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Success Boot Camp: Tools and Tips for Navigating Academic Pressures

Success Boot Camp: Tools and Tips for Navigating Academic Pressures. Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D. Associate Dean College of Science. The “secret” to success is…. Commitment Investment of Time Hard Work Balance Utilization of Resources Sacrifice Assertive. Goals after Graduation.

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Success Boot Camp: Tools and Tips for Navigating Academic Pressures

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  1. Success Boot Camp: Tools and Tips for Navigating Academic Pressures Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D. Associate Dean College of Science

  2. The “secret” to success is… • Commitment • Investment of Time • Hard Work • Balance • Utilization of Resources • Sacrifice • Assertive

  3. Goals after Graduation • Dental School, Medical School, Veterinary School, Allied Health, etc. • 3.5/3.6 & competitive MCAT, DAT, etc. • Graduate School • 3.0 (emphasis on last 60 hours & competitive GRE • Teaching • 2.5 & pass TExES exam

  4. Grade Goals • Multiply # hours registered for by hoped for GPA • Examples: • 15 hours x 4.0 = 60 hours*/week (45 hrs. min.) • 15 hours x 3.5 = 52.5 hours*/week (37.5 hrs.) • 15 hours x 3.0 = 45 hours*/week (30 hrs.)

  5. Grade Goals Continued • BIOL 101 (3 hrs) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week • BIOL 101 Lab (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week • CHEM 101 (3 hrs) x 3.0 = 9 hours per week • CHEM 101 L (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week • HIST 101 (3 hrs.) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week • MATH 101 (4 hours) x 3.0 = 12 hours per week ***attending SI’s and tutoring counts towards study hours

  6. Typical Study Schedule for Science Course • Monday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture • Tuesday – attend lecture and take excellent notes (use tape recorder, study buddy, etc. if necessary); review notes and fill in holes before the end of the day • Wednesday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture; review Tuesday’s notes • Thursday – attend lecture/take excellent notes and review notes and fill in holes before end of day; review Tuesday’s notes • Friday – review notes • Saturday – review notes; write lab report, read for next lab*

  7. Time Management/Study Schedule • Identify all time available for study • Take advantage of breaks between classes, travel time, etc. to studyKeep a planner and note all assignments, tests, quizzes, assignments • Post games, travel and other fixed commitments

  8. Time Management/Study Schedule • Write down times you commit to study 6 days per week • Choose times where you are mentally sharp • Remove distractions (cell phone, texting, facebook, certain friends, etc.) • Cannot afford to travel every weekend

  9. Deep Study • Set aside one hour block of undisturbed time • First 5 minutes are to get organized and decide what you want to accomplish • Next 50 minutes are to study intently • Last 5 minutes are for break for food, bathroom, etc. • If setting aside several hours, study different subjects (science, math, history)

  10. Forgetfulness • 50% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 24 hours without review • 80% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in two weeks • 95% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in four weeks Question: In General, how many weeks of lecture are there for an exam?

  11. Class Attendance & Notes • The number one factor in student success is attendance • Sit in “T” zone – front row(s) and/or center of class. Avoid back rows. Make eye contact with professor, ask questions, see them after class (put up phone, laptop, ipod) • The number two factor in student success is good lecture notes

  12. Lecture Notes • Active listening – completely focused; well rested • Thorough notes – Outline, Cornell, Block • Allow space to fill in holes and make something noticeable where you missed details so that you know you need to get information to make notes complete • Rewrite or retype notes, say them out loud • Review them often

  13. Forms of Help • Professor • SI’s • Tutors – on campus and private • Graduate Assistants • Study Groups

  14. Textbooks • Read no more than 10 pages at a time • If you highlight, be sure that you are highlighting a fraction of the information; if you highlight everything, what is the use • Highlight from left to right, just as you read, and use pastel highlighters (underlining also works well) • Monitor comprehension (end of chapter questions)

  15. 5 Day Study Plan for Exams • Budget at least 2 hours per day for 5 days prior to exam • Start with oldest material first • Review previous days work each day • Save last day for review and to address areas you continue to struggle with • Active Study Strategies (ICOW – identify, condense, organize, write it out)

  16. Example of 5 Day Study Plan • Tuesday Ch. 1 2 hours • Wednesday Ch. 2 2 hours Ch. 1 30 min. • Thursday Ch. 3 1.5 hours Ch. 2 30 min. Ch. 1 15 min. • Friday Ch 4 1 hour Ch. 3 30 min. Ch. 2 15 min. Ch. 1 10 min. • Sunday Ch. 4 30 min. Ch. 3 20 min. Ch. 2 10 min Ch. 1 10 min. Self-test 1 hour

  17. Exams • To reduce or eliminate test anxiety, BE PREPARED • Carefully read and follow directions and all items on exam (“except”, “incorrect”, “best”) • Pace yourself • Skip questions you cannot easily answer, but make large mark to draw attention back to this question • Use questions for clues • Recheck your answers

  18. Diagnostic After Testing • Use notes when looking at items missed on exam • If you could answer question with your notes, it indicates a study or preparation problem • If you cannot answer the question with your notes, it indicates a problem in the lecture class or keeping up with assigned readings

  19. Preparing for Final Exams • Calendar all commitments 2-3 weeks in advance of final exams • Know that you need a minimum of at least 5 days (5 day study plan) for each final exam • Push hard last 1-2 weeks of semester • Evaluate needed grades and where to invest efforts • Attend all classes for possible reviews/hints

  20. Case Study #1 • Class A 82, 84, 83 • Class B 81, 76, 79 • Class C 74, 85, 77 • Class D 14, 40, 56 Assume standard 10 point scale and final exam worth ¼ of grade. Rate classes in terms of those needing most attention to those needing least.

  21. Case Study #2 • If the final exam will contain 25 new questions on chapters not covered on a previous exam (chapters10-12) and 75 questions evenly distributed over chapters 1-9, what would the 5 day study plan look like for this final?

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