SECTION 1: Introduction...
● The 3 foundations of a healthy Student.
SECTION 2: Maintain a 4.0 GPA!
● Exploiting your strengths and study tips.
● Dealing with Stress...
SECTION 3: Stay Healthy!
● Keeping Healthy in Process
● Why working out relieves stress, and helps your GPA!
● Finding a good workout regime
● Creating a Healthy Diet Plan
● Supplements - What works, what doesn't and why.
SECTION 4: Keeping a healthy Bank Account...
● Why having a set part-time job may affect your GPA...
● Money Savers for University Students
● Online SCAMS!
● The truth about most review sites!!!
● Using a webpage to create revenue!
● Finding Scholarships and Financial Aid...
1. If notes are given (e.g.: PDF)
Don't waste your time in class jotting down
what you already have. Instead just add the points that the profs make in
addition to the material you have printed.
2. Make your own study guide. If you are supplied with notes, then do this in class. Make sure to note any questions the prof asks, these are likely to be on the exam. When you formulate questions you learn the material better. Also when it comes to study time you actually have to think and answer your questions rather than glaze over your notes. Glazing over your notes is not a good thing!
3. Get your hands on previous exams and practice them. Use them as a template to create your own questions and ask these to your friends and get them to do the same.
4. Talk to previous students that took the course for tips and previous material.
5. Read your textbook in reference to what you have learned. You have the book for a reason, you should use it. Do questions from the book for practice, and read the interesting tid-bits to gain interest.
6. GIVE YOURSELF AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO STUDY FOR EACH EXAM! Very important! (hence the capitals.)
Cramming does not work well and also it puts a lot of stress on you... I should know, because I often fail to follow this rule... But giving yourself this extra time gives your brain a chance to actually assimilate the material you are trying to learn.
7. Get yourself a pocket sized day planner so you can keep notes of due dates, exams, lab reports, appointments etc. Make sure it is a small one that fits comfortably in your pocket but still has enough room to make minor notes. I find one month per page is perfect. Also ensure that you keep it up to date.
8. Take plenty of breaks during heavy study times. Your brain can only accept so much into long term memory in a short time. Taking a break and assimilating the data while you are on this break gives your brain a better chance of putting that information into long term memory because it isn't being overflowed and dumping the excess.
9. You should study at least 2 hours for every hour of class attended. This is for the same reasons as above; you need time for your brain to assimilate the info.
10. Make a jeopardy or trivial pursuit game to play with your friends for a fun study session.
11. Eat Healthy snacks. Keep a fruit and veggie platter near by or something that isn't deep-fried or processed sugar. Now I am not saying this to be a "health nut" or "mean" but, processed sugars give you a sugar boost and then your blood sugar drops through the floor and you become very tired and cannot study effectively. Fats put your digestive tract into digestion mode which takes a lot of energy from your brain, also deep-fried fats are just all round not good for you... that being said... I am sometimes found pouring over a text book eating a poutine... we can't all be perfect all the time...
I will however, be providing a list of good "brain foods" shortly, these are foods that help your brain perform at it's peak. Some of these foods however WILL surprise you, just make sure you don't indulge yourself in only one. Try them all.
12. When your brain says enough, listen! If you push your brain past it's limits two things will happen;
1. You will no longer be able to assimilate the necessary data.
2. You will get burnt out. This can last for many days resulting in very poor performance.
13. For courses that you like or subjects that you plan on continuing in, re-copy your notes with diagrams and pictures in to a nice hardcover book. This will make a reference as you continue your later work in it, also, it is a lot neater on a book shelf than in a pile of loose leaf. As you re-write and draw you notes, this will help you remember the material better.
14. Find out what is on the cutting edge of your topic of interest. This will help you get motivated and raise your interest level so you can study harder. Pretty much force yourself to like the subject.
15. DON'T BE AFRAID TO TALK TO YOUR PROFESSORS!!!!!
I cannot stress this enough. I know sometimes they are very scary, mainly because you know they hold your academic future in their evil claws. But you know what? They are YOUR employees. Yes, you heard me, YOUR employees. You pay for their course, you contribute to their pay check. As their boss you should not be afraid to ask a question if you do not understand something. The other point that I would like to make is that most profs are total geeks when it comes to their area of expertise; they love nothing more than to discuss their research. If you have a question ask, who knows you may make a good contact for future endeavours.
16. Find multiple places to study at school. Your prime spots may be taken during exam times so have a back up planned. Also if you ask real nice a prof may let you study in their lab or museum. Especially if you have a study group together.
17. Create a study 'nook' at home. Set it up so you have everything you need with as little distractions as possible.
18. Use stories or rhymes to memories theory or names. For example: the nervous pathways of the spinal cord are as follows; ventral is motor function and dorsal is for sensory. So to remember this I would say "If they kick my ass I'm gonna' feel it, but then I can vent my anger" These stupid things make it easy to remember. Try it! They really do work!
20. Buy "YOUR TOPIC" for dummies books, they are really well written in a way that anyone can get a grasp on the content. I use them all the time and find them a good accessory text book.
21. STAY HAPPY AND KEEP POSITIVE! If you are down everything is hard, and you will not take in information effectively.
22. Reward yourself! Go play some pool for an hour, buy your self a chocolate bar, watch some TV, hang out with your friends. Remember; all work and no play, make jack wanna pack up and go home.
23. STAY FIT. A healthy mind needs a healthy body. Your diet and exercise level WILL affect your mental performance there are a lot of studies out there that prove this. I will link some soon. See my Fitness section for tips on this topic.
24. Take your Vitamins. These give you energy, increase your cognitive function, increase your mood, and overall just plain help you. One multi vitamin a day will make a big difference. As with most supplements it will take a week or two before any real change is noted.
25. Call your mom... or any other family member or friend, during exams and papers, students often let their social life fall to the way side. While you probably should NOT go drinking with your buds during this time, a phone call during your break will help you feel like you are making social contact, and let your focus back to your work.
26. EAT RIGHT! Healthy body = Healthy mind.
27. Drink 8-10 glasses of WATER. This way what ever else you stick in your body at least you know that you are hydrated. You know when you wake up in the morning and you have a head ache... yeah, well that's called dehydration. Also try to drink juices instead of pop. The Super high sugar content in pop both dehydrates you and gives you a sugar crash.
28. Try to get 8 hours of sleep. Ha! Ok I know but try to get as close to it as you can anyway. It will help you stay more alert and in a better mood.
29. Daydream about what you will do with your degree so you get more pumped about it so you will work harder to achieve your goal.
30. Do what ever you can to make study time fun. Study with friends, have contests etc.
31. When applying for courses, try to leave 2-3 hours between at least some classes this forces you to stay at school and (hopefully) study or do your homework.
32. If you are doing chemistry... Use your molecular model kit, It does help a lot to figure out structure, strain, etc.
33. Take a digital camera to you labs and create a PowerPoint with QUESTIONS, then make the answer sheet on separate piece of paper. Use this to test yourself and your friends.