Tag: studying

For most college students, finals week is the last frustrating task that stands between the end of the semester and the start of a well-deserved summer. While it’s unlikely that your finals week will be entirely calm and pleasant, how you spend your precious hours during this week can partially dictate just how challenging it is.

Chances are you’ve heard the usual finals advice to eat well and get enough rest. This is certainly true—but how, when, and with whom you study is also worthy of thought. Consider, for instance, these three common mistakes students make when studying for finals:

1. Reviewing class material for too long

Just like pulling an all-nighter can be detrimental to your health and your grade, a 12-hour block of studying can leave your brain fatigued and unable to accurately recall course information once your study session ends. To maximize your review efforts, limit your sessions to shorter lengths, such as an hour or two, and vary the subjects. Try devoting 30 minutes to each class, with three two-hour sessions spaced evenly throughout the day.

2. Solely using the same study methods

By the time you reach college, you probably know how you like to study, and it can be tempting to adhere to that technique and that technique only. But sometimes change can be a good thing. If there’s a particular concept you’re struggling to commit to memory, it may help to ditch the textbook and YouTube a lecture on the subject. Varying your review strategies enables you to approach the topic from multiple angles, deepening your understanding of the concept. This works equally well in both your most challenging and your easiest classes.

3. Isolating yourself from others

While excessive socializing with friends is unlikely to help you meet your goals for finals week or the semester, this doesn’t mean that you should lock yourself away in your dorm room or barricade yourself in a library carrel. There are two instances where socializing may even help your performance. First, if you can separate work from pleasure, studying with others can be a very effective way to clarify difficult or confusing content. (Remember that multiple learning strategies can help you master the entirety of a subject.) Second, a lunch date or a walk with a close friend can allow you to reset your mind and to refocus when you return to your review or you sit down to take a final.

This post was submitted by Varsity Tutors, founded in 2007 by Olin alumnus Chuck Cohn, BSBA ’08. Varsity Tutors is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement.

Image courtesy of Creative Commons/Wikipedia.

Few times during the academic school year are as stressful as midterm week.  Olin alum-founded Varsity Tutors shared these four tips for undergrads facing midterms this week.

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Dear PMBA 40,

Well, the time has come. You’re starting your journey towards an MBA, which is the end of a journey itself. You’re past thinking about getting an MBA, studying for the GMAT, applying to schools, and stressing over whether or not you’ll get in. Congratulations! But it’s just the beginning…

As a PMBA’er who has a year under his belt, I thought I would impart some tidbits I’ve picked up along the way:

• Get to know your fellow classmates – They mention this all over Olin, and they’re right, but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you graduate and don’t know every person in your PMBA class. These are the future businessmen and women who might be your client, boss, co-worker, or connection for that job you’ve always wanted. Olin graduates are going places and it’s in your best interest to hop on that bandwagon. Here are two easy ways to do that:
• Go to After Dark – At least for the first six months. I understand that it’s easy to go home and crash after a full day of work and three hours of class but the informal setting is a catalyst for building friendships that will keep you sane during grad school. Yay for new friends!
• Start a WhatsApp/GroupMe Convo – This will help your class stay connected throughout the grind. You’ll use it to discuss homework, make plans, study for tests, and overall relieve stress. Trust me, there’s a comfort knowing that 65 other people can relate to your situation. You’re also in for a humorous Saturday morning read when you wake up to 150+ notifications from your new friends going out the night before.
• Know Your Strengths – For most of your core classes, you will be working in groups, which you’ll dread love. Figuring out what each person is good at at the beginning of group work will make the whole process of working together run smoothly. I’m not a numbers person but I can write, hence why I was the resident editor who provided colorful commentary whenever we were doing statistics homework.
• Don’t Sweat the Small Things – It’s easy to get bogged down in the details, whether that’s the one question on your group homework that you couldn’t crack, or the case that you just didn’t understand (I’m looking at you, Finance). Take a deep breath and know that it’s not going to make or break you or your grade. You’re already juggling a lot – the additional stress isn’t worth it.

There are other class-related tips that I’d be more than happy to impart but those are better suited over a beer at After Dark. I’ll see you there.

Image: Lecture Hall, Kai Schreiber, Flickr Creative Commons