Good Study Habits

It will help you in your college career to develop good study habits. The first thing you need to do is take responsibility for your actions. You are the only one who can decide your priorities and how to use your time and resources.
Don't allow yourself to become distracted by friends and fellow students. Keep in mind the bigger picture. Know what you have to do and when it needs to be done. Keep your goals in mind. Don't let other people influence you into not doing your work.
Figure out your most productive times of the day. If you study best in the morning, plan to study your hardest subjects first. If you have trouble concentrating at a certain time, don't get out your hardest subjects or your most complex project.
If you do not understand the course material, try some innovative ways to learn it. Don't just keep rereading the material in hopes that you will eventually understand it. Ask your instructor for help. If your school has study sessions and peer tutors, take advantage of these offerings. Set up study groups within your class.
When you put your best effort in your work, then you have succeeded. If you are satisfied with what you have done and know that you have done your best, then your grade is the icing on the cake. Always give your best in the classroom and in study sessions. By doing so, you will know that you have tried.

Reading Comprehension Tips

It is important to remember that different types of materials are read at different speeds. A novel is faster reading than a textbook. Time yourself at the beginning of a semester after reading one chapter of your textbook. That will give you an idea of how long you need to plan to study throughout the year.
Take a look at the first chapter of the book. Scan over the material, reading the first sentence in each topic or paragraph. Check out the notes and the diagrams. Look at the nouns and verbs rather than the extra words. Find the main concepts first.
When reading to comprehend, read the text first then go back to take notes. Go over the section and number or list the important ideas. It may be helpful to underline or use a highlighter for important ideas. If you have questions, mark these in the test. That way you can ask your teacher or in class. It is a good idea to find a way to compare your reading, yours notes and any audiovisual or internet materials in order to better understand the text.
One method of reading comprehension is called the SQ3R Method. This means the following: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. Once again, read over the material and ask yourself questions about it as you read. Once you read, look for the answers. Pay close attention to graphics and diagrams for extra information. Recite the information that you chose or the questions that you have. Review. Go back through the information at several different points of time.

Problem Solving

Problems, academic or social, may be challenging. You can have problems at home, problems at work and problems at school. You may have problems assigned to you as a project. The process for solving these problems applies to every scenario.

In order to solve a problem, it helps to keep your mind flexible and open. It may be necessary to step back and look at the problem from a different angle to understand it and to get the best solution.
The most important step is defining the problem. If you don't understand the problem, it will be next to impossible to solve it. Try to isolate the problem. Don't let other factors that are not pertinent to the problem enter into the definition. Sometimes you may not have enough information to define the problem. If this is the case, then you need to gather all the information that you need regarding the problem.
Make sure that you get all the pertinent information you can. Even if you don't use it, the information may be helpful with another problem later. You need to do research, check studies, and see experts. Look at past and present events that may affect the problems. Remember to isolate true evidence - facts - from personal opinion and bias.
The next step to solving the problem is to look at different solutions. See which ones are feasible and which are not. Try to look at the problem from several different angles. Then you need to decide which solutions have the most value. It helps to rank the values.
From the list of ranked solutions, choose the best solution that you can see. Be prepared for success, but be ready with another option if the solution doesn't work. You should always have a "Plan B" waiting.
Remember that as long as you have tried your hardest to come up with a good solution, then you have succeeded. The process involved in problem solving is as important as the outcome.

Self Discipline

Self-discipline provides the opportunity to improve your performance and your thinking. It is important to practice self-discipline in order to accomplish your goals. Don't think of self-discipline as deprivation; think of it as a way to improve your life.
Learn how to schedule your priorities. Set small tasks at different times of the day. Do the tasks at the scheduled time. This will allow you to stay focused on your priorities. It is a good idea to keep a list of what you have done. You can refer to this list when you want to chart your progress, or if you are getting discouraged.
Even though it may sound boring, you need to develop a routine. Stay with that routine. Practice the action at the scheduled time of day. Once you have a routine, things start to become a habit. Time management is another route to follow. Break down tasks into smaller segments, so you will see accomplish each day.
It helps to schedule your day, your week and your month. It helps to have a "to-do" list for top priority items. Decide which items are most important and work on the most important ones first. Once you decide on a task, keep at it until the task becomes a habit.
Don't let yourself get discouraged if you do not succeed at all your goals. Take them slowly. Give yourself positive feedback even if you don't get something accomplished.
It will help if you have a friend or mentor to guide you and give you tips. If you have another person to talk to about your efforts, you will get feedback as to how they are perceived.

