Study Tips

The DETER Strategy for Taking Tests
To do well on a test, you must have good knowledge of the information that is being tested. But you must also have a strategy for taking the test that allows you to show what you know. The DETER strategy can help you do your best on any test. Each letter in DETER reminds you what to do.

D = Directions
Read the test directions very carefully. Ask your teacher to explain anything about the test directions you do not understand. Only by following the directions can you achieve a good score on the test. If you do not follow the directions, you will not be able to demonstrate what you know.

E = Examine Examine the entire test to see how much you have to do. Only by knowing the entire task can you break it down into parts that become manageable for you.

T = Time Once you have examined the entire test, decide how much time you will spend on each item. If there are different points for items, plan to spend the most time on the items that count for the most points. Planning your time is especially important for essay tests where you must avoid spending so much time on one item that you have little time left for other test items.

E = Easiest The second E in DETER reminds you to answer the items you find easiest first. If you get stuck on a difficult item that comes up early in the test, you may not get to answer items that test things you know.

R = Review If you have planned your time correctly, you will have time to review your answers and make them as complete and accurate as possible. Also make sure to review the test directions to be certain you have answered all items required.

Raising a Confident Kid

Encouragement at an early age creates a great foundation.

Starting Young

If there's one quality most of us equate with success and happiness, it's self-confidence. Throughout life, having faith in ourselves and in our abilities makes it easier to make friends, take risks, and accomplish goals. What you may not know is that the seeds of this crucial quality exist in infancy, and it's vital for parents to nurture them throughout childhood.
Of course, each child's individual temperament is different. Some kids are naturally more outgoing or timid than others. Some may need more freedom to express themselves; others thrive on greater parental support. Fortunately, most of the steps parents should take to encourage self-confidence work for all children, regardless of their unique personalities.
As a child and family therapist, it's my job to help parents raise happy, independent children. The more self-confident a child is, the more independent she will be as an adult. So how can you nurture this important quality in your child? Happily, it's a lot easier than you think! Here are four steps to raising a self-confident child.

Step 1: Establish a Base of Trust

Each and every time you respond to your baby's cries with comfort and love -- not to mention food -- you're demonstrating to him that his world is safe and that he can rely on you. Over time, this helps him develop a strong sense of security, which gives him the confidence to form satisfying, intimate relationships as he grows. You're already doing your best to care for your baby; try these subtle (and simple) things to reinforce that trust.
Be consistent.
Babies thrive on routine and predictability. Not only does consistency make them feel safe, but it allows them to focus on discovering their world rather than reacting to lots of change. You probably already have a pretty set routine for feeding and sleeping. But there are other times in baby's day during which you can show your trustworthiness. Comforting your baby every time she cries or reading her a bedtime story every night underscores the message that you're there for her. Say goodbye when you leave your child rather than sneaking out; let her know when you'll return in terms she can understand: "Mommy will be back after lunch." Eventually she'll learn that you always come back.
Set firm rules.
This step is particularly important as kids get older and yearn to push boundaries. Though limits and safety rules may lead to tantrums, they actually enhance your child's trust in you. If the rules are changing all the time, your little one will become confused and insecure. However, it's important to make sure the limits you enforce are developmentally appropriate and not overly restrictive, or you may quash your child's appetite for learning. For example, you can't expect a young toddler not to want to touch everything in sight at a store or restaurant. Instead of just saying no repeatedly, make sure he's well entertained with a toy from home or a favorite song so he's less interested in that glass ketchup bottle.

