Posts filed under 'academics'
Well my honey is making his way through the first year of med school, and I do NOT envy him his workload. But at least his study techniques are useful! Check them out:
“Pimpin’” It
So when the hubs came home from school on Monday he casually asked me, “Have I told you about pimping?” You can probably imagine the look I gave him after that weird question, but he quickly explained that it is an actual term med students use for one of their study techniques–explained to him by his 40-something class moderator (and she is a serious and respected ER doctor who just finished her second residency).
The basics of “pimping” are simple: You go over your notes and study alone, and then get together with someone you work well with and take turns firing off questions at each other, one after another. It is fast paced and intense, and really gets your synapses firing.
The way my sweetie and his study comp do it is to simply say something like, “Tell me about keytones.” The questioner lets his partner start off with a simple description, and then fires off questions until the discussion continues. They spend hours doing this, but hopefully your major doesn’t require that much “pimping.” 
Become the Teacher
Another method that works really well for a lot of the study groups is to take turns being the teacher. One of my sweetie’s study groups gets a small room in the library and each take a topic they’re familiar with to re-teach to the group. They discuss problems, hypotheses, and questions together, go over anything confusing from lecture and of course mess around cracking jokes and stuff, which helps them all stay sane on full-day study dates. Then they swap teachers.
The group gets the benefit of going over notes again, while the teacher gets to really focus on wrapping his or her mind around their teaching topic.
Solo Study & DIY White Boards
While group and partner studying are both awesome ways to dig deeper into material, you first need to have the foundation of solo-study. For tips about how to study on your own, check out these memory tips and consider these thoughts on how to kickstart your study habits. (Still not getting anything done? Time for some ridiculously easy ways to kick distractions.)
A new tip we picked up from a second year med student this year was to DIY a whiteboard (shown above!). It is really easy and ridiculously cheap. We found a huge sheet of whiteboard at Home Depot and cut it down to fit on our desk (they have a saw available for free there). We got four desk-sized pieces for only 10 bucks, so the extras got passed on to other students. Now the hubs slaps down his computer and notes on the whiteboard, and writes down chemical reactions, internal processes, and all kinds of things I don’t understand, like the stuff he wrote in the photo you see up at the top there…
Bonus points if you know what’s going on in that photo. It is a super-intricate process of creating ATP… And such. Haha.
Even if you aren’t a science student, this could be a great tool for brainstorming essay ideas, diagramming sentences, time-lining historical events, and making a note-to-self so you retrieve laundry before it gets stolen.
February 26th, 2010
I’m not going to lie, I hate filling out the FAFSA (a.k.a. Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It feels a lot like just another tax form. BUT, higher education financial aid gurus (including my boss, nationally recognized college funding expert Deborah Fox) recommend that you do it anyway, so let me break it down for you:
Why Should I Apply for the FAFSA?
According to Ms. Fox, every student–even students who probably won’t qualify for need-based aid–should fill out the FAFSA. If you come from a family on the lower-end of the income scale, you could potentially be awarded federal, state, and school funding (including “free” money you don’t have to pay back, such as grants and scholarships).
If your family is in the mid- to higher-end income range, you should still file the FAFSA because it is the only way to qualify for federal student loans (which are much, much more consumer-friendly than private student loans, as they have lower interest rates and more protections for you, the borrower).
What Do I Need?
To apply for the FAFSA, you’ll need to provide a good deal of information, including your personal income for the past year as well as your parents’. Ms. Fox has outlined how you can prepare ahead on her Pay for College Blog in a really helpful post called How to Get a Jump on the FAFSA. Look it over (or just send the link to your parents and hope they do it for you!).
How Do I Get Started?
Start by visiting FAFSA.ed.gov, the official online application for federal student aid. Next year’s application (for the 2010-2011 school year) will be available on January 1st of 2010 (that’s not too far away!) and you’ll want to fill it out ASAP because a lot of the aid is awarded based on who applies for it first.
(Important: Do NOT visit other sites like FAFSA.com, which is a service that will charge you to file the FAFSA. The FAFSA is completely free, so don’t get swindled!)
I’m no expert, so if you’re just getting started with the FAFSA, I suggest you click over to these helpful posts at the Pay for College Blog, and be sure to link your parents in, too, so they can help you prepare:
January 15th, 2010
I can’t say I was surprised when the results of the latest poll showed that almost 25% of you chose “maintaining balance” as your top worry for this school year. Why? Well honestly, it is one of my top worries, too.