Textbook Reading

Reading a textbook will be easier if you get organized before reading. Check out the title to see if you know anything about the topic. It may be a good idea to write down what you know or do not know about the topic. Talk to students and others about what you read. Ask questions about what you do not know and want answers to before you read the chapters. It is a good idea to share your knowledge with others to see what else you can learn.

It is a good idea to look at the graphics and pictures in a textbook and read underneath them to get an idea of the material. Include charts, graphs and tables in this category. Looking at these may spawn new ideas. If you do not know the words used in the textbook, keep a dictionary handy. Take a look at all the headings in the chapter for an idea as to what is important.
Taking notes from the textbook will help a student learn. Read over the material once, but don't take any notes. Try to understand the material. If you take notes the first time you read, you will probably take too many.
After reading the information the first time, go back and find the main ideas. Once you do this, take the information and put it in your own words. Put this information in your notebook for future study. Add any details needed to understand the information.
Once you write it down, read over it and decide if you understand what you wrote. If not, go back and look over the textbook.

Concentration Tips

The art or practice of concentration is to eliminate distraction and focus on the task at hand. If you find that you read through material and suddenly discover that you have no idea about what you've just read, or if you attend lectures and have difficulty paying attention to what is being said, these tips may help:

• Stick to a routine, efficient study schedule
• Study in a quiet environment
• For a study break, do something different from what you've been doing (e.g., walk around if you've been sitting), and in a different area
• Avoid daydreaming by asking yourself questions about the material as you study it
• Before lectures, look over the notes of the previous lecture and read the course material pertaining to the lecture so that you can anticipate the main ideas that the instructor will cover
• Show outward interest during lectures (attentive expression and posture) to self-motivate internal interest
• Resist distractions by sitting in front of the room away from disruptive classmates and by focusing on the instructor through listening and note taking

Vocabulary Building

A good vocabulary is crucial to academic success. You will become a better student as you increase your word power. As you increase your vocabulary, you increase your reading ability that in turn should improve your critical thinking skills. A good vocabulary is the basis of understanding what you read and learn.
Memorization of lists is one of the most accepted ways of learning vocabulary. This is a good exercise for short term studying, but you often do not retain the information that you have learned for a particular class or test. Memorization is good for standardized testing.
You can often figure out the meaning of the word from reading in context. Read through the entire paragraph to see if you can get a meaning of the word. Figure out what the reading is exploring and try to learn the word.
The best way to learn a definition and to remember a word is to look it up the dictionary. Find the word, sound it out and spell it. Notice the syllables in the word. Read all the definitions listed. Always keep a dictionary on hand during your college career.
Another method of learning vocabulary is similar to concept mapping. Have a blank sheet of paper and put the word that you are trying to learn and remember in the center of the page. In another box, write down a description of the word. Be sure to keep the description short. Draw two columns. In one, list items that describe or would help you to remember the word. In the other column, write down examples that would be similar to the word. By using all these mapping tools, your chances of remembering a word are much higher

Test Taking

Essay Tests

An essay test measures your knowledge of the subject, your ability to communicate and your organizational skills. Study for an essay test the same you would study for any test. It may help to write out summaries as you study.
When you get the test, look over all the questions and set up a time frame to answer them. Give priorities to questions that carry more credit. Time yourself as you do each question, so you will answer some of every through. Read the question carefully and answer what is asked. Make sure that you follow the instructions and watch for words such as compare, criticize, and define. Put the question in your words in order to give yourself an idea of how to answer it.
Think about what you need to write. It may help to jot down a broad outline. Make sure that your main point is easily visible to your instructor. Write with clarity and with brevity. An essay test does not need to be cluttered with extra information or useless adjectives, adverbs or prepositions. State your point and your answer clearly.
Make sure that each paragraph in the essay test has a point and a clarification of that point. Use transitional devices to connect the paragraphs to each other. Be sure to have a summary or concluding paragraph wrapping up your main points.
Give yourself enough time to read back over your answer. Make any corrections that are needed. Check your spelling, punctuation, grammar, dates, formulas and tabulations.

