want to reach professionally and other things that
you want to do in life which at this point might be difficult to do maybe
because of money constraints or any other constraints. So, goals in terms of
the professional career which in turn will help you achieve goals in your
social life too.
2. You should have the sincere determination, dedication and a crave towards
everything you do which will help you to reach that level where you will be
able to achieve those goals of yours step by step.
3. For this you need to plan just a general framework, about how are you
going to reach those goals and what you want to achieve in terms of your
academic career so that you can get into a good job which will be the
beginning of the ladder that you have to climb for reaching the final long
term goal.
4. Be systematic in your approach towards every task that you carry out
which will help you being clear about your next step. One should prioritize
the responsibilities and carry them out accordingly. Give it a thought about
what is important for you and what is good for you and at the same time be
humble. Don't be over confident about anything. Keep your confidence level
at a point which is necessary to do your work successfully. Over confidence
can ruin things by causing mistakes.
5. Be strong at mind and don't be attracted to smaller pleasures of life,
dream big so that it will always keep you working to reach that dream. At
the end you might or might not reach that bigger dream but in the process
you will achieve at least the dreams which will give you a feeling of
satisfaction.
6. Last but not the least, have faith in yourself in your capabilities and
have faith in God and things will fall in the right place. Hard work always
pays off. For some it pays off early and for some it may take some time but
in the end the results of the hard work done by you will be good. Also
always remember that " Even the word IMPOSSIBLE says 'I M POSSIBLE' ", so
always try before you give up on something.
Good Luck!!
Nitin Kashimpuria
Masters in Financial Engineering
University of Michigan
Taking notes is critical in any course. There are times in which the notes or PowerPoint slides will be provided. When this occurs, I will still take notes in class. This helps me to better attend to what is being taught in class and follow along with the lecture and discussions. I have found that writing the notes by hand in class and then retyping them later is helpful. First, it is a good review as I retype the notes while ensuring that I go over the material again. It also allows me to change any short hand notes into notes that I will be able to read and understand at a later date. Having my notes typed and saved has provided a great resource when I have had to take comprehensive exams, graduation exams, or need information that is applicable to other courses or real life/on-the-job situations. After typing my notes, I will create flashcards to study. I hand write these flashcards in order to provide myself with yet another opportunity to go over the material before reviewing the flashcards. When I go over the flashcards to study, I create two piles: ones I don't know completely and ones that I do know. I continuously go over the flashcards until all of the cards in the pile that I know. I will review all of the cards one last time to ensure that I truly do know the cards. I have found that by writing the notes at least three times (once during the class, once by typing and once by creating flashcards), I am able to retrieve the information more quickly and I tend to spend less time studying the flashcards than if I just created the flashcards from the notes provided by the professor. I have used this method since high school and it has definitely helped on all types of tests. When I do not use this method, I tend to struggle more on tests and I am unable to retrieve the information as quickly at a later time. It definitely reflects on my grades, too!
Stacy Lynn Blattner
Masters, School Counseling
University of Texas
Have plans:
a. Financial plan: complete your FAFSA before or by the deadline to help you determine the cost of your education, your expected family contribution and repayment schedules of any loans you may need to apply for. Most likely your budget will require a long-term adjustment to allow the extra expenses for tuition, books, materials and other related cost. Check with your employer and research scholarship options to off-set your out-of-pocket expenses. Take as many classes as possible with your local community college and transfer them to your 4-year school of choice.
b. Degree plan: the sooner you can decide on a degree plan the sooner you will get a firm guideline which courses you need to take. If you have not completed your core requirements you should do so at your nearest community college for several reasons: the tuition is much lower; the classes are much smaller; you may not even need to borrow money to cover the cost. At the 4-yr school you should plan to enroll in more courses than just a full load because many schools will not charge tuition for courses above your full load. Also, the degree plan will help you maximize short semesters by planning ahead which courses are offered towards your degree during short and flex semesters. Also, be prepared that some courses are only offered during certain semesters so be sure to work out a long range plan. Your degree plan is your roadmap with the most accurate, most efficient and most economic route towards graduation. It will help you stay focused and deter you from dropping courses easily.
