It sucks. It totally sucks! I'm still in college. I just can't get over it. I can never get used to it. All I do is trying not to think of it. I always tell myself that I hate regrets, but with my academic run, there is just no other choice...
Somebody from my organization asked me to write tips on studying. The hell! Hahaha! They totally got the wrong person doing it. But then, he insisted on it. Here goes, hahaha! Hey! I did a lot of thinking here, haha! Also stole ideas from past articles of the same topic, hahaha! Still cheating, hahaha!
Are you new to the university? Check out these tips!
1. Play it safe, aim for a one (1)
Targeting just a passing grade will get you nowhere. It won’t give you the gist of a course. It can also add to those times that you regret all your life – if you fall short from a 3 (passing grade in UP grading system), it will end up you taking removals, worse, retaking the subject. You wouldn’t want to a get a 4 (for removals) and definitely not a 5 (fail), right?
2. Cramming is not your guy, totally avoid him.
Include in your daily routine some time for studying. It makes everything flow smoother. Studying won’t be a drag if you do it little by little. Cramming everything the day before an exam is a mortal sin. Memorization alone will not save you – intensive skills are needed in solving. It is impossible to gain this in just one night. Escape that panic.
If you have breaks in between your classes, sandwich some study time right there. Just find your academic niche in the campus. Engineering Library II is one of the cool spots – nice lighting, air conditioner on and most importantly, that geeky feeling, haha!
3. Practice solving.
So how can you ace exams? Practice solving a lot. It prevents the dreaded “mental block” and it does decrease the time you spend solving a problem. That would buy you time to review your answers during exams. Problem sets, take home quizzes, assignments, machine exercises, plates – just do them seriously and you are in the right track. Learn to do them by yourself. If you can’t, then be sure to understand the method as you try to seek help. Why? Because it’s possible that REAL EXAMS will resemble these given take homes. If you have more time, try more exercises, say those from the books you use in your subjects.
You can never blame not passing an exam to a professor that does not teach well. You have to take into account that still, everything is in your hands. If you think the professor is not doing his or her job well, then it should be your prerogative to study more – so, practice more! Yay!
4. Learn to manage your time, prioritize & plan ahead.
List the things that you should accomplish, both academic and extra-curricular. Rank them according to priority. Of course, studying should be on top of your list. Take note of the dates of your exams. Sometimes, everything is on one day. Better do something precautious rather than cram everything in one night. Remember, you are a student. However, chances are, when you do nothing but study, there comes a point that you will be saturated and toxic. Its either you lose your concentration or you just get fed off studying. Take your time off. Release your stress. Strike a balance.
Stick with your plan as much as possible. Avoid diversions. Assume that you easily get distracted with stuff that tickles your curiosity and desires, hahah! So be strong!
5. If all else fails, call for backup
Consultation. If you misunderstood a concept or two, why look for someone else when you can ask it directly to your professor. Be sure to take note of their consultation hours. They expect students to visit them in those times. He/she will gladly answer any of your queries. By any chance, that you can’t seem to find time with your professor, find somebody else who could help you. You could even drop by ERG tambayan to grab a copy of sample exams or even books.
Group study. Generally, studying in groups works well. Keeps you awake. Gives you a hand with difficult concepts. Finds you somebody who share your misery, haha! Just be careful with choosing your group. You might end up doing something not so academic. Stick with the reason why you are together. And very important, be sure to read ahead of the group study. Make the benefit mutual, have something to share to them. It could also get you alienated in the discussions if you don’t know a thing they are talking about.
6. Check your standing.
Let’s say you did your best, and yet, you are in the brink of flunking a subject – don’t panic. Recognize where you are standing at and do some action. Compute for your target grade to pass the course. It will serve as your motivation to do better. Dropping is not a mighty solution. Don’t fail yourself before your professor does. Realize the domino effect it will take on your road to graduation.
However, miracle does happen. I mean, if you did your part and still troubled, majority of your classmates might share the same burden. Your saviour, the curve, just might save you. Hmmm, but don’t count on it.
7. Be physically and mentally present in class.
Listen to your teachers. Usually, teachers in our department are basing their exams in their lectures. Take down notes. It serves you another purpose by the way – not sleeping in class. Doing advanced reading will help a lot. It is not expected that you should have already understood it before class, but it will more or less give you a feel of what to expect. Trying to list down what you don’t understand while reading would be a bright move. Ideally, after a class, these questions would have been answered.
At the end of the day, just reflect on why you are in college. Everything will fall into place if you are determined to realize your goals. These tips might not apply to you, but as long as you know what you want, you will come up with your own set of tips that is tailor-fit to you. Every thing is a case-to-case basis after all.
If you haven’t thought about it, you better start thinking. Have a mind set. Brainwash yourself if necessary. You have to reprogram your lifestyle while you still can. Start drawing those patterns for your five yours. Have it tailor-fit.
I'll try to digest this. :))