Preparing for Classes | Preparing for Classes

Set goals

Begin by setting both short and long-term goals for the semester. Make sure your goals are:

Use the Goal Setting form to plan out your goals.

Use a planner or calendar to organize your time
As opposed to working from four different syllabi, combine information of what is due onto one calendar
Create two schedules: a Weekly Schedule of where you need to be and when, and a Semester Calendar with specific dates when an assignment or exam is due
Place the schedule/calendar on your wall or other location where it becomes a visible reminder of what you need to do next
The schedule/calendar also helps to remind you when you have a good deal of work to do and when you will have some lax time. Use it appropriately.

Attend every session
Minimize distractions by sitting in the front of the class
Do your reading ahead of time and be prepared to participate (Making a list of questions or thoughts that you pose to yourself while reading is a great way to come prepared and engage yourself in classroom discussions.)
Don't be afraid to ask questions, or ask for clarity if you don’t understand something
Communicate directly with your professors as needed
Take good notes and review them when possible

Taking information in is only half the process of studying. Planning how you will take information out is the other half.
Two to three hours of study time for every one hour in class is the recommended minimum study time for college students. For some students, the recommended minimum may not be sufficient to meet the rigors required for personal success.
Utilize various methods for studying: reading, research, reviewing lecture notes, watching film, creating summary sheets, using flash cards, developing concept maps, outlines, or visual aids, participating in study groups or engaging in discussion of the material.
Attend one of several study skills workshops held on campus, or meet individually with a learning specialist offered through Academic Advising in order to learn specific skills and strategies for studying.

Make written notes of what the professor indicates will be on the test
When possible, use previous tests as a diagnostic tool to understand where your strengths and weaknesses are and also to gauge how effectively you may be studying and mastering the course materials
Consider the various areas from which the test questions might come, including: class lectures and/or discussions, textbooks and other readings, a list of terms, graphs/charts
Create a study plan
Don’t wait and then cram the day/night before an exam (within 24 hours of reading, you will lose 85% of the information you covered)
Frontload your studies by spreading them out over a long period of time (preferably 5 to 7 days in advance) as opposed to the day before
Review course material repeatedly so as to move information from short-term to long-term memory (repetition, repetition, repetition)
When you prepare in advance, you have time to mull information over, make sense of your new-found knowledge, and connect the information to your life – all of this helps with retention and recall

Plan how you will organize and take information out for the test. Suggested methods:

Remember - college is a transition period from high school to the career world
Communicate with your professors
Learn what services are available on campus, where they are located, and make sure you access them when you need them
Seek services and resources on campus when needed