c. Study plan: budget your time as you would budget your money. Neither of these resources come easy – but they go very fast :-). Set time aside for studying and homework calculating your out-of-class preparation time at 2-3 times (weekly) the amount of credits a course gives you (Example: 3 credit hour course: 3 hours in class per week, 6-9 hours prep time per week). Build a firm schedule which shows your class schedule, study time, work, and other obligations. Be sure to leave time to relax and also for sleep. Be realistic where you may need to adjust your time commitments. It does not make sense to borrow money for a college education and then fail to follow through on your time commitment. If you are coming fresh out of high school you are still in study mode and should be comfortable with a school schedule. If you have been out of school for a while, ease into it. Start with one or few classes and slowly increase your load with each semester. This incremental approach will keep your adjustments on time, finances and other obligations at a manageable rate. Once you have reached the maximum course load you have reached the highway of your education road trip. You will be moving towards graduation at a much faster speed.
Christa Jones
Applied Technology and Performance Improvement
University of North Texas
I'm a graduate student working towards my masters degree in Special Education. I also work full-time and I'm raising three children, ages 16, 14, and 9 on my own. My youngest child is a foster child, which I do in addition to everything else.
My greatest advice for students is get a date planner/ calendar. As soon as you receive the syllabus from your professor, write all assignments, etc. on your planner. This is especially important if you have several classes. At the beginning of each and every week, check your planner/date book for assignments due that week. Cross them off as you complete them. Do not wait until the very last minute to complete assignments - take the time to do your best work. You get out of it what you put into it! Little effort yields bad grade! Big effort yields knowledge and great G.P.A.!
The second pointer is to make sure you attend and participate in class. You and/or your parents are paying thousands of dollars for your classes and books, so get your money's worth. Professors love it if you participate and if there's a grade for participation, you have to participate anyway. Finally, if you participate it helps the class go by faster.
Third, type all of your assignments. If you don't have a computer, there's a computer lab. on campus or the public library in your local area. It's important to actually complete assignments and hand them in on time. It's also important to make each and every completed assignment your best work. Make it look neat and professional. You are not in high school anymore. Everyone you're in class with is just as smart as or smarter than you are, so do your very best work. Your work is a reflection of who you are inside!
Finally, ask questions! If you don't get it or understand, ask! I'm sure there are 10 more people just as confused as you are!
Do your best! When it comes time for those tough interview questions, you will know the answers if you do your work, participate, and hand in assignments!
Get to know people who sit around you in class. You may need to borrow their notes or get clarification on an assignment later on...
Janice Bragunier
Masters, Special Education
Shippensburg University
Time Management
This is, I believe, one of the most important factors to succeeding as a
student. With a limited number of hours in a day, week, month and a
semester, students must learn to balance all of the many facets of their
lives in order to achieve academic excellence.
What has always helped me was to keep a calendar. Set it up as soon as you
get your syllabus and update it as needed throughout the semester. Write
down all assignments and tests and their due dates on your calendar. For
term papers and other written assignments, give yourself a "rough draft"
date in advance of the due date so you can have ample time to edit and
revise if you need. Mark down any in-school and out-of-school activities or
commitments as well. A good habit to develop is on Sunday, before the start
of the week, prepare a weekly schedule.
- Record your daily classes
- Write down things to be done that week from your semester calendar
- Add in any activities/appointments
- Schedule in times for finishing assignments working on projects and
studying for tests (including nights + weekends)
- Place a check mark next to things as you accomplish them
Karen Leary
Master of Science in Nursing
West Chester University
One myth I often hear/see is that , when a person does well in a certain
subject, it is claimed that the subject must have "come easy to him/her", or
that he/she "just gets it". The implication is that all scholars have some
innate learning ability that others lack (or are just "smarter"), without
which one simply cannot excel.
It may surprise people to learn
that I often struggle greatly with subjects that I nevertheless manage to do
well at. Actually, I frequently find one of my majors (computer science) to
be very difficult, obscure, and confusing. I rarely feel like I have an
intuitive grasp of the subject, or that I "just get it". (For those
wondering, I'm majoring in the topic for two reasons. One, I happen to find
it very interesting, difficulty aside. Two, computer skills are a very
useful tool in my primary major, physics.)
