I was going
to make this a single post. But, I’ve been adding to it for three months now,
so I’m just going to make this a series of blog posts to introduce and prepare
you for college at Mizzou next year.
Now, don't
think this means you've got it easy. I had to learn all of these thing (and
much, much more) and I think that's part of the experience. As I look back on
my year, I joke with my friends that all I learned in college was how to
procrastinate and B.S. But also, I think you learn to learn...which is
probably the most valuable, under-appreciated skill that most people don't even
recognize is happening. So that's really what this letter is about, learning.
Not just boring ol' school stuff; be ready to learn from your mistakes and
learn from your friends. Cheesy, I know. But even after I tell you these
things, you'll still have a lot to learn. LOVE that experience. It makes you
better prepared for the real world...I hope?
The
following posts will teach you how to learn from various mistakes and
situations that will arise over the next four years of your life. As you’ll
see, they are quite detailed.
HOW TO
LEARN FROM...
...Your
first bombed test.
Turns out,
high school was kind of joke. Apparently in college, they want you to like READ
textbooks (and they want you to read a LOT of them) and study your notes
and heaven-forbid, apply what you learned in a comprehensive essay question!
Here is what I (try) to do:
a - Attend
class. It's harder than you think. And just sitting in class while Pinning
every cute outfit doesn't count, though God knows I spend most of my time doing
that. You really need to be engaged to learn. But, you'll learn how to make up
for it when you aren't.
b - Find a
friend in your class, or make one. You are going to miss class or mishear your
foreign professor and it really helps to have an extra set of notes when you
start making your study guide. You don't have to be besties, you just need to
know that you can both benefit from the other and take advantage of that.
c - Take
good notes. First thing you're going to learn is about Word Notebook Layout.
It's kind of a fancy way to take notes organized with tabs and in a simple outline
format. Bonus, you can record audio...though, I've never needed it. I don't
necessarily worry about taking notes in their best form, just focus on being
sure you have all the information and keep on top of when you miss notes.
d - Do the
readings? I'm gonna be honest with you. I have probably read a total of like 4
inches (mom will appreciate this measurement) worth of textbooks. I've probably
been assigned like 4 feet of textbooks. You just have to learn to skim. When
you're in a hurry, skip the stories or example of concepts you already
understand. They say to do the readings before class, but if you wait and do it
after, you can use the lecture notes as a kind of guide to understanding what
you really need to know. Because that's what every professor will tell you: You
need to come to lecture and do all the readings, but it's the over-lap that
will be on the test. If they say it class and you read it in the book, know it.
e – Know when
exams are coming. It’s good to know that exams come in groups. You’ll hear the
term “First Rounds” used to define the week of the semester when you have the
first exam in most of your classes. Sometimes they’re on the same day, which is
a bummer, but even so, you’ll make it work. Most classes have three exams and a
final. Or just three exams, with the third being during finals week, but not
over cumulative material. This being said, it helps to write each of your tests,
for each of your classes in your planner as soon as you know the dates
(provided in the syllabus). Then, look ahead to upcoming weeks so you can plan
to prepare for tests. If you have two tests in one day and another the next
day, you need to put in a little more preparation time and be sure you don’t
make other obligation for that week.
f - Make a
study guide. These aren't like high school study guides, and depending on the
class, you may not even get one. But most classes will give you some kind of
guide listing the key concepts you'll need to understand. Then, I go through my
notes and textbooks plugging in all the required information. This is when I
focus on the organization. I actually love making study guides. I have often
thought I would accept payment to turn other student's notes into SGs. But, if
you'll notice. I like to use my own outline form. I find lists are easiest to
memorize (or "learn" as professors think we should be doing). As I'm
creating the SG, I focus on putting everything into words that I understand,
not just what the professor says exactly.
g - Study.
UGH, the worst. Two ways to do this: 1) team up with that friend I told you to
make at the beginning of the semester, or 2) be self-motivated and study solo.
I like to take a highlighter to the SG as a walk through it the first time: one
color for the term, another for the definition; one color for the title of the
list, another for the listed items. Then I just go...
**When you
know you will have comprehensive essay questions, it is most beneficial (and
kind of annoying) and essential to practice writing out your answers. Determine
what you think the essay questions will be, and write out your answer over and
over until you can do it by hear. Practice using the terminology that you KNOW
professors will want you to use, too!
Yeah, but
where should I study? Great question, Bec!
Top Five
MIZZOU Study Spots:
1. The
basement of the Student Center (also good for between-class, on-campus napping)
2. A single
desk, down a secluded aisle, in a quiet section of Ellis Library
3. Sorority
study room (depending on the house I'm sure)
4. Upstairs
in the Student Center after 5:00 p.m. (if you have a friend who can get you in)
5. The
study rooms in the Res Halls (dorms, they call them Resident Halls here)
h - To cram
or not to cram? Whether or not you want to, you will. But what's important is that you
still find time to get a little sleep before the actual test. Interestingly
enough, after running on 24 hours straight I think you'll find there is too
much sleep. Weird. I know. But I find that three hours is enough so that you
feel kind of rested, but not exhausted. It's something you'll figure out for
yourself though.
i - Test
time... Most are multiple choice, scantron, luckily. But sometimes you get a
essay questions, as I addressed before. As much as you just want to pile
everything you know into the answer and hope you've hit the answer somewhere,
it is best to think for a minute as to what you really think the professor
wants you to say. Sounds like something they would warn you against, but it's
actually a good trick to help you keep your answers focused on one point. Don't
forget to use those terms you practiced when you were studying!
But, your
first bombed test isn’t the end of the world. And unfortunately, it’s probably
not the last test you’ll bomb over the years. But there are always other exams
and assignments that you can make up points with, and that’s just what you’ll
figure out as you go. Most classes post grades pretty religiously to
Blackboard, so you can monitor yourself throughout the semester and know if you
are going to need to put in a little more work.
Tests aren't fun, but you’ll survive them!
Good luck learning!
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