Step 2: Teach Your Child Self-Love

Self-love is the basis of self-confidence. When a child -- even a baby -- feels that he's loved and valued, he learns that he should feel the same way about himself. Not surprisingly, children who feel loved and love themselves believe in their abilities; if they can't build a block tower, they'll try again. They happily initiate play with other children because they know that they'll be liked and welcomed.
Giving your child lots of hugs and kisses and spending as much time together as you can is a great start. Here are some other strategies you can use to instill this important idea.
Be smart about praise.
Celebrating your child's accomplishments makes her feel good about herself. When your baby pulls herself up to standing, clap and say, "Good job!" You'll demonstrate that not only are you paying attention to her, but that what she does is important.
Remember that the way you praise your child and what you praise her for are just as important as the action itself. When you offer praise, make it more meaningful by offering a specific example of why something's great -- comment on the beautiful colors in her painting, for instance. But don't say her picture is perfect or that she's a genius. As she grows older, she may set impossible standards for herself or doubt the authenticity of your praise.
Think before you speak.
Even when they're little, kids are sensitive to your emotions, particularly negative ones, which can be tough on parents. And what you say and how you say it has a powerful impact on children's self-esteem. No one who's ever witnessed a five-star tantrum will argue that even the most patient parent can't get exasperated. But yelling or telling your child she's being bad only wears on her self-esteem and doesn't necessarily stop the offending behavior. When you get emotionally overheated during a discipline dispute, calm yourself down by taking your own 10-second time-out before you speak. When you discipline your child, watch your tone and focus on the behavior. If your toddler hits you, for example, don't say, "How many times have I told you to stop that?" Instead, say, "We don't hit people. Use your words if you're angry at me."

Step 3: Encourage Competence

There's nothing more gratifying than conquering a challenge. Imagine how your baby feels when, after weeks of stumbling and falling, she finally figures out how to walk on her own. Such accomplishments teach your child that she's capable, and as a result, she'll relish tackling new challenges rather than fear them. So what can you do to raise an "I can" kid?
Avoid jumping in too quickly.
Children learn from practicing and solving problems. So it is often wise to step back when your child is struggling with a task. For instance, you might allow your 9-month-old to fumble with his shape sorter rather than helping him get every shape in the right hole. When children master challenges on their own, they develop new skills and a stronger belief in their abilities.
Offer meaningful help.
Though children need to do things on their own, there is a point at which adults should step in. But that doesn't mean you should complete the task for your child. If he is frustrated with a task, guide him toward a solution. If he can't get his block tower to stand, place a block in his hand and guide it to the correct place. He'll gain a sense of accomplishment as well as learning how to complete the task at hand.

Step 4: Promote Independence

When your child was a tiny infant, she was so dependent on you that she assumed the two of you were one person. But by the time she reached 6 or 7 months of age, she became increasingly aware of her individuality and began to demonstrate a natural drive to become more independent of you. As she gains the ability to feed herself, walk unassisted, or pull off her own socks, she feels more powerful. Here's how to help your child declare her independence.
Let her explore her world freely.
Baby proof your home from top to bottom and encourage your little one to crawl from room to room, unearth treasures from drawers, and discover just how exciting the view from beneath the coffee table can be. There's nothing more satisfying to a baby than realizing she can discover and have a real effect on the world on her own. If your child wanders into unfamiliar or unsafe territory, resist the urge to shout "Don't go there!" Instead, distract her with an interesting toy. Overreacting will frighten a baby and discourage her from future exploration.
Help him help himself.
A 6-month-old can't maneuver a spoon into a jar of baby food and bring it to his mouth, but he can scoop a bit of banana off his snack tray and feed himself. Taking the time to make everyday tasks kid-friendly encourages your baby to try to do things on his own and cuts down on frustration.
Toddlers in particular benefit from taking on new responsibilities, as their every move is based on doing things for themselves. Does your 2-year-old always want to pour his own juice? Put some into a small creamer or individual carton and let him fill his own cup.
Expose your child to new experiences whenever you can.
The more exposure your child has to new people, places, and experiences, the better equipped he will be to navigate the world on his own. He'll begin to understand that the skills he learned at home apply elsewhere, so he'll adapt more easily to unfamiliar environments and explore them by himself.
Remember, the world is fresh and exciting to young children, so going to a recently opened diner for breakfast or simply going to see the animals in the window of a local pet store for the first time holds as much appeal for them as an exotic vacation to a foreign country you've never visited would for you.
Another boon for your child's developing independence is introducing him to other adults and encouraging him to form loving bonds with others. Spending time away from you with caregivers, grandparents, and close friends demonstrates to your child that his needs can be met outside of his own comfortable home; eventually, the larger world becomes a manageable, friendly place he's eager to discover on his own.
Of course, encouraging your child's self-confidence can be challenging; it means your little baby is growing up and tackling things by himself. But of all the gifts you can give your child, self-confidence is one of the most lasting and valuable there is.

