Success Quick Tips

Stay Positive

• Attitude is everything. Being positive actually allows learning to happen.
• Give yourself latitude – you are not the expert – you are in the PROCESS of learning.
• Ask for help. It is ok to do so.
• Reward small successes.
• Believe in yourself. 

Time Management

• Make school your top priority. Investing in you now will assure future success.
• Set specific academic goals. For example, “I will earn an ‘A’ in MATH-0930 for the fall 2009 semester.”
• Schedule, schedule, schedule. Schedule everything, not to fill every minute, but to keep you on track.
• Use a “to do” list and learn to say “no.”
• Be flexible.

Study Skills

• Know your learning style. Understanding how you learn new and difficult information will aid in learning.
• Recommended study cycle: 20 minutes of studying followed by a 10-minute break, then repeat up to two hours.
• Study the hardest subject first.
• Give yourself permission to study and set the intention to learn.
• Create a study routine and dedicate a space to study.
• Use baroque music (barely audible) as background noise.
• Create and use mnemonics, flash cards, summary sheets, content maps, and other study aids.
• Review, recite, review. Review and recite daily – notes and study aids.
• Read the correlating chapter from your textbook BEFORE attending lecture.

Note Taking

• Attend class every day.
• Use color – either paper or pen.
• Pay attention to main points and points emphasized by the instructor.
• Create and use a uniform system of punctuations and abbreviations.
• Review your notes immediately after class to fill-in any missing information.
• Review your notes daily. Cover up the notes and ask yourself the questions you wrote in the left column.

Navigating the Textbook

• Read the introduction or learning objectives first.
• Read the summary.
• Write definitions to key terms and answer any chapter questions.
• Preview the chapter – look at headings, subheading, maps, pictures, charts, diagrams, and tables.
• Read one paragraph at a time and limit the amount of pages read daily.
• Take notes in your textbook (write question in the margin after reading the paragraph). You will retain more information if you write in your book.

Test Taking

• Begin studying from the first day of class – seriously.
• Participate in class and study groups.
• Stay relaxed, confident, and alert during a test.
• Read the directions first and then preview the test.
• Answer the questions you know, then those with the highest point value. Save the more difficult questions for last.
• Use test anxiety to your advantage. Let it give you the energy to propel you through the test.
• By the way, cramming does not work.