From balancing a budget (ugh!) to keeping on top of my workload, and trying to do laundry, remember to cook (and not burn) dinner, meeting with my friends for morning workouts and book club, and making time for my family and my sweetie, I am probably busier now than I have ever been!
So to keep all these balls in the air, I’ve been doing a lot of research–and soul searching–and I’m finally starting to get the hang of it. Here are 3 of my secrets to (mostly) having success in the whole life-balance arena.
1. Prioritize.
If you’re anything like me, you start the day excited about all the things you can get done. So how is it that at the end of the day all you’ve done is spent 3 hours on facebook and written two (terrible) lines of an essay that’s due on Friday? You haven’t checked your priorities.
Each day I set myself a couple of goals (sometimes just one or two!) or tasks that MUST get done by the end of the day–and I start them ASAP.
2. Eliminate Distractions.
One of the biggest problems in our multi-tasking society is stimulus overload–there is so much going on that we can’t focus on the task at hand (even when it’s not homework!).
Taking away some of that stimulus helps your mind calm down and focus on what you’re doing, making you more efficient (so you have more free time) and even allowing you to enjoy fun things more.
Limit yourself to one or two things going on at a time, like maybe emailing with some music on. Simple things like only checking your email a couple times a day (instead of hourly… or more!), leaving the TV off, or signing out of chat when you’re writing a paper can help you get on with the work and on to the play!
3. Set a Schedule.
Growing up, Monday and Wednesday were laundry days. Every. Single. Week.
I never understood how important that was until I moved out on my own (and at first only did laundry when I ran out of underwear). It isn’t so much the laundry itself that’s important, but the comfort and manageability of a routine.
Before I set a schedule, I felt like I was always rushing to catch up–and I never could. It was discouraging. After a while I figured out how that planning my week left more time for catch-up and social time. Here’s how to start.
- Print out your class schedule. This is the skeleton of your weekly routine, and it’s already made for you.
- Add in your other can’t-miss activities like work, club meetings, religious attendance, athletic training, etc.
- Look over your week so far. Fill in the gaps with study time or other chores, and choose which days are your laundry/grocery shopping/whatever days based on which have the lightest workload.
- Schedule time for relaxing and fun. If you don’t you will feel burnt out and start resenting and hating your schedule.
What about you? How do you keep your crazy life in balance?
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October 22nd, 2009
After the busy buzz of Welcome Week activities and the whirlwind of the first few days of classes, it’s not uncommon to get a case of the blues. Living on your own–and trying to make a whole new group of friends!–can be overwhelming. Add that to missing your family and friends from home, and you’ve got a full-blow case of homesickness.
Here’s how to punch homesickness right in the (figurative) nose, no matter what your personality type.
Type-A Go-Getters
For a former ASB President/Football star/lead in the school play like you, college is a wide wide world of opportunity.
Start the year off right by getting a weekend crowd organized. Celebrate the end of the week by throwing a bonfire, s’mores roast, or cookout while the weather is still nice, and invite as many people as you can. Use your leadership skills to get food, music, location, and rides organized.
Having so much to do–and something to look forward to–will help get your mind off that pesky lonely feeling.
Want a bigger challenge? Figure out how to show an outdoor movie.
Shy Guy (or Gal)
If you’re a naturally shy person, breaking out of your shell in a brand new place may be more than a little challenging. Luckily there are some less in-the-spotlight ways for you to beat the homesickness bug.
Start by trying to meet some people–even if its just a few people you can chat with and sit by in each class. Consistent interaction with fun people is a nice energy boost on a rough day. Also, find out what intriguing clubs or sports are on campus, and try to hit a couple of meetings or games. Be confident, and when you’re feeling scared, remind yourself that you can skip out any time.
Meeting people takes time, so while you’re working on that, keep up a steady stream of contact with your already-established friends. Video chats can make you feel like you’ve just had an hour of hang time with your BFF, and emails or texts keep you in touch at the click of a button.
Above and Beyond
Just a few more ideas to get you out of the rut…
- Helping Hand. One of the best tactics for overcoming homesickness–or any form of self-pity, really–is to focus your energy outward. Instead of worrying about how you feel, focus on how the people around you are feeling, and try to help them out. Whether you’re complimenting your roommate’s shoes or volunteering at a retirement home, making other people feel good will help boost your own mood!
- Work Through It. While I still encourage you to take time to meet and greet new people and create a friend base at school, on the really bad homesick days, you can decide to throw yourself into your studies. And if you have a career goal in mind, put more energy towards networking, interning, and volunteering so you can get a handle on your future.