Resume Writing Guidelines

Try to keep your resume to one page; two pages at the most. Don’t beat around the bush. Make an excellent first impression.

Be factual, Accurate and Specific
Give relevant, truthful facts and measurable results or achievements. Be specific and give examples.
Be positive and Sell Yourself
Put strongest statement at the top. Stress accomplishments.
Write, Re-write and Polish
Have someone else to proofread for mistake. Ask at least two other people to give you their opinions about whether this resume sell you. Double check dates and facts. Ensure punctuation marks are correct and their proper places. Use sample terms rather than complex expressions.
Be Neat and Attractive
Don’t let it look too crowded; use underlines, capital letters or different type styles for emphasis. Margins should be approximately one-inch on each side. Keep the page balanced on all margins. Single space within sections and double space between sections. Use high quality bond paper, 8 ½ “11”, white or light, colored paper is the best.
Note: Remember, a crowded, cluttered, error-laden resume is a big TURN-OFF!

Resume Pointers

The following is a list of items that should NOT be included in a resume.

Pictures
Personal Data
- such as age, race, sex, religion, weight, health, marital status or number of dependents. This information could screen you out of interviews and jobs.
Salary Information
- this subject should come up when you have been offered employment. However, make sure you are prepared for this subject by researching the current wage for similar positions.
Reasons for leaving previous jobs
- this information could be open to misinterpretation and is best discussed at the interview.
Problems
- such as divorce, hospitalization, health or handicaps.
References or relatives
- references can be listed on a separate sheet in case they are requested.
Personal pronouns
- avoid using the words “I” or “me” in your resume. Use short action-oriented phrases instead of using complete sentences.
Ex. Supervised up to 20 warehouse employees. Able to motivate employees and handle controversy.
Using words you are not familiar with.
Inconsistencies in punctuation.
Using more than two fonts.
Examples of how to use the above action verbs to describe your accomplishments in a more complete, professional way:

Instead of saying “made new spreadsheets using Excel, “say” created (or designed) new spreadsheets in Excel for accounts receivable.

Instead of saying “put together a training n=manual for my job, “say” assembled a written training manual administrative assistants in my division.”

Instead of saying “figured out why equipment keeps breaking down, “say” developed recommendations for reducing failures.”

Do sit up straight, maintain good eye-contact, lean slightly forward in your chair. Be sincere and polite.

Get information about the company/organization ahead of time to show your interest.

Sell your qualifications rather than your need for the job.

Do answer interview questions completely.

Do be aware of the effect you are having on the interviewer.

How Do You Know He is in Love


No men can hide his feelings when he is in love. He leaves trails behind and exude signs that give away his state of heart.....

You start thinking about the future and she's in it: It used to be that future with a woman meant your date on Saturday night. Not only do you plan to see her this weekend, but you want to see her a year from now as well.

Other priorities take a back seat: You used to train religiously, but lately, if she's free for dinner; you don't mind missing a workout.

You don't mind compromising sometimes: There was a time when it was your way or the highway, but with her it's different. You don't mind missing a night out with the guys to be with her. And you find yourself trying to incorporate her into your plans or alerting them to accommodate her.

You love spending time with her: You look forward to seeing her, and don't care much about what the two of you will be doing. Lately, just going for a walk with her sounds like the best way you could possibly spend an evening.

You don't notice other women as much: Although you can't help noticing a beautiful woman when one walks by, when you're in love, some of them tend to slip under the radar, while others just pale in comparison to her.

You have great chemistry: You can't be in love with someone that you have no chemistry with. If you seem to always be on the same wavelength, and think in similar ways, that's a great sign.
You find her quirks charming: The fact that she carries her passport with her everywhere she goes, fills you with an inexplicable feeling of happiness.