I've noticed that many people
tend to give up when a subject appears confusing to them. They tend to
notice others doing well, and assume that said others simply have a natural
skill in the topic that they lack, and conclude that they simply cannot
succeed on that basis. But as I said above, this isn't necessarily true.
Success at an endeavor does not imply, or require, innate skill.
So if innate skill does not
determine success, what does? From my experience, I would have to say the
answer is motivation: how much do you want to succeed? I've known many
people, myself included, who have struggled through difficult topics, but
refused to simply give up. Rather, we worked hard on the problems, getting
help when we needed it. I'm not embarrassed to say that I sometimes had to
attend CS office hours almost nightly in order to get the homework done. It
is this determination, this will to do whatever is necessary for success,
that has allowed us to succeed. We didn't just trudge through the material,
desperately hoping for a C level grade and hoping to put the course behind
us. We embraced it, spent time on it, sought help for it, and refused to be
cowed by the difficulty. It is this, and not inherent skill at the subject,
that allowed us to succeed.
The point is, many people do
give up when faced with difficult subjects, attributing the success of
others purely to inborn skill, something they can never replicate. But this
is false. I, and several people I know, have succeeded at subjects despite
severe struggles with them, because we wanted to succeed, and did whatever
was necessary to do so. Those of us who do well aren't inherently smarter
than anyone else. We simply decided to master the subject, whatever it took.
I realize that most people
won't devote time and effort to subjects they don't like. And there is
certainly a case to be made for devoting more time and effort to certain
subjects over others. My final message, however, is that one should not be
dissuaded from pursuing a topic of interest just because it appears
difficult. One should not be discouraged when someone else excels at a topic
with which one struggles. Those that do are not relying on
super-intelligence or some other, non-replicable talent. If one wants to
succeed, one can. It all comes down to motivation. If you really want to
pursue an area of study, you can, as long as you're willing to put the
necessary effort into it. It is motivation, not intelligence, that makes one
a scholar.
Michael Rosenman
Physics/Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University
One major benefit on my study methods has
been adding the dimension of creativity.
My improvement of my note taking skills has been adding color to my notes
(about 4-10 different colors). I created a color coded system for both in
class and my own notes that are not only easier to read, but have been
helpful in breaking down information for improving long-term memory. Think
of writing C++program where specific functions and operations are color
coded because they have a separate purpose. Breaking down information with
color sounded simple enough, but allowed me to break free from bad note
taking habits.
Surveying information is perhaps the most important aspects of reading and
taking notes, so a combination of quickly summarizing sections or aspects of
my classes in my notes regularly, improved my reviewing stages for tests and
learning overall.
Oscar Xavier Quint
MBA
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The key elements to long-term success is an undying passion for your work
and a positive attitude. A positive attitude is essential because that is
what will give you the strength to get through the frustrations which are
inherent in every discipline of life. To get this attitude, the first step
is self-confidence- "I can do it!". Extra-curricular activities are a great
way to build self-confidence. To substantiate my point, let me tell you the
story of my life.
In my primary and middle school
days, I was an above average student. I used to take part in a wide variety
of extra-curricular activities and my grades were always near the top of my
class. When my family shifted to a new country, all the extra-curricular
activities came to a full stop. I had to learn a new language and had extra
tuition classes to be able to cope with the lessons as I'd joined when half
the school year was over. I did acceptably well in the finals and started
the next year. But I had lost interest in what I was learning and school
life had become monotonous. By the time I completed my 9th year, my grades
had gone down below average, and my self-confidence all but lost. My parents
were far from pleased and I had no hopes of securing a good high school
subject choice if I didn't perform well in my 10th grade. Then, I joined
tennis lessons and started playing regularly. It was miraculous how my
performance took a turn after that. I was positively motivated when I
realized that I was good at tennis and this gave a great boost to my
self-confidence and helped me improve my concentration. I secured third rank
in my school, and got to choose the subjects of my interest. Over the years,
I have seen to it that I keep learning new things and find new ways to
better myself by taking part in plays, yoga classes, athletics; and
strangely enough, the more I did, the better I performed! I am now half-way
through a Masters' in electrical engineering with a 4.0 GPA and I continue
to play tennis and practice yoga every day, which is extremely refreshing
after a long day of work.