- Touch Base. Just because you’ve moved doesn’t mean you have to give up the relationships you already have. In fact, as you become an adult and pursue a career, you may find yourself moving several times. Keep the love (or friendship) alive by remembering birthdays and keeping in touch via facebook, texts, phone calls, emails, Skype, or whatever works best for you.
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October 1st, 2009
If you’re feeling a little under-prepared for exams to begin, take it one step at a time–and start with these.
Spend Some Time at the Office
You veteran readers will already be pretty familiar with this one–and I’m not talking about heading to your job. That office can wait! You need to get to “office hours,” that hour or two each week when your professors and TAs are available to talk and help you work out problems.
This is your opportunity to get face-to-face with the person who best knows what you need to study for the test–and he/she can even help you figure out the tougher concepts of their class. After all, they love the subject enough to teach it!
And don’t think you’ll be bugging your teacher–many professors complain that no one ever shows up to their office hours!
Go to Work
Okay, this time I am talking about your job. Studying for a big test like a midterm or a final can be stressful. Throw in the pressure and commitment of a job, and you could have a recipe for a migraine.
If you have a job (or other regular commitment, like volunteering at a hospital, etc.), take a little extra time one day to discuss your upcoming exam schedule with your supervisor. If you’re going to need to work a little less the week of the test, plan that ahead. Also, if your test is being held at a different time than usual class so that it interferes with work, make sure you notify your superiors of that, too.
Remember, you’re a student first, but most offices are willing to work around you a little so you can keep the title of employee, too.
Test Yourself
One of the best ways to really learn the concepts and info that just won’t stick is to take a practice test. You might have access to practice tests from your professors (you can always ask for one, or a previous year’s test, from your prof at office hours!). If you don’t you can quiz yourself or make up flash cards.
I’d definitely recommend flash cards if they make sense for your subject. They’re easy and cheap to make, you can start paring them down to the concepts you are really having trouble with, and they let you study whenever you have a few spare minutes on the bus or between classes.
For more tips, check out these handy study-tip posts:
September 29th, 2009
I love getting feedback from you guys in comments, emails, and poll responses, and one of the biggest concerns this year is getting good grades–which is exactly what you should be focused on in college. So right on.
The nice thing is that when it comes to studying, a little effort goes a long way. Here’s how to get ahead of the game this year.
Duly Noted
Get out your pen and paper–or your laptop–and pay attention during class. I know it’s tempting to email, chat, and surf the web when class gets slow, but none of those things will help you score well on a test.
Figure out your ideal note-taking style not for speed but for processing. Class should be your first “study time” so don’t settle for mindlessly copying down the notes. Try to really absorb what your professor is saying so that when you go to study later, its all review.
Some people process really well working on a laptop, but many of us are more visual and need to physically write notes and draw diagrams to keep the info stuck in our brains. Be honest with yourself about which type you are and you’ll find studying gets way easier.
Take Two
When you find yourself with free time during the day, skip the iPhone Wheel of Fortune and go over your notes from class that day. Just read through them once or twice, make notes about things you don’t understand, and plan what to go over in depth later.
Sometimes going over things right before bed is a good way to help them stick in your head–your brain keeps processing this information while you sleep at night (but you might start dreaming in calculus equations. You win some, you lose some.).
If you’re feeling antsy about spending daylight studying, remember that studying in the day means you’re free to go out and be social at night.
Schedule some Alone Time (with your books)
Scheduling study time is crucial, especially as you start adding more activities and work hours to your day. Map out a couple weeks before your finals week starts, planning when (and what) to study, when to work, and when to take breaks. Give yourself a couple extra days, too, because good studying usually takes longer than you expect it to (sorry).
The “alone” part is crucial, too. Spending time with a study group can be really helpful–especially if you’re still learning the material–but it is also really distracting (especially if your crush happens to be studying with you…). So if you decide to go the group route, pencil in some private study time, too. This will give you a chance to go over the things you personally struggle with.
Still freaking out about your first test of the year? Here’s an oldie but a goodie that really applies to any test: 10 Finals Week Survival Tips. :) Deborah Fox, founder of Fox College Funding (and author of our sister site, the Pay for College Blog!) highly recommends the book, How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. She told me her son, a college sophomore, has found it to be extremely helpful.
More study tips to come. And don’t forget to take some brain breaks!
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September 9th, 2009
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