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Student Success Stories: Renee P.
Renee P.'s Academic Success Story
I definitely made several changes from high school to college, the major one being starting to study. At the high school level I was able to simply do my homework and pay attention in class, possibly looking over the notes once before a test, and be fine. In college I had to start reading the text books, looking over my notes several times, memorizing formulas, theories and many other important things.
My overall study method: I re-read my notes, and if I'm able to, I compare them with someone else in the class to see if I missed anything important. If a test involves a lot of vocabulary terms, I'll make flash cards, but I don't do that a lot. Also, a lot of text books come with a CD or a website. If you go on the website or CD they usually have practice quizzes, which are a great study tool to see if you get the main concepts.
My test study method: When I took Spanish, or any foreign language, I used flash cards for almost every test because they were mainly on vocabulary terms. A lot of my business tests now are mainly on the general concepts, so I just go over them in the book.
My time management secret: Take it one day at a time, and I always reward myself. If I don't let myself watch my favorite television show or something then I get easily distracted while studying. I can't study for great lengths at a time, so I make sure to take little breaks. Also KEEP A PLANNER! That is probably the most important tool for good time management. It's impossible to remember everything you have to do, so writing it down in a planner is a great way to keep things in order. This way you can llook ahead at the week, and if you have a lot of work during the end, you can start it earlier so you don't get overwhelmed.
How I study for multiple exams, deal with multiple projects: First of all, you should have seen things like this coming. Teachers usually have all tests and projects listed on the syllabus that you get the first day of class. In this case you should have started studying for you tests or doing you projects ahead of time, to balance. If you didn't realize however, and are now stuck, you have to prioritize. If one of your exams is later in the day, after a lunch break or something, then don't study for it as much as the others the night before. You can use your break to go over you notes a few times and refresh the material in your mind right before the exam. I also sometimes go back and forth from subject to subject, that is only if they aren't too similar. For instance my sociology class and my marketing research class, there is no way to get them confused because they are so different. To keep myself interested, I alternate studying for one, then the other. This is a great way to study for multiple exams that snuck up on you.
My overall study method: I usually break up my studying over the course of the evening. I take breaks because otherwise I get overwhelmed or distracted. I'll go over my notes then take a break, then read some of the book then take a break, then take a few practice quizzes online if they're available, then take a break and repeat the cycle until I run out of time or get tired.
My strategies for written assignments: Don't rely simply on spell check! It doesn't always catch mistakes like if something is still a word, but not the word you intended or in the order you meant it to be in. Also, if you can have someone else that isn't in your class read it. They can help on grammar mistakes and if they understand it, then you made your point clear and it's probably a good paper.
How I succeed in team projects: Honestly I prefer working alone to working in groups, so coming to Stetson was a big wake up call. We have at least one group project per class usually. I would say what has helped me is to always go to group meetings and do your fair share of the work. If you have a problem with one of the members, talk it over with everyone else to see if they feel the same way. If they do, definitely take it up with the professor. Often in our group projects if a member isn't pulling their weight they can be fired from the group and have to do a project themselves, which is usually harder.
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