You care about her: When you're in love with a woman, you want to know all about her: who she is, what she thinks, what makes her laugh.

You can't stop thinking about her: She just pops into your head for no apparent reason, and you wonder if she thinks of you half as much as you think of her. You wonder what she's up to and even consider calling her.

You've forgotten your ex: Ever since you met this new girl, the thought of getting back together with your ex is the furthest thing in your mind. You barely recall what you found so great about her in the first place.

Food as Medicine

Some foods can be a good medicine. Here are some food that could bring cure to some of your ailment...
1. HEADACHE? EAT FISH!Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

2. HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

3. TO PREVENT STROKE, DRINK TEA!Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. Tea helps suppress appetite and keeps the pounds from invading. Green tea is great for our immune system!

4. INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP)? GET SOME HONEY!Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

5. ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

6. ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. Fish has omega oils that is good for our immune system.

7. UPSET STOMACH? EAT SOME BANANAS & GINGER!Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

8. BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

9. BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.
10. MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

11. COLDS? EAT GARLIC!Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. Garlic lowers cholesterol, too.

12. COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution --- it can irritate your tummy.

13. BREAST CANCER? EAT WHEAT, BRAN & CABBAGE!Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

14. LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE VEGGIES!A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

15. ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

16. DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment as well.)

17. CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO! Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

18. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

19. BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

20. Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

21. Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

22. Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. Actually, any berry is good for you. They are high in anti-oxidants and they can actually keep us young. Blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field. They get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies.

23. Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

24. Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium. Watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn UV rays.

25. Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation.

26. Papaya: It is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. Also good for gas and indigestion.
Tomatoes: These are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

Study Skills

The majority of college success is due to motivation and time management. Anyone who tells you that they can get through college without studying, or that they make great grades without studying is pulling your leg. Success in college takes effort.
This means that if you want to do well you must be willing to set aside time to study. You may have to sacrifice at times. However, effective time management will allow adequate time for school as well as a social life or free time to do the activities that you most enjoy.

I have ideas and tools that will help you manage your time more wisely.

I. Motivation

Motivation is the key to success in school. Although we can provide you with some helpful hints to enhance motivation, we cannot motivate students. You are responsible for your study habits, for seeking resources and assistance, and for managing your time. You have to want to do well enough to put forth the effort.

II. Problem Areas

1. Not studying enough
2. Wasting time when studying (Have you ever read 2 or 3 pages of material only to discover that you cannot remember any of the material that you have just read?)
3. Having trouble getting ready to study ("Before I study my laundry must be done, the bathroom must be clean, I need to have all of my errands run, etc.")
4. Finding a good place for studying.
5. Using a good learning strategy.