Oral Tests

Oral tests become more common as your college career progresses. During an oral test, both your knowledge of a subject and your communication skills are being evaluated. Oral tests may take place in front of one person, a panel or a class.

Formal oral tests usually follow a list of questions. You know how to answer the question. You should not give out any extra information unless you have asked. During informal tests, you can give longer responses with more information. When you study for an oral test, be sure you are prepared. Ask your teacher for information as to what is expected on the test. Study what is suggested. Make sure you know the correct time, date and location of the exam. If you are using any visual aids, double check to be sure all the equipment is in place.
Dress for the test and act professionally. Be on time or early. Act as if the test begins when you walk into the room. Stay focused on the question, and do not give out too much information. If you do not know the answer, say so. It may help if you give an outline of the process you would use to find the answer. Do not acknowledge your nervousness.
When the test over, go over your strengths and weaknesses. Think about how you could improve your performance.

Math Help

Algebraic Problems

Algebraic problems become easy to solve if a simple system is used and followed. In order to solve the algebraic problem, you need to process functions in a certain order to arrive at the right answer. The functions that need to be in order are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
A simple acronym has been developed to help students solve algebraic problems. The acronym is as follows: B.O.D.M.A.S. This stands for the following: Bracket , of, division,multiplication , Addition, and Subtraction.
The first function to perform in an algebraic problem is to solve the operations listed in the parenthesis. Next settle the exponents. The next process is multiplication and division. You need to work from left to right. The last function is addition and subtraction. You need to work from left to right with these functions also. Always be sure to work from left to right.
Remember that you are working to get one answer on one side of an equal sign. All of the functions work toward this point. Derivative word problems are easily solved by going through the text and extracting the relevant numeric information. The purpose of finding the derivative in a word problem is so you will know the slope of the line on a graph, the point of inflection or the rate of change of the graph. Isolate out the equation in a word problem to get the derivative.

Math Exams

Taking math examinations can be made easier by keeping up with your homework. Do the problems as they are assigned. Math usually builds from one problem or chapter to the next. If you understand the first step, you can start to understand the next one. Be sure to pay attention in class. Not paying attention will lead to much more time spent studying.
Try to get into a study group with several other students. By talking about the problems, you can find out how well you know them. Have an idea of what to expect from your teacher. Either find old tests or talk to others who have had the professor. Time yourself while doing your homework to see if you are ready for a test situation.
When you get your test, look over the entire document. Get an idea of what is being asked so you can set priorities as to which problems need the most attention.
Make sure that you read the instructions. Not doing what is asked is one of the most common ways to miss test questions. If you write out your work on one paper then copy it on the test, recheck it to make sure that you have written out each step correctly. Make sure that you do not skip a step in solving a problem. When using a calculator, be sure to go back and redo the numbers. You can easily punch in a wrong number, but the odds that you will do it twice are not as high.
When taking your test, if you get to a problem or an area of problems that give you trouble, go on to the next section. You can always go back to the problem after you have completed the others. Never turn in a test paper without going over your work again.

Solving Linear Equations and Word Problems

A linear equation is defined as a mathematical component that uses linear expressions that perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with an equal sign. A variable, which represents a number you don't know, is present in a linear equation. Often the variable is represented by the letters "x" or "y".
In order to solve a mathematical linear equation, you must separate the variable to one side of the equation and solve the other side. To get the final answer, you may need to use several mathematical functions on both sides of the equal sign. Always remember to go back and check your work. In order to do this, you need to work the problem back through the same steps.
A mathematical word problem needs to be solved by translating the words into a numeric equation then by solving it. You need to be aware of key words that indicate if addition, subtraction, division and multiplication are needed. In order to solve a mathematical word problem, you need to read the problem carefully. Go ahead and list the information. Figure out the numeric expressions that you need and decide what to find.
It will help you solve the problem by working in an organized manner. Make sure that you track each step of the process. Don't skip any step and write down all your information. Mathematical word problems will contain certain words that are important to the solving of the problem. Some of the words include the following: per, "a", less than, quotient/ratio of, difference between/of.

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Quotes for Success

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"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."–Dale Carnegie

"Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand."–– Bruce Barton

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success." – Thomas J. Watson

"The successful always has a number of projects planned, to which he looks forward. Anyone of them could change the course of his life overnight.” –Mark Caine

“There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning.” - Christopher Morley 

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