#grade this

I had my first class of the semester today and it was stressful to begin.  I had no idea where to sit. My big sib suggested the front of the classroom if I really wanted to pay attention and not be distracted. The professor was really nice but I didn’t understand some of the summer work. After class I went up an asked about the work and apparently professors have office hours when we can go visit. I didn’t know that beforehand. So now I know where to sit, and office hours and whatnot, be I haven’t mentioned the really sweet part yet. In our Bio 101 class we made study groups already. The professor had us divide up based on how we learn (Kinesthetic, auditory, or visual) and had us group up that way. I think it’ll be a great way to study. Everyone makes sure they understand the material, and we cover the big topics after we’ve reviewed them before hand. We meet once a week and also the day before any tests.  My class schedule looks pretty rough but I’m eager to get started.

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Host: Hey College listeners! It’s your host Roxy X I’m here today on College Radio Kiss106 to help out all the incoming freshman during rush week this year. For those of you tuning in to college for the first time, study tips might be pretty useful for you all to pass those frosh pre-req classes. Bringing in some expert advice on the topic of studying is Business major, Hospitality minor and resident salutatorian of our senior class at the university: Leslie Mathers! She’s studied her butt off at college and it’s gotten her pretty far but Leslie, I hear you have quite the wide variety of study habits that keep it from getting too boring. Can you tell us about some of them?

Leslie: I sure can Roxy! And let me begin by telling you that I came into college with a far too idealistic view of studying. My grades were slipping and I had no idea what to do. So I went to my psych professor and to some psychology periodicals; because who better to help optimize study habits than people who study the brain? So, now it’s quite the process every time I sit down to study. I might as well end up in real estate with this next phrase but studying is all about location, location, location.

Host: Now what do you mean by that Leslie? Is there a specific place on campus that you do your studying? Or is this a trade secret that you’ll keep quiet so you can be in peace?

Leslie: I actually have a few locations including my room, the library, café, and even outside in the quad if the weather is nice. For light reading and short assignments the café is the best place for me but if I really need to hit the books, I’ll get the most done in the library. I’m not often in my room because there’s just too much in there to distract you or make you feel comfortable! Always find a neutral place to do your work if you can.

Host: oh I know all about the comforts of a dorm. It’s really difficult for good studying isn’t it? Now your first step is finding out where to go, What’s next?

Leslie: well, I had worked a plan out with my professor for the best ways to study and I always space out my information. A little bit at a time and I test myself on it. Studies have shown that repeating information helps get it to long term memory so you can retrieve it later.

Host: Well personally I never thought these strategies worked for me. Why could that be?

Leslie:  If you can’t recall the information, that just means you need to keep going through it. These methods are used to show gaps in your knowledge so you can strengthen the weak spots.

Host: do you ever actually get a break from studying?

Leslie: Yes actually! All the time. Now of course if I’ve set in for the long hall writing a paper, I’ll have snacks, water, music, and I’ll even bock distracting sites on my computer for a certain amount of time. However, again, from the wisdom of my professor, you don’t want to fry your brain. So get up, move around! Don’t let your legs fall asleep. Cardio, yoga, and even going for a quick walk all give you a well needed break.

Host: Well Leslie It looks like we’re about out of time, do you have any final words of advice for our freshman listeners during the beginning of their semester?

Leslie: Just don’t get overwhelmed. Get your nose to the books and keep at it. All of these get easier with time.

Host: Thanks for your time Leslie, see you around campus!

Leslie: have a great day Roxy!

Sources: interview questions, with Jewel and Leslie 2016 (both first year college students)

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Pt 2/ She goes to bed early and wakes up late and I hate annoying her by making noise when she’s asleep but I have early classes and usually stay out lase to study. She’s at her wits end and I’m getting the brunt of her resentment and I have no idea what to do about it. Suggestions? - Studious in Seattle

Dear Studious,

The first thing you need to do is talk it out with your roommate .Explain that you’re sorry about the noise early and late but that your gradesare very important. Create a list of what you want to address and try to remainpositive. To keep this mutual and not just an attack on her, address yourfaults here as well. I suggest keeping it more tidy and organized and perhaps creating aroommate agreement. If you two realize that you are just incompatible, youruniversity may be able to move one of you to a different room. That is ofcourse a last resort as you two seem to get along when it comes to similarinterests.

Shannon

Pt 2/ And then really early she’s making tons of noise to go to some early classes. Once or twice I’ve even been locked out of the room when she has a “friend” over. She’s not a bad person but she’s not a good roommate and I don’t know how to broach the topic without her blowing up in my face. Please help. -Sleepless in Seattle

-Sleepless in Seattle

Dear Sleepless,

You need to have a personal conversation with your roommateand discuss your problems in a polite manner. Do not be passive aggressive. Gointo the conversation with a list and be willing to compromise. You two shoulddraft a roommate agreement together andmake it mutually inclusive. Such as: no personal friends on weeknights pastten, quiet hours between 10 and 8, but also understand that your roommate maybe studying late and does have early classes. Just ask her to be courteous ofyour space. If it comes to it, make a chore chart and discuss the importance ofa clean room. You may always consult your dorm’s RA and get relocated if youdon’t think you can work it out, but that is a last resort. Many universitieshave roommate agreement and compatibility tests that could be of use in thefuture.

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1)      First, to get back onto a progressive track for school you need to to admit that you do indeed tend to procrastinate. Admitting that you have a problem will help you to start fixing it.

2)    Next, is deciding to ask for help from a higher power. The best “power” to go to would be an advisor or professor to whom you can hold yourself accountable.

3)     The third step coincides with the second in that you need to actually go to them and ask for help. Turn yourself into their care and heed any advice. (Write it down too. Don’t assume that you’ll remember what your adviser tells you. Keep a list and commit to it.)

4)    Now that you have asked for help, you need to commit to make the change. Tell yourself that you’re going to keep up. Start by making a study schedule on a calendar and updating every time you get a new assignment or finish one. Color code if you’d like. Have dates that help you finish work at least 24 hours before it is due and not up until the night before.

5)     Start your schedule and make the real effort to keep with it. Also talk to other professors or even your roommate and ask them to keep tabs on you if they can.

6)     Make amends to other grades and papers that you haven’t done well. Whether they affect your grade or not; if you have time, this is a great way to cleanse the old way out of your system.

7)     Continuously check your schedule and all of the items on your list daily to make sure you don’t let anything slide.

8)     Once you have successfully one this in your own life, try to help others make a difference in their study habits. It’s a good way to remind yourself of what to do also.

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