Take Advantage Of Office Hours
If you are having trouble with a concept or topic, your professors can help. Stop by during their office hours or email questions to your professor to understand the class material better, gain helpful study tips on how to prepare for your exams or write a better essay. You will also create a relationship with your instructor that could lead to a valuable mentorship.
TIP: If it is written on the board, add it to your notes. It just might be on the test.
Hippocampus: Free Academic Lessons For College
Literally named after the part of our brain responsible for learning, motivation, and memory, Hippocampus has a digital library of multimedia content on a plethora of subjects. Youll find up to 7,000 videos on 13 subjects and an online repository of content from community colleges. Anyone can browse the lessons, but registration is required for personalized activities registration.
What we loved:
- Range of academic subjects like math, history, and science
- Links to various learning platforms
What could be improved:
- User experience can be made more effective
- No information can be downloaded from the site
Use The Reward System
Studying can be draining, so treat yourself for a little motivation. Buy a coffee from your favorite coffee shop or get some study snacks from the campus convenience store. You can also reward yourself by taking breaks for activities you enjoy, like walking, reading, or watching TV. Adding in a reward will give you something fun to work towards.
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How Do I Know Which College Major To Pursue
There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a college major that you believe is the best major for you. Some of the obvious factors include program cost, salary potential, and job demand. If you choose a major that is in the top rankings for one or more of these factors, then you are off to a great start.
One of the biggest factors not mentioned yet is job satisfaction. When finding the best major, you need to look into the future and ask yourself: Will I enjoy the field of work with this college major?
Ultimately, you want to find a certain major that matches closely to your interests, values, and abilities. By doing so, you will have a better chance at achieving happiness with the career path you choose.
Steer Clear Of Distractions
Distractions are everywherefrom cell phones to social media to friends. Be aware of what distracts you in class and know how to steer clear of these distractions. Avoid sitting next to friends if you know they will distract you. Turning off your cell phone will also help make sure you are paying attention to your teacher.
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Space Out Your Study Times
How long does it take you to study for a test? A lot of students end up pulling a marathon study session the night before a big exam, but the evidence shows that last-minute cramming is not the best way to go if you actually want to learn something. It can help you get a decent grade on your exam, but you’ll quickly start to forget the material once the exam is over. That’s because when we try to stuff a lot of information into our brains very quickly, the information gets stored in short-term rather than long-term memory.
Research has shown that the best way to study is to do several short study sessions spaced out over the span of a few days or even weeks. Spacing out your study sessions forces your brain to retrieve the information and build on it each time, which gives it a more permanent place in your long-term memory. So you study for a college exam by, for example, studying four hours a week for three weeks instead of cramming in one 12-hour session the night before the test.
What Is The Most Effective Way To Study
Finding the best way to study is an ongoing process. It isnt something that can be left to the night before the test. You should be constantly improving your study skills to better understand what works .
Learning how to study better helps avoid panic and frustration the next time a big test is coming up. After all, you are more likely to do well and be less stressed before a test when you have had time to properly review and practice the material!
Mastering effective study habits not only makes it easier to learn but will also help you get better grades in high school and post-secondary.
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Ten Study Methods That Work
Studying effectively is not a matter of chance. Educators and psychologists have researched study methods for years. Some of the best studies come from the top universities: Stanford, Indiana, and Chicago where precise experiments with student groups have shed light on the most effective study methods. Students who follow these methods learn more easily, retain material for longer periods of time, and save themselves hours of study time. The ten study methods researchers have found that work are:
English Language And Literature
If you find yourself generally immersed in some bookanything from Shakespeare to Cheryl Strayedyou will likely find others just like you in the English department studying the trochaic octameter of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” the stunning word choices of narrative nonfiction author Annie Dillard, or the experimental elements of the writings of Walter Abish. English programs focus on literature, language, and writing, and an English major will encounter a wide array of absorbing works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from around the world and throughout history. Analyzing the works of the greatest minds and imaginations that human civilization has produced will surely sharpen your critical, emotional, creative, and moral faculties. The study of literature also helps to shed some light on the answers to the enduring questions of the human condition. This degree is tremendous preparation for a future in law, journalism, publishing, graduate studies, and just about anything else.
