The first few weeks of school can be hectic and stressful. And although it might seem like a cool idea to skip class and go hangout with your friends in the Commons, the best thing to do is make it to as many of your classes as possible.
“Come to class, take extensive notes, do the readings, don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for exams and assignments, if you don’t understand something ask the instructor, form study groups with other students, use and study guides or test prep to full advantage, acquire all course materials,” criminology professor Peter Woods said.
“All of this might sound very basic, but it’s amazing how many students don’t come to class, don’t get their books, don’t do the readings, don’t study for the exams and don’t talk to anyone when they get into trouble.”
Attendance can save your semester. By going to class you are more likely to listen, take notes and soak in the information. Meeting with your professors during their office hours can also be a life saver.
Pray-Harrold has several avenues for studying and tutoring within each major department. The library also hosts the Holman Success Center, which offers tutoring sessions to students, however with the closing of the ground floor, it will not be available until the end of February.
College is not about shortcuts, so the best way to successfully acquire your degree involves hard work and very few to no easy ways out. The best students are the ones who are not afraid to put in effort, and are willing to allow the instructors to teach. Get involved in class, it takes the lecture factor out of the picture and allows a conversation session to commence.
Don’t over do it. Take time off, rest and relax.
Study breaks are a great option when you feel overloaded and stressed. Take a walk, or call home and check in.
The food you eat also plays a major role in how well your day will go. Proper nutrition can boost you with energy and get your brain going.
Eating breakfast in the morning is very important and something as simple as an apple or orange along with yogurt or cereal will provide more energy and brain-pumping production than the caffeine fix at Starbucks.
Lunch is a great time to re-boost. Veggies in the afternoon will help just as great as the fruits in the morning. Salads are a great choice and you can load them with tons of great options, like adding egg, can provide more than just a great taste factor. The nutrient choline in egg yolk has recently been proven to boost brain power by speeding up the sending of signals to nerve cells in the brain.
While dinner tends to be the best time to stuff your face at the end of a long day of classes a light dinner will serve your body much better.
Eating heavy at night, can disrupt your sleep, and keep you up. This lack of rest will not only affect your brain, but also the body. So a light dinner is your best choice.
Every student is different, what works for some, doesn’t work for others. Find your inner poindexter and release it.
10 Study Tips
1) Find a quiet place, where you can concentrate without distractions.
2) Setup a schedule to do homework, and study 3 times a week, and stick to it!
3) Form relationships with classmates outside of class, to study with.
4) When your professor writes on the board, take notes!
5) If something is really confusing or not adding up, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
6) Do assigned reading, and highlight areas of importance.
7) Utilize the many tutoring options on campus.
8) Go to the writing center, they will help you brainstorm, proof read, and even make suggestions for your writing.
9) Don’t wait until the last minute to do anything!
10) Stay motivated with your classes!
