Three Study Strategies

Below is a guest post from the author of Community College Success, Isa Adney. You can connect with her on Twitter @IsaAdney or Facebook.com/CCSuccess.

Ask Isa: 3 study strategies that helped me get 100's on exams

From the Ask Isa inbox:

Dear Isa,

This semester has started and my classes are pretty hard already. I looked at my syllabus for each class and I notice there are a lot of days where I have two or three tests from each class on the same day. 

How do you manage to study WISELY for tests that are packed on the same day? What type of study habit do I need to go through? I've never been in a situation like this.

Sincerely,

Too Many Tests

Dear Too Many Tests,

This is a great question to ask - as exams can often fall in the same day, especially at the end of the semester. 

Below are the three things I did to manage many tests. 

I became a master test taker - me, who did NOT get a good SAT score. But I often got 100's on my tests using the methods below. I really hope they help you as much as they helped me - because one of the best feelings in the world is approaching test day with confidence. 

1) Study every day
There wasn't a day in college that I didn't study. And no, I didn't spend hours and hours in the library. And yes I did have a social life. When I say "study" I don't mean staring at your textbook for hours. That doesn't work. 

Instead, I developed a habit of getting to every class at least 10 minutes early. During that time I would review the notes I'd taken so far in that class, as well as scan the reading.  

During these short reviews if there was something that wasn't easy for me to grasp I'd make a note of it and schedule time during my professor's office hours to ask about the concept.

That kind of studying never took more than one hour each day, and it made studying for the exams the week  before test week almost feel too easy.

2) Meet with a study group
Study groups aren't for everyone, but they were huge for me. The biggest mistake students make with study groups is thinking they will get major "studying" done during that time. 

Study Abroad: It's More Than You Think

CCV students in Delphi, Greece. Spring 2011

If you’re a CCV student, you’ve likely seen the posters and read the emails about our upcoming study abroad and study away course offerings.  Of course, a study abroad class offers students an opportunity to visit a different country.  But, study abroad is about so much more.

Be a better job candidate. If you want to stand out in today's job market an international perspective is critical. When looking for a job, employers find candidates that have world experience more marketable and more diverse than those that do not.  Study Abroad can provide relatable examples during an interview. 

Create a lifelong love affair with another country. Study abroad is not a short-term experience. It will shape you for the rest of your life. Back home, you'll look for films from there, for restaurants that serve its dishes, for books by its authors. It will continue to live in you. 

Gain a new appreciation for your home country. Even the most open-minded study abroad students will be unable to avoid comparing their host country with their home country. When you return home, you will likely view your home county through a different lens allowing you to appreciate the unique qualities of your culture. 

Understand your classes in a new way. Whether you're studying history, math, architecture or biology, you can gain a new perspective--and maybe even a great thesis idea--while away from your home college.  

Make Some Math Magic

1. Get attitude – an I can rock this math attitude.  Studies have shown that we are not born with fixed IQs.  Some people are not simply “good at reading and bad at math,” as so many students believe.  Study after study has shown that our attitudes toward learning and good ol’ fashioned hard work are the most predictive indicators of success.  So adopt an “I will rock with this math course” mantra. 
2. Do every single homework problem.  A soccer player improves his game by playing soccer.  A guitar player sweetens his tune by strumming the strings.  A math student masters math….drum roll please…..by doing math.  Yes – DO math.  Your instructor assigns problems so you can practice and learn the concepts.
3. Think like a general. Generals are strategic in their problem solving.  Consider what type of math problem you are solving and think about the different strategies you can use to solve the problem.  MathTV shows how different students approach and solve the same problems differently.  Check out the site to learn different solving strategies. 
4. Be a neat-nick.  If you read a number incorrectly because you wrote in a hurry, your problem solving mojo will be thrown off.
5. Do all of the steps.  Yup.  All of them.  If you aren’t able to solve the problem correctly, it is easier to find the error when your thought process is on paper in black and white, or red and white, or blue and white – you get the point.
6. Know thyself.  If you struggle solving certain types of problems, determine where in the problem-solving process you are getting stuck. You are more likely to get the helpful stick you need to pull you out of the mud if you know what’s making you stuck. If you’re at home and you need some additional explanation to help you master a concept, check out Khan Academy.  This revolutionary website is approaching cult-like status among educators, techies, students and math lovers worldwide.  If there is a concept that needs explaining, Khan Academy has a short video that does the talking.

