Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D. Associate Dean College of Science

Commitment Commitment Investment of Time Investment of Time Hard Work Hard Work Balance Balance Utilization of Resources Utilization of Resources Sacrifice Sacrifice Assertive Assertive

Dental School, Medical School, Veterinary School, Allied Health, etc. Dental School, Medical School, Veterinary School, Allied Health, etc. – 3.5/3.6 & competitive MCAT, DAT, etc. Graduate School Graduate School – 3.0 (emphasis on last 60 hours & competitive GRE Teaching Teaching – 2.5 & pass TExES exam

Multiply # hours registered for by hoped for GPA Multiply # hours registered for by hoped for GPA Examples: Examples: -15 hours x 4.0 = 60 hours*/week (45 hrs. min.) -15 hours x 3.5 = 52.5 hours*/week (37.5 hrs.) -15 hours x 3.0 = 45 hours*/week (30 hrs.)

BIOL 101 (3 hrs) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week BIOL 101 (3 hrs) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week BIOL 101 Lab (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week BIOL 101 Lab (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week CHEM 101 (3 hrs) x 3.0 = 9 hours per week CHEM 101 (3 hrs) x 3.0 = 9 hours per week CHEM 101 L (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week CHEM 101 L (1 hr.) x 4.0 = 4 hours per week HIST 101 (3 hrs.) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week HIST 101 (3 hrs.) x 4.0 = 12 hours per week MATH 101 (4 hours) x 3.0 = 12 hours per week MATH 101 (4 hours) x 3.0 = 12 hours per week ***attending SI’s and tutoring counts towards study hours

Monday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture Monday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture Tuesday – attend lecture and take excellent notes (use tape recorder, study buddy, etc. if necessary); review notes and fill in holes before the end of the day Tuesday – attend lecture and take excellent notes (use tape recorder, study buddy, etc. if necessary); review notes and fill in holes before the end of the day Wednesday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture; review Tuesday’s notes Wednesday – read textbook in preparation for tomorrow’s lecture; review Tuesday’s notes Thursday – attend lecture/take excellent notes and review notes and fill in holes before end of day; review Tuesday’s notes Thursday – attend lecture/take excellent notes and review notes and fill in holes before end of day; review Tuesday’s notes Friday – review notes Friday – review notes Saturday – review notes; write lab report, read for next lab* Saturday – review notes; write lab report, read for next lab*

Identify all time available for study Identify all time available for study Take advantage of breaks between classes, travel time, etc. to studyKeep a planner and note all assignments, tests, quizzes, assignments Take advantage of breaks between classes, travel time, etc. to studyKeep a planner and note all assignments, tests, quizzes, assignments Post games, travel and other fixed commitments Post games, travel and other fixed commitments

Write down times you commit to study 6 days per week Write down times you commit to study 6 days per week Choose times where you are mentally sharp Choose times where you are mentally sharp Remove distractions (cell phone, texting, facebook, certain friends, etc.) Remove distractions (cell phone, texting, facebook, certain friends, etc.) Cannot afford to travel every weekend Cannot afford to travel every weekend

Set aside one hour block of undisturbed time Set aside one hour block of undisturbed time First 5 minutes are to get organized and decide what you want to accomplish First 5 minutes are to get organized and decide what you want to accomplish Next 50 minutes are to study intently Next 50 minutes are to study intently Last 5 minutes are for break for food, bathroom, etc. Last 5 minutes are for break for food, bathroom, etc. If setting aside several hours, study different subjects (science, math, history) If setting aside several hours, study different subjects (science, math, history)

50% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 24 hours without review 50% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in 24 hours without review 80% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in two weeks 80% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in two weeks 95% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in four weeks 95% of what is heard in lecture is forgotten in four weeks Question: In General, how many weeks of lecture are there for an exam?

