College can be intimidating! These are some life hacks for students to pass classes and some tips to help relieve the stress of daunting final grades.
Tip # 1. Be on time and pay attention.
Sometimes you can’t help but be a few minutes late to a class, whether you came across some unexpected traffic or set your alarm for p.m. instead of a.m. You should do your best to arrive at class on time. Professors notice students who are consistently late, and it’s not the best thing to be known for. Once you’re there, do your best to pay attention, even when you’re operating on a half night’s sleep or have other things on your mind. Those simple efforts matter!
Tip # 2. Take classes you’re interested in.
Unfortunately, there will be several classes you’re required to take. However, you will have some flexibility even among those general education requirements. Choose courses you know you’ll enjoy! It’s much easier to do well in a course that you like, rather than in a course you feel like you were forced to sign up for. You’re bound to get better grades if you like what you’re learning.
Tip # 3. Ask questions and participate.
Your instructor is there to help, so don’t be shy about asking questions you don’t understand. Chances are that your peers will have the same questions. The instructor will be very happy that you’re involved in the lesson as well. It’s better to participate to show the professor that you’re interested in their course and that you’re willing to put in the extra effort. Participation will help your grade tremendously!
Tip # 4. Read the Syllabus.
It’s important to read the syllabus so you know what’s expected of you. Deadlines often go unseen. If you refer to the syllabus often you have an idea of what major assignments are due in the upcoming weeks. It’s beneficial to come to class prepared and know if there were readings assigned that day. Even if you didn’t read the full homework chapter, impress your professor, and arrive to class with talking points.
Tip # 5. Establish a study routine and stick with it!
Each course has a set number of hours you're expected to study. The general rule of thumb is that for each credit hour, you’re expected to put in two to three hours of independent work by completing assignments, studying, or preparing for the next class. Put some time aside to figure out what works best for you and be consistent! Most students find that physically re-writing things down works best to help memorize information for exams. Do some research on study techniques. Studying for 25 minutes, taking a break for 5 minutes and repeating is called the pomodoro technique. If your method gets you the grades you need, then that’s the study routine for you!
Tip # 6. Find a study buddy in each class.
It’s more fun to study with friends. You’re more likely to study if you have someone to hold you accountable. It’s also important to exchange phone numbers with a classmate if you miss a class. The easiest way to catch up on a lesson is with a friend who’s also in that class. Your instructor may be too busy to reply to your email about what you missed. Find a reliable friend in each class so you can contact in the case of any missed classes.
Tip # 7. Open the books.
It’s understandable that textbooks are typically overpriced. There are several ways to find books free through the library, textbook scholarships, or at the very least, at half the price. There is no reason for you to do poorly in a class because you never purchased the required course materials. Searching online for free PDFs of the textbook will often get you the material you need to succeed! Once you have the textbooks, crack those books open on a regular basis. It’s really that simple. At best, read the section titles and review the unfamiliar content. You won’t feel prepared for classes if you’re not preparing for them. By knowing the assigned readings, you’re guaranteed to get good grades!
Tip # 8. Don’t procrastinate.
Our social lives, text messages and even social media can be a huge distraction. A three-day weekend is approaching, get your assignments done as soon as possible so your weekend doesn’t have to end early. Know what to prioritize! We have all been guilty of procrastinating and submitting last-minute assignments. If you have a 15 paper to do, try not to wait until the night before it’s due to start research for what’s now considerably impossible to achieve. Try not to cram for tests the night before either, it will be harder to retain all that information last minute! There’s lots of research and positive results using spaced repetition as an evidence-based study method.
Tip # 9. Adapt time management skills.
Time management can be closely correlated with procrastinating. Make time to study! If it means you must get yourself a planner, plan your days. Plan your day to incorporate your assignments and best benefit you! It’s true, time is of the essence. Spending time with friends and family can be a motive on how you spend your unproductive time throughout the day. Some students even try to get assignments done on lunch breaks at work if that will free up some time to later play Xbox or go out to dinner with friends. Managing your time can make a big difference to balance your work to social life ratio!
Tip # 10. Find the note-taking strategy that works for you.
Don’t feel intimidated to experiment with new ways to take notes, like bringing your laptop or iPad to class to take notes. Adding fun-colored pens and pastel highlighters can make studying a little less boring. All students should research the many note-taking strategies. A common note-taking strategy is the Cornell note-taking method. Basically, the paper is split up by a left and right column with the end of the page generally being a summary of the lesson. The left column is drawn narrower to write the main idea, some key points. The lengthy notes are written on the right side. The Cornell method is a simple way to study some main ideas and if a further explanation is necessary to review, it’s on the right- hand side of the page. You want to take notes effectively. When it comes to taking notes, take some time to figure out what works for you to learn best. Find a strategy that makes you feel more confident when you’re sitting down to study for exams.
- By Daniella Bianco
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