Since school is starting in a week I figured I would share some study tips to help everyone prepare for the upcoming semester. I am going to be a Senior this year...can you believe it? I cannot! I don't want to graduate...well part of me does, but another part of me really enjoys school. I know...I'm such a nerd. Now that I've been in college for a few years I feel like I've finally got this whole study thing down pretty well. So, here are a few tips I wish I had realized my first semester of college.
1. Spend the first few weeks of school finding the best places to study on campus. If you live in a dorm it may not be the best place to study, there are so many distractions and you defiantly want to be in a distraction-free environment when studying. I personally really enjoy going to the library. UF has many libraries on campus, but I personally prefer the main library (Library West). Find your favorite place at your university. It may be a library, academic building or coffee shop. You may want to find more than one go-to study place (in-case your usual spot is full). I also enjoy studying in my college's library between classes or if I don't feel like walking across campus to my typical spot. Starbucks (on and off campus) is also a great place to study, they have free wi-fi and lots and lots of coffee (which is very important).
2. Find the best way to organize all your class materials. I use three-ring binders and 5-star notebooks. I choose my supplies based on the style of the class, in some classes I type my notes on my Macbook or iPad (I am a very slow writer and a little OCD about my notes), but in other classes I write notes in a 5-star notebook. I tend to write notes only if my professor does not allow laptops or if it's a math related class (math classes are impossible to take notes for on my laptop).
3. Buy a planner. My Lilly Pulitzer large agenda is the best purchase I have ever made. I use it to keep both my personal life and school work organized. I write my homework and test/quiz dates on it. I hardly ever leave my apartment without it, I check it all the time.
4. Go to class and take notes! The most important thing you can do is to go to class everyday. If you don't go to class you won't know what you're missing. Many professors take attendance and if you have perfect attendance it may help you in the long-run...if you are borderline between two grades your professor may be more likely to bump your grade up if you have shown them that you attend class and care about your grade. It's also very important to take notes and pay attention so that nothing on the exam hits you by surprise (most professors are not interested in tricking you, but rather testing your knowledge of the material and seeing if you payed attention).
2. Find the best way to organize all your class materials. I use three-ring binders and 5-star notebooks. I choose my supplies based on the style of the class, in some classes I type my notes on my Macbook or iPad (I am a very slow writer and a little OCD about my notes), but in other classes I write notes in a 5-star notebook. I tend to write notes only if my professor does not allow laptops or if it's a math related class (math classes are impossible to take notes for on my laptop).
3. Buy a planner. My Lilly Pulitzer large agenda is the best purchase I have ever made. I use it to keep both my personal life and school work organized. I write my homework and test/quiz dates on it. I hardly ever leave my apartment without it, I check it all the time.
4. Go to class and take notes! The most important thing you can do is to go to class everyday. If you don't go to class you won't know what you're missing. Many professors take attendance and if you have perfect attendance it may help you in the long-run...if you are borderline between two grades your professor may be more likely to bump your grade up if you have shown them that you attend class and care about your grade. It's also very important to take notes and pay attention so that nothing on the exam hits you by surprise (most professors are not interested in tricking you, but rather testing your knowledge of the material and seeing if you payed attention).
Well that was just a little tidbit to help everyone start the year out well.
Good luck with the new semester!
xoxo
Read this blog to examine even more great tips for people interested in education.
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