The number one factor in student success is attendance The number one factor in student success is attendance Sit in “T” zone – front row(s) and/or center of class. Avoid back rows. Make eye contact with professor, ask questions, see them after class (put up phone, laptop, ipod) Sit in “T” zone – front row(s) and/or center of class. Avoid back rows. Make eye contact with professor, ask questions, see them after class (put up phone, laptop, ipod) The number two factor in student success is good lecture notes The number two factor in student success is good lecture notes

Active listening – completely focused; well rested Active listening – completely focused; well rested Thorough notes – Outline, Cornell, Block Thorough notes – Outline, Cornell, Block Allow space to fill in holes and make something noticeable where you missed details so that you know you need to get information to make notes complete Allow space to fill in holes and make something noticeable where you missed details so that you know you need to get information to make notes complete Rewrite or retype notes, say them out loud Rewrite or retype notes, say them out loud Review them often Review them often

Professor Professor SI’s SI’s Tutors – on campus and private Tutors – on campus and private Graduate Assistants Graduate Assistants Study Groups Study Groups

Read no more than 10 pages at a time Read no more than 10 pages at a time If you highlight, be sure that you are highlighting a fraction of the information; if you highlight everything, what is the use If you highlight, be sure that you are highlighting a fraction of the information; if you highlight everything, what is the use Highlight from left to right, just as you read, and use pastel highlighters (underlining also works well) Highlight from left to right, just as you read, and use pastel highlighters (underlining also works well) Monitor comprehension (end of chapter questions) Monitor comprehension (end of chapter questions)

Budget at least 2 hours per day for 5 days prior to exam Budget at least 2 hours per day for 5 days prior to exam Start with oldest material first Start with oldest material first Review previous days work each day Review previous days work each day Save last day for review and to address areas you continue to struggle with Save last day for review and to address areas you continue to struggle with Active Study Strategies (ICOW – identify, condense, organize, write it out) Active Study Strategies (ICOW – identify, condense, organize, write it out)

Tuesday Ch. 1 2 hours Tuesday Ch. 1 2 hours Wednesday Ch. 22 hours Wednesday Ch. 22 hours Ch. 130 min. Thursday Ch hours Thursday Ch hours Ch. 230 min. Ch min. Friday Ch 41 hour Friday Ch 41 hour Ch. 330 min. Ch. 215 min. Ch. 110 min. Sunday Ch. 430 min. Sunday Ch. 430 min. Ch. 320 min. Ch. 210 min Ch. 110 min. Self-test1 hour

To reduce or eliminate test anxiety, BE PREPARED To reduce or eliminate test anxiety, BE PREPARED Carefully read and follow directions and all items on exam (“except”, “incorrect”, “best”) Carefully read and follow directions and all items on exam (“except”, “incorrect”, “best”) Pace yourself Pace yourself Skip questions you cannot easily answer, but make large mark to draw attention back to this question Skip questions you cannot easily answer, but make large mark to draw attention back to this question Use questions for clues Use questions for clues Recheck your answers Recheck your answers

Use notes when looking at items missed on exam Use notes when looking at items missed on exam If you could answer question with your notes, it indicates a study or preparation problem If you could answer question with your notes, it indicates a study or preparation problem If you cannot answer the question with your notes, it indicates a problem in the lecture class or keeping up with assigned readings If you cannot answer the question with your notes, it indicates a problem in the lecture class or keeping up with assigned readings

Calendar all commitments 2-3 weeks in advance of final exams Calendar all commitments 2-3 weeks in advance of final exams Know that you need a minimum of at least 5 days (5 day study plan) for each final exam Know that you need a minimum of at least 5 days (5 day study plan) for each final exam Push hard last 1-2 weeks of semester Push hard last 1-2 weeks of semester Evaluate needed grades and where to invest efforts Evaluate needed grades and where to invest efforts Attend all classes for possible reviews/hints Attend all classes for possible reviews/hints

Class A 82, 84, 83 Class A 82, 84, 83 Class B81, 76, 79 Class B81, 76, 79 Class C74, 85, 77 Class C74, 85, 77 Class D14, 40, 56 Class D14, 40, 56 Assume standard 10 point scale and final exam worth ¼ of grade. Rate classes in terms of those needing most attention to those needing least.

If the final exam will contain 25 new questions on chapters not covered on a previous exam (chapters10-12) and 75 questions evenly distributed over chapters 1-9, what would the 5 day study plan look like for this final? If the final exam will contain 25 new questions on chapters not covered on a previous exam (chapters10-12) and 75 questions evenly distributed over chapters 1-9, what would the 5 day study plan look like for this final?