Study Tips from the HSO
Dear friends,
You did it! It's Finals Week and that means the end of another semester. 🎓🎉
For our final blog post of Fall 2021, we wanted to re-share the HSO Leadership Team's study tips from the midterms. You might, we hope, find a gem or two (or three or four) in there. ;)
Jana McCarthy, Director of Advising
My study routine is based on years of tweaking and learning what works for me and what doesn't. I found my study style and early routine with the help of an Academic Coach, which is a resource I recommend for ALL students, but especially Honors students.
I start with my readings. I read and annotate in a heading-to-heading format. I start with the top-level heading, read the info, highlighting main ideas and things to note along the way. Upon reaching the next heading (sub level or any heading), I pause, and concisely note the highlights I made in that section - usually in a doc or in a spiral. At the end of the chapter, I have then made an outline of what I felt was important, which serves as a reference moving forward.
If there are lectures or videos to watch, or assignments to complete - that comes next. I put the notes in the same doc or just after the reading notes, so that it's all in one spot. Importantly, I use symbols and notations to ensure that I can easily locate specific items that I may need again.
I usually study in 1-hour blocks, with a 15 minute, mindless, break in-between. Mindless means that I'm doing something that won't override the material I'm trying to absorb: walk the dog, do the dishes, take a catnap - avoiding mental stimulation that will distract me from encoding the new material. The time I spend works for me, but others need more or less time studying or breaking. Find what works for you.
Finally, I always work on the material asap after a lecture or class meeting. Google: The Forgetting Curve, to learn why.
Mars Medina, HSO President
Studying for me is definitely challenging (wooo ADHD!) but I’ve found some ways to circumvent that.
Overall, first things first: I turn my phone over and put it out of sight! That is definitely my biggest distraction. Next, I make a list for the assignments or projects I need to work on/complete for either the day or for the rest of the week if I somehow have little to work on.
Working with different studying techniques, especially the Pomodoro technique, has worked well for assignment-heavy weeks. For notes I try to write them down by hand, as I found that writing it down instead of typing it usually results in me retaining the information easier. I’ve also found that index cards (for things like memorizing quotes or definitions) are a huge help.
Music helps me out too, to kind of drown out the rest of my environment; hilariously enough, I usually study to metal music but lo-fi is my second go-to! My biggest advice for studying, however, is this: make sure to take breaks!
Aaron Turner, HSO Social Media Team Lead
I'm pretty flexible when it comes to studying. Since each course is unique, I structure my approach in a "flowchart" sorta way (something I didn't know until I actually wrote it out here, lol).
First, I read each syllabus and compile all due dates from all courses into a single calendar. For each course, I then:
1. Get info on tests (Note: If there are no tests, I skip to Step 2)
1.a. Will test questions come from multiple sources or a single source?
If the professor confirms only one source (i.e. from lectures), I double down and study from just that source. That said, I always follow the professor’s lead.
1.b. If I'm studying from a textbook: I try to read ahead of the lectures; I highlight key concepts and say/write out my own explanations; I conduct multiple reviews leading up to the test.
1.c. If I'm studying from lectures: When attending the initial lecture, I listen to get acquainted and usually take few notes; I rewatch the recording and write down key concepts and info; I conduct multiple reviews.
2. For reading, writing, and researching (i.e. for a paper, presentation, homework, etc.)
2.a. I start EARLY and do a little every day.
For research, I use the ACC Library and other reputable websites; I highlight and save passages; I take notes while reading or watching videos; I keep track of my sources.
2.b. I ask questions; I go to office hours and seek tutoring when needed.
Amber Traylor, HSO Treasurer
Like many students, I can struggle to manage my time when trying to study or complete homework. What I’ve found works for me is a combination of two strategies:
1. I maintain an accurate calendar reflecting when assignments are due, when exams are, and what other activities I have planned on certain days. This helps to remind me what needs to be done on a given day and allows me to focus based on the order of importance, this is often called the Covey technique and involves ranking things from urgent, to not urgent, to not important.
2. I also use a variation of the Pomodoro technique when studying or doing work. I often find that around the 1-hour mark of working, my brain starts to lose focus and I seek out distractions. To maintain my productivity, I work straight through for 45 minutes and then take a 10-to-15-minute break. By breaking up my work, I can stay on task for several hours at a time. I also alternate my types of work between sessions; I may start on math, then rotate to science, and then switch to English before going back to math.
At the end of the day, you must make studying a priority while in college. Develop techniques that work best for you but look over these ideas to see if you like them!
We wish you all the best in all you do and look forward to seeing you again this spring! 🌷 💜
Your friends,
The HSO Leadership Team