Five Things to Improve Your Grades

Below is a guest post from the author of Community College Success, Isa Adney. You can connect with her on Twitter @IsaAdney or Facebook.com/CCSuccess



One of my most popular YouTube videos is the one that shares what to do after you fail a test. I love the questions I receive in the comments section of the video because most come from students who are so eager to do well in college. 

I've met enough students who had GPA's of 1.0 their first try in college and who came back later - when they were motivated - and got 4.0's to know that grades are more about strategy and focus than any kind of inherent intelligence. 

Sometimes students struggle in classes simply because they don't have the right strategies.

And unless you're already easily getting a 4.0, there's probably more you can do to get better grades and limit stress (e.g. I never pulled an all-nighter).

So below are the top 5 strategies I used in college that helped me and so many others get straight-A's: 

1) Schedule daily [study] time
When I built my schedule each semester I purposefully left time in between classes to force myself to work in the [learning center]. As a commuter, it's hard to resist the temptation to just go to class and go home. Spacing classes out is a great way to make the most of your campus experience.

Create a block of time each day you're [at your academic center to spend in the learning center]. I was usually in the [learning center] for a few hours Monday-Thursday and it worked great. 

I never had to do homework at home, at night, or on the weekends. I never had to turn down friends to hang out because I had to study. I was always ahead, and it felt great.

Even if the [learning center] isn't your favorite place, dedicate yourself to spend time some place that motivates you to do your homework. Schedule it in and go without fail.

2) Use your professors' office hours
In addition to meeting with every professor as a potential mentor, I always talked to professors about big assignments and exams. 

For example, when assigned an essay I'd do my initial research and then come to the professor with any questions that came up and to run my thesis by him or her for feedback. 

I also brought my exams back. For example, when you get math or science exams back, check over the answers you got wrong; if you can't figure out why you got any one wrong, bring the exam to your professor and ask for help.

When you're diligent with this, professors are more than happy to help because they'll see your motivation. 

3) Choose classes (and a major) you really like
I'm sure it would have been possible, but I'm not as confident I would have gotten straight-A's if I'd taken calculus or organic chemistry. 

I chose a major I loved (communications), and when it came to science and math-based general education requirements, I chose only what I needed for my major (which I knew by checking the catalog of the transfer university I planned on attending).

When it came to requirements like history, I chose courses that truly fascinated me. 

Don't choose classes based on convenience. Choose them based on what you find interesting, and do your research. When you like a class it's so much easier to do well. 

4) Put syllabus reminders in a calendar
Stay on top of due dates and develop an organizational system that makes staying on top of assignments in multiple classes easy. My life saver was my palm pilot (lol I know, I know - I went to college before the iPhone, okay?) and Google calendar reminders sent to my phone (click here for how to set this up). 

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Appoint Your Personal Presidential Cabinet

Congratulations on enrolling in the upcoming fall semester.  You are likely feeling like most students before the start of a new college semester – simultaneously excited and anxious. Before classes start, we encourage you to take a few minutes to think about which friends, family members, coworkers and CCV faculty and staff you would like to appoint to your Personal Presidential Cabinet. 

What is a student’s Personal Presidential Cabinet?  Well, just as the President of the United States appoints experts from various fields to his cabinet, you should do the same.  Different cabinet members can support your success in distinct ways.

 

*  Who will give you a pep talk when you are feeling overwhelmed?

*  Who will give you a “kick in the butt” when you are feeling unmotivated?

*  Who might help you learn to communicate professionally and find an internship?

*  Who will help you edit assignments?

*  Who will celebrate your successes with you?

*  Who will help you prioritize all you have going on in your life?

*  If you have children, who might help with the kids if need to focus on an assignment?

The President of the United States recognizes that he cannot possibly be an expert in all areas, and he knows he needs the support of others to be effective and successful.  You, too, should carefully select each member of your cabinet and determine how that person can help you achieve your academic goals.  The support of friends, family members, colleagues and CCV staff and faculty will be a valuable asset as you work toward earning your CCV degree!

Who are you appointing to your cabinet?