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Making Use Of Trade Secrets
Flash cards arent just for kids! They are a legitimate study tool. Use the front of the card to write an important term, and on the back, write a definition or an important fact about that term. Carry your flash cards with you. Use them during dead time, such as standing in a check-out line, waiting in a doctor or dentists office, riding a bus, or waiting at the Laundromat. Keep a set in the glove compartment of your car for long lines at your favorite fast food drive-in restaurant or bank. Post them on your bathroom mirror to review while shaving or applying make-up. Youll be surprised how much you can accomplish during those otherwise dead times. Think about developing your own trade secrets that will improve your study skills.
What Do You Like
The first thing to consider when picking a major is what you like to do. By the time you graduate high school youll have enough information and experience from your classes to figure out what you might or might not be interested in pursuing. Here are some ways you can dig deeper:
- List 10 things you love. Listing what you love doing, both inside or outside the classroom, is a great way to see possible paths you can take. If you enjoy art and drawing but youre also interested in technology, consider majoring in graphic design. If youre into business and traveling, investigate majoring in international business.
- Make a list of strengths and weaknesses. Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses can help you assess what kind of major to go into. For example, if public speaking isnt really your thing, you might want to avoid majors that could lead to careers like being a news anchor or spokesperson. You can also take your weaknesses and build on them in college. If public speaking is something you want to improve, go ahead and take a speech class. You might love it!
- Use the Roadmap to Careers Connect your interests to majors and careers, and explore video interviews with professionals in different industries to hear how they got where they are today. Use your College Board login to map your futureits free for students who take the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, or the SAT.
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The 9 Best University Courses To Study
Choosing a degree course can be quite daunting. If you are currently trying to decide which programme is best for you, then perhaps this list of the best courses to study can help.
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University is an exciting time in a young persons life, but it also involves a lot of big decisions. Choosing the right place in which to study is fraught with dilemmas, for instance, yet its nothing compared to the decision of what to study. You have to think long term and seriously consider how your choice is going to affect the rest of your career a frightening prospect when youre leaving home for the first time.
Therefore, it helps to understand what courses can be considered a solid bet, especially if youre not too sure what to settle on. The degrees on this list are all highly employable, with many of them representing a flexible pathway into a variety of industries they are also valued in industries that are only set to grow and expand.
So, if youre struggling to make up your mind, then why not consider one of these nine choices? These are the best courses to study at university.
Need help picking the right course? Take the CareerHunter test and get matched to suitable careers. Start the test!
How To Choose Your College Major
There are a few key considerations you want to take into account before you commit to a major area of study. Certainly, you will want to clarify your financial expectations and the cost of your education.
However, more importantly, you will also want to reflect on your personality and values and how these will affect your choice of a satisfying area of study.
Finally, you will want to determine which sectors and careers have the most growth potential since a significant reason for attending university is to prepare for your future.
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Why Does A Degree Matter
A degree signals to employers that you can stay committed and work through years of subject matter to become well-versed in a topic. It also shows employers that you have many skills that are transferable in the workplace, such as time management, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and more.
For some professions, a degree is absolutely necessary, whereas others may be more lenient in accepting applicants without a degree. However, having a degree can help to secure a higher-paying job and also open the door to more career opportunities.
How To Pick A Field Of Study
A field of study may be your major, or the department to which your major belongs. For instance, you may choose to major in post-war American Literature while studying English. The important thing to remember, is that your major should be something you are genuinely interested in, and for which you have a real talent. You must also consider your ultimate career goal. It is all very well to major in post-war American Literature, but to what end. Do you want to be a novelist, or are you planning on becoming a college professor? It may not be the most exciting aspect of your decision, but you need to know your ultimate career goals after graduation. How will your chosen major affect your professional life after you leave college?