III. Suggestions

The following suggestions will help you avoid these problems
1. SET UP A SCHEDULE. Allocate more time for the most difficult classes. Make sure that you allot time for recreation and social activities. (You need to reward yourself for your hard work!) And follow your schedule.
2. START STUDYING FOR 10-15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND THEN BUILD UP TO LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. Most study skills programs suggest reading for 10-15 minute increments your freshman year, 20 minutes your sophomore year, 25 minutes your junior year, 30 minutes your senior year and 45 minutes to an hour in graduate school. So, work towards reading for longer periods of time. Just remember to be realistic. If you can no longer concentrate or remember what you have read, stop. There's no sense in wasting your valuable time.
3. TAKE BREAKS. Take breaks when studying. The average attention span for one task is approximately 20 minutes.
4.DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CRAM! Study small portions of material, take a break and then study some more. We retain a great deal more if we learn in small manageable portions, than when we attempt to learn a great deal of information at once. Make these breaks mandatory. Even if you are enjoying your reading or studying, take some breaks. You do not want to get burned out.
5. REWARD YOURSELF. Reward yourself for studying, learning a difficult concept, or completing a project. Go to a movie, spend time with your friends, or do the things you put off in order to study. This reinforces your behavior. You are more likely to study again and concentrate if you know there is a reward at the end of completing a task.
6. FIND A GOOD LOCATION. Where you study can influence your concentration and your study habits as well. Make sure you are comfortable, but not too comfortable. Sitting at a desk is preferable to lying in bed.
7. USE THE SAME PLACE FOR STUDYING. This will help you associate that particular location with studying and will facilitate concentration.
8. MAKE SURE IT IS A QUIET PLACE. Seeking a quiet well-lit study area is equally important. A radio blaring in the background, a stereo blaring next door, and the sounds of an interesting conversation are but a few of the factors that can disturb a study area.
9. ELIMINATE THE OBVIOUS DISTRACTIONS. Some of the more common distractions are telephone calls or friends and family stopping by to chat. Put up the newspapers, magazines, and unfinished projects. Even the sight of a textbook from another class can serve as a reminder of how far behind you are in another class, causing you to waste time worrying. Once you become aware of these simple distractions, you can eliminate them and improve your study skills. 10. REMEMBER THAT MEMORY IS "CONTEXT DEPENDENT." Studying in a physical situation similar to the one in which you will be tested increases your chances to recall information. (This is another reason why studying in bed does not work!) Make your studying situation as similar as possible to the testing situation. When possible, go review your materials in the classroom. 11. MEMORY IS ALSO "STATE DEPENDENT." Studying in an emotional mood similar to the one you experience during tests increases your chances to recall studied information. When studying, keep the same focus and enhanced attention you have in your tests. Being too relaxed during your study time would not match the level of activation you reach during your tests. You need to increase your concentration and activation levels while studying to increase your chances to recall the studied material when tested. The reverse is applicable to tests. If you get too psyched-up or tensed-up during your tests, you will not be able to recall your material because your test mood state will not match your studying mood. This is the reason why it is so important to calm down in a testing situation. The Relaxation screen of the Counseling Center Help Screen provides a relaxation technique.

IV. Increase Your Reading Effectiveness.

The following are two effective methods for reading text material. Choose the one that is best for you.
1. SQ4R Method:
a. SURVEY: Briefly survey the chapter. Read the authors' headings. Your aim here is not to go into detail but to develop a general idea of the structure. This will prepare you for what you are going to read and grasp a general understanding of the chapter. Read any summary. This will remind you of what is important throughout the chapter. This step helps you to get acquainted with the chapter.
b. QUESTION: Think about the material as you are reading. Ask yourself questions about it. These questions will serve to keep you more involved with what you are reading. This will keep you focused on the more important material without becoming overwhelmed by details. Try formulating questions as if you were the professor making up the test. This accomplishes 2 tasks; one, it facilitates concentration and two, it helps you prepare for the test.
c. READ: Read carefully and try to answer questions you have asked yourself. Remember you read a text differently than you read a novel. A novel is read passively. Textbook reading requires more concentration and retention. Read actively with involvement. This increases your understanding of the material. If you become tired or distracted, stop reading. Remember, your job here is not to cover a number of pages, but to "dig in". During this step, avoid reading aloud to yourself. Instead, read silently as this is much faster.
d. WRITE: After you have answered a question, write the answer down. Sum up information in your own words. Restructure the information so that it makes the most sense to you.
e. RECITE: Recite to yourself what you have read. Recall main headings and ideas. Be sure to put ideas in your own words as this will improve your ability to retain the material. Answer questions aloud and listen to your responses to see if they are complete and correct. If they are not correct, re-read the material and answer the question again. This form of rehearsal increases the likelihood that you will retain the material.
f. REVIEW: Reviewing is the key to figuring out what you know and what you need to concentrate on. The best times to review are right after reading while the material is still fresh on your mind and again before the test. Try to summarize major points in the chapter. And answer questions you posed to yourself while reading.