In conclusion, all I have left
to add is that Life is very short, so live and love every moment, and try to
learn as much as you can because knowledge is indeed power!
| Ahalya Srikanth Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Clemson University
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We all know the feeling: sweaty palms,
racing heart, sheer panic. Stage fright afflicts many of us when giving a
presentation, performing a recital, or speaking in public. Here are some
ways to battle nerves:
Preliminary Methods
1. Visualize- Get as much information as you can about what awaits. Where
will you be? Who will be there? What will happen? Imagine yourself
completing the task successfully with as much detail possible.
2. Dry Run- Whether by yourself or with some friends for support, have a
run-through. Practice performing and you will be sure to learn something
useful.
3. Fight Dread- If you find yourself trying to ignore what awaits or
starting to make negative predictions, become proactive. There is no better
solution to feeling helpless than doing something about it.
In the Moment
1. Remember & Trust- This is the time to fall back on preparation. Remember
that you are prepared and trust in your ability to carry through.
2. Focus- Don't let your mind wander or dart around the room looking like a
nervous animal. Some people find it helpful to concentrate on focusing their
eyes. Breathe deeply for four counts in and out. Make every motion
purposeful and your mind will start to clear.
3. Quiet Negative Voices- See that your hands are shaking? Acknowledge it
and move on. Don't freak out about what is happening to your body- it's a
natural response to heightened adrenaline. If you find yourself looking for
a way out or thinking negative thoughts along the lines of, "OMG! I can't do
this! What am I doing here? This sucks!" repeat a positive affirmation.
Create your own mantra and repeat it in your mind to help block out
negativity.
Sarah Ludwig
Master of Arts in Violin Performance
Rice University
EDUCATION IS A PRIVILEGE
I am 45 years old. After homeschooling my two children through 6th grade,
it's my turn to FINALLY further my education. Namely, working (one class at
a time) to obtain my Masters in Education. When I was 18 and an
undergraduate I was told by my parents that my great grandmother had
provided for my college education and I would not be required to work.
Essentially, everything was taken care of and not to worry. Six years later,
I finished school and not particularly well. I really took advantage of my
situation and didn't realize what a gift I had been given. With all the time
I took and transferring of schools, I could have spent the same amount of
money and gotten my Masters right after my undergrad! I was given the
greatest opportunity of a lifetime - a free education - and took it for
granted. Now, here I am, trudging along, scrounging for study time, one
class at a time, paying as I go. getting 'A's, and loving every minute of it
and feeling like the luckiest person alive. I am usually the oldest person
in my class and the one asking the seemingly silliest questions. I probably
email my professors too much and bore my friends and family with what I'm
learning. But, I am LEARNING! It has taken me 20+ years to figure it out,
but now I can honestly say, I am privileged and will never take my education
for granted again. I can't wait to share my new found knowledge with my
future students and with anyone I see making the same mistakes I've made.
Think of education as a gift and never turn it down!
|
Sheri Lynn Robertson Masters in Education/Reading and Literacy Mississippi University for Women
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Advancement in education can be an exciting endeavor. Financial restraints can be one factor that prevents many from enjoying the benefits of an advanced degree. Therefore, financial planning for an advanced degree is highly important. The financial aspects of furthering your education does not only include the cost of tuition, books and supplies. Educational expenses may also include housing costs, automobile expenses, food, health insurance, personal expenses, etc. Personally, I have learned that there are unexpected expenses that may arise that will often put a damper on your budget. In addition, I often worry about how all of these financial responsibilities may affect my credit rating which foretells my future financial decisions. An easy fix to this dilemma is learning to budget and effective financial planning for your education. Loans are often used to help fund educational expenses, but keep in mind that these will have to be paid back, often times sooner than later when it comes to graduate level programs. Effective financial planning is the key to making sure your are able to cover the cost of school, as well as being able to afford outside expenses while keeping a good credit rating. It is important to learn to budget your money and not overlook the small expenses that often have a big impact on your overall budget. A lack in finances should not prevent anyone from having the opportunity to obtain further education. Saving, effective financial planning, obtaining and sticking to a budget are all keys to help prevent a total financial drought in the long run.
Tia Roberts
Marriage & Family Therapy
Mercer University School of Medicine