The Seven Highly Ineffective Habits of First Year Students
So by this point weāve all been there, survived that, and likely have some sort of cheesy free university tee handed to us by the rec department to prove it; I guess what Iām getting at is weāve all unlocked the āSurvived My First Year University Life Achievement Reward,ā and if you havenāt done so already you should give yourself a cookie or a bottle of JD.
However, along with our first year scars and battle wounds, ended romances and revelations came a lot of bad habits, thus I present to you the 7 Highly Ineffective Habits of First (and quite possibly some 5th) Year Students.
1. Writing a manuscript of everything your professor is saying. Not only is this an brilliant way to give yourself carpel tunnel syndrome, but it also a highly ineffective way of taking notes. You may think your prime keener-ness is going to get you a A, but in actuality when we start typing out everything the professor says verbatim our minds kind of enter this strange auto-pilot mode where we are present, but not really paying attention, meaning we are actually missing those key points of the lecture. Don't believe me? Google Hearing vs. Active Listening.
2. Memorizing everything. By now you've probably heard this about 500 times but university isn't a battle of who can cram the most amount of material between two ears. If your interested in such a competition you should enroll in this. In fact, unless otherwise specified your professors are going to test you on your understanding of a subject as opposed to your ability to memorize every detail of the course. (The exception to this of course being biochem 310, which if you've survived that course I am permitting you to have one shot - who said we can't make this blog into a drinking game? Joking we are 5th years remember...) As opposed to memorizing fact, it's best to make connections to the material; this can be done through drawing, properly made cue cards, or something I like to call MIRANDA'S MIND MAP OF MASTERY.... All that matters is that is in some deep and twisted way your study notes make sense to you, and help you understand the material. You'd be surprised once you understand something how the itty bitty bits will randomly come to mind.
3. Referring to yourself as "pre - insert professional program (likely med or law) here." First of all if you've done this please take a moment to feel me shaming you. Besides the obvious that these elusive "pre-" programs don't exist, do you want to be that pretentious dick? Do you really? Furthermore, can you believe someone told me the other day that there were pre-grad, the other day.... does no one know what comes before grad school? Undergrad... you know that is why its called UNDERgrad because in the rules of university hierarchy we are UNDER the grad students. (Hopefully your not literally under your grad student, otherwise we need to have a whole different kind of ineffective habit conversation.) Anyways I digress... If your pre-law, your actually in arts be proud. If your pre - med, pre-dentistry or pre -whatever program you decide to insert here for the love of sweet Jesus just answer with: "I'm a science student!" Be proud of you science major status... I mean how else will we ever overtake the engineers? We must band together.
4. Going to school sick. Okay this isn't the way to make friends, this is the way to completely clear a 5 foot radius around yourself in a 300 person lecture hall, as ain't nobody going to want to sit in your mid-fall illness fall out zone. When we are sick our bodies are craving rest, by denying it that rest your likely to turn a simple cold into a chronic semester illness. So if you feel a malaise coming on, it's completely acceptable to stay home watching Lost reruns all day.
5. Neglecting your social life. This is a common faux pas I've seen friends fall fatal to over and over again. As humans we are creatures of socialization, and keeping up with the crew is just as important part of a balance lifestyle as eating you Flintstone vitamins. (I know I'm 21 but we have already established his blog is a no judgement zone). If your feeling guilty think of your social life as vitamins for the soul. We forget that university is just amount the experience as it is the grade, and hey just saying.... if you can't talk to fellow humans, your not going to pass that med school interview.
6. Avoiding the gym. As discussed balance is key to staying healthy, not only does exercise contribute to boosting your immune system it has great psychological benefits as well. Hitting the gym is a great way to pound out that frustration with course work and university stresses. If you like me 5'6 and built like an instant noodle, don't worry about hitting the gym per say, just find a physical activity that allows you to relieve stress. Yoga is perfect for the physically un-endowed.
7. Class time is Facebook time. This is a huge pet peve of mine, not only are you paying 500 dollars to be sitting in this room, but if your on Facebook you might as well be at home. And if your reading this blog during class... Love you to pieces hun, but look up. I'm awesome but not that awesome.
Anyways, this list came from myself and the lovely folk I call friends, and the habits we felt the need to break post-yr1.
As always thanks for the read, if you love it share it (just not during PHYS 121 - although tempting I know)