Here are a couple of useful tips to help you decide on your college major.
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Start With The Right Mindset
How you approach your studies can affect how much you get out of them. Many students get overwhelmed by everything they have to do and put things off as long as possible, which just leads to more problems. Stress interferes with your ability to concentrate and learn, so be sure to check out these tips for dealing with college stress.
If you start to panic, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you have skills and abilities, and avoid negative self-talk. Instead of thinking, “I’ll never be able to do this,” try telling yourself, “I’m getting started now, so at least some of this will get done.”
Fun College Majors To Explore
A fun major can keep you engaged and focused throughout your college career. Many interesting college majors can offer better career prospects in a specific niche. Learning about the different fun majors available can help you make a more informed decision regarding your education. In this article, we describe some of the most interesting college majors and some of the careers they can lead to.
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Start Off Your Semester Flawlessly By Making Sure You Have All These Things College Students Need
Going off to college for the first time is a big transition! Freshman year at college can elicit feelings of excitement, along with ones of apprehension.
Theres uncertainty surrounding the things you need for college, what your professors will be like, and how to make new friends.
But:
Being prepared and knowing the things that college students need can help with some of those first semester jitters.
Already having everything ready when move-in day finally comes around will take some stress out of your life, too.
Heres a list with 14 things every college student needs. Stuff that might have been overlooked or forgotten in the frenzy of back to school madness.
Try The Feynman Notebook Method
Physicist Robert Feynman created this organization-based learning method by writing on the title page of an empty notebook, notebook of things I donât know about. From there, he developed a technique of deconstruction and reconstruction of ideas, in an effort to understand even the most complicated of concepts. To use this method and learn how to study effectively, first identify what you want to learn. Then, try explaining it as you would to a five-year-old. The Feynman method is ideal for using analogies to further illustrate your concept .
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Study When Youre Tired And Get Some Rest
Studying at your tiredest can help your brain retain higher concentrations of new skills, such as speaking a foreign language or playing an instrument. Thereâs even a term for it: sleep-learning. As the memory-consolidation process does its best work during slow-wave sleep, your brain could be getting both the restoration and reactivation it needs during its time of rest. All of this means that reviewing study materials before bed can help you brain learn, even in your sleep.
Which Fields Are In High Demand
An essential factor in which college major we decide upon is how it will translate to a satisfying career and salary. Part of this equation is looking at employment rates and trends in the field you wish to study. Will your chosen major lead to steady employment that will be around well into the future?
Despite a continued trend toward automation in many sectors, a number of fields have been in high demand and look set to continue, such as marketing, communications, human resources, culinary arts, and education.
The market for those with computer skills or medical training will also likely soar far into the future. Careers in mathematics, statistics, and renewable energy are also expanding rapidly.
However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many secure, age-old staples such as manufacturing, construction, clerical, and service occupations are on the decline. The outlook is similar for all aspects of nuclear power and careers in the postal service.
Other traditional careers, such as hard copy journalism and publishing, have mostly transitioned online, making software and internet skills training much more important.
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Study Smarter Not Harder
Occasionally, college professors will tell you the information that will be on an examlisten to them! Theyre sharing this information with you to save you time so youre not studying the wrong information for hours, and you can focus on the important points. If youre unsure about what to focus on while studying, send your professor a quick email to confirm or speak with him or her after class.
What College Majors Are Worth It
Every college major is worth it, even if you dont end up working in the field you studied. There are liberal arts majors who enjoy lucrative careers as lawyers and physicians.
Remember, part of earning your degree is showing employers and graduate school admission committees that you can learn and accomplish your goals. Colleges have certain rules, requirements, and red tape that define how to succeed. Navigating this landscape helps advertise your characteristics of being a go-getter, problem-solver, and finisher.
If you do work in your degree field, all the better. Your education will help you bypass certain entry-level positions and start earning a professional salary.
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