Success Boot Camp: Tools and Tips for Navigating Academic Pressures

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

5. 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.)

6. 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

7. 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*

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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

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

16. 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)

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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?