You’re smart. You’ve demonstrated that. You’re in one of the best programs in one of the best universities. The problem is that all of your classmates are smart too. How do you make yourself stand out? How do you get the very best grades?
What is the difference between being an A student and being an average student?
The answer to this question might surprise you. The difference between average and high achieving students, many studies suggest, lies not in innate intelligence, but in habits. The best students work not just on the subjects, but on time management, organization, note taking, active reading and focus. The good news is that you can work on habits.
How to get the best organization habits
You’ll have more to juggle now than you’ve ever juggled before, so your new lifestyle should reflect this. You need to get organized. You need to understand what’s being asked of you now, and you need to be able to break down these massive new goals (the best grades in every class) into a discrete set of tasks (go to all lectures, finish readings, hand in assignments, etc.) that can be scheduled, organized, and worked through.
You need to find strategies for the following:
How to take the best notes
To get the best grades, you need access to the best information. You need great notes. Your notes can’t be too thorough, however: if you simply write down everything the professors say verbatim, then you run the risk of impeding your understanding and winding up with an overwhelming amount of information when you sit down to study.
Since your classes are harder now, and you’re being bombarded with much more information, you need to update your note-taking to reflect this. You get bonus marks if you find the note-taking technique that works best for you.
You should think through the following note taking techniques:
How to get the best study habits
You shouldn’t study for a math test the same way that you study for an organic chemistry final. Each of your classes is very different, so you need to find strategies that work for each individual class.
You need to find the best way to tackle the following:
How to get the best focus and concentration
Just sitting down with your textbooks and notes isn’t enough. You need to actually learn. You need focus and concentration.
Consider using the following methods and strategies:
Studying smart means thinking through every aspect of student life. Most importantly, it means asking for help when you need help, and consulting with the experts. Check out Prep101.
What is the difference between being an A student and being an average student?
The answer to this question might surprise you. The difference between average and high achieving students, many studies suggest, lies not in innate intelligence, but in habits. The best students work not just on the subjects, but on time management, organization, note taking, active reading and focus. The good news is that you can work on habits.
How to get the best organization habits
You’ll have more to juggle now than you’ve ever juggled before, so your new lifestyle should reflect this. You need to get organized. You need to understand what’s being asked of you now, and you need to be able to break down these massive new goals (the best grades in every class) into a discrete set of tasks (go to all lectures, finish readings, hand in assignments, etc.) that can be scheduled, organized, and worked through.
You need to find strategies for the following:
- How should you manage your time?
- How should you schedule your studies and assignment work?
- How should you find time to fit everything in?
How to take the best notes
To get the best grades, you need access to the best information. You need great notes. Your notes can’t be too thorough, however: if you simply write down everything the professors say verbatim, then you run the risk of impeding your understanding and winding up with an overwhelming amount of information when you sit down to study.
Since your classes are harder now, and you’re being bombarded with much more information, you need to update your note-taking to reflect this. You get bonus marks if you find the note-taking technique that works best for you.
You should think through the following note taking techniques:
- The Cornell Method
- The Split-Page method
- Mind Mapping
How to get the best study habits
You shouldn’t study for a math test the same way that you study for an organic chemistry final. Each of your classes is very different, so you need to find strategies that work for each individual class.
You need to find the best way to tackle the following:
- How do you study for problem-solving exams?
- How can you memorize mass amounts of information?
How to get the best focus and concentration
Just sitting down with your textbooks and notes isn’t enough. You need to actually learn. You need focus and concentration.
Consider using the following methods and strategies:
- The Pomodoro Method
- Flash cards
- Timed repletion
Studying smart means thinking through every aspect of student life. Most importantly, it means asking for help when you need help, and consulting with the experts. Check out Prep101.
