1. What you Need to Know to Get a 4.0
Created by:
Columbia University NSBE Chapter
Guaranteed 4.0 Program

2. Guaranteed 4.0 by Donna O. Johnson and Y.C. Chen
“Follow Our 3-Step Plan and If You Don't
Make All A's, We Will Give You $100!” -

3. What You Already Know To succeed in class you must: Go to class
Start homework early
Take notes efficiently
Focus while studying
Don’t procrastinate

4. “The average person remembers only 10 to 30 percent of what they read
“The average person remembers only 10 to 30 percent of what they read. We can increase reading retention to 80 to 90 percent using our advanced BPR method.”
- Donna O. Johnson, Former NSