A big part of the Scripps experience is interdisciplinary learning which takes the form of various general education (GE) requirements. As a Politics major, the requirement that I was dreading the most was: natural science with a lab. To curb some of my fears – I followed the advice of my classmates and friends and took a class that I was promised was going to be easy. The class in question was Introduction to Elementary Astronomy, and it was not easy.
As a seminar class learner and essay writer by major, I was not thrilled to listen to lectures, do quiz-based homeworks, complete math assignments, and take exams worth 70% of my grade. However, now that I am half-way through, I have some study tips and advice that I can offer. These study tips are centered around preparing for exams and midterms.
1. Start early!
As a chronic procrastinator I am used to putting everything off until the absolute last minute, but when it comes to reviewing and studying for an exam please make sure that you do not do that. I usually begin studying a week in advance to ensure that I can understand all the concepts completely (especially the ones that are more mathy).
2. Study groups
The number one thing that gets my body in the library and my head in the books is a good study group. Find friends in the class, make friends in the class, find people who need someone to study with, just find someone. Studying with another person is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Additionally, it makes the task so much more doable and allows you guys to share concerns, notes, and explanations.
3. Treat yourself
Nothing gets me studying like a nice coffee that I can sip while I work. So go to that cute cafe, get that coffee, and if you’re feeling it – add that extra shot of espresso or get that cold foam or whipped cream.
4. What to review?
Ideally most of the material – but if you are in a time crunch then always make sure to go over any study guides the professor shared with you, practice tests, and the homework assignments. If you have the time, go over your lecture notes, any slideshows made available to you, and the summaries in the back of your course textbook.
5. Sleep!
Make sure you are getting good consistent sleep not just before the exam but also leading up to it. A lack of sleep will negatively impact your cognitive abilities – it’s also just bad for your health. No amount of review will be worth it if you accidentally sleep through your exam or show up so sleep deprived that you end up with a migraine.
Remember! Your professors are there to help you – so talk to them and ask them for help if you need it.
Happy studying !