V. Improve Your Memory

Some students find that using particular memorization tactics can improve their memory. Here are a few of the popular memorization strategies.
Acrostics: Acrostics are phrases or poems in which the first letter of each word or line functions as a cue to help you recall the words that you are trying to remember. One popular example is the phrase "Every good boy does fine". This acrostic is used to remember the order of musical notes on a musical scale.
Acronyms: Acronyms are words formed out of the first letters of a series of words you are trying to remember. A popular acronym is "Roy G. Biv" which is used to remember the order of colors of the spectrum (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet).
Narrative: Some find making up a story with the lists of words throughout the narrative aids retention.
Rhymes: Remember the phrase "i before e except after c"? You probably remember this well because it is a rhyme. Rhyming can enhance retention as well.
Imagery: There are two methods of imagery which enhance retention of material.

One involves LINKING items together visually in your mind. For example, if you have a list of groceries such as cereal, milk, toilet paper and tangerines, you might try visualizing a dairy cow eating cereal under a tangerine tree wrapped in toilet paper. Believe it or not the more bizarre the image, the more likely you are to remember it.

The second method is called the METHOD OF LOCI. This involves taking an imaginary walk in your mind through a familiar path along which you associate items you are trying to remember. For example, you may take the same grocery list and place the items (visually in your imagination) throughout your room. The tangerine may be the doorknob as you open the room, the cereal appears on the TV, the milk is hanging from the ceiling fan and you may envision a large roll of toilet paper in place of the chair at your desk.

VII. Some General Study Hints

1. BE AWARE OF THE "INTERFERENCE" PHENOMENON. When memorizing, also keep in mind that interference can occur. In fact, learning new material can interfere or cause you to forget old material. Try to memorize material for each class on a different day. This is also why it helps to review the night before, or a few hours before, the test. You have less chance of other information interfering with the acquisition of the test material.
2. GO TO CLASS. Attendance is crucial. Studies have found a positive correlation between class attendance and grades. In fact the higher the attendance rate, the higher your grades are likely to be. Most professors believe that their lecture material is important. If you miss class you miss what is important to the professor; hence, what is most likely to end up on the test.
3. PARTICIPATE IN CLASS. In order to learn more in class it helps to become involved by participating in class discussions. Asking questions for clarification and maintaining eye contact with your professor can increase your involvement and enhance concentration of the class discussion. Use active listening skills. This means hearing what your professor is saying and trying to anticipate what he or she is going to say next. One other hint: if your course material is difficult be sure to read the material prior to class. This may help you understand and follow more closely.
4. IF YOU NEED TO MISS A CLASS. If you have to miss class, let your professor know. It is very helpful to have a reliable classmate from whom you can get the notes. Exchange phone numbers so that you can rely on each other for notes in case of an emergency.
5. TAKE GOOD NOTES. Proper note taking skills can facilitate understanding of lecture material. Don't be a human tape recorder! Try not to write everything down. Be concise and sum up lecture material in your own words whenever possible. Write down unfamiliar terms. Review your notes as soon after class as possible. You can fill in details that you missed and review the material while it is still fresh on your mind.
6. USE YOUR TEXTBOOK. Some professors follow the book closely. In this case it may be helpful to take the book to class and highlight important topics or terms and write notes in the margins.
7. TALK TO YOUR PROFESSOR. If you are struggling in your class, talk to your professor. He or she may be able to assist you or send you in the right direction to get the resources you need. However, do not wait until the last minute. Most professors have little sympathy for students who become concerned about failing during the last few weeks of the semester.
8. FORM OR JOIN A STUDY GROUP. Get study groups together. Chose those students who seem interested in the class. Make sure everyone is familiar with the material before meeting as you do not want to spend time re-teaching material to someone who has not learned the material. It helps if these study groups serve to review material already learned or to clarify problem areas. Make sure everyone is motivated. Beware! Sometimes groups can become chatting sessions, just make sure you all remember your purpose: to learn class material. After the test, reward yourselves with pizza and conversation.
9. START AT THE BEGINNING. Start studying from the first day. Be ahead in the reading material.
10. KEEP UP IN AN ORGANIZED FASHION. Some classes require more work or effort than others. For example, math and foreign language are subjects which require daily work. Because these classes require knowledge of basic material which then builds, if you don't keep up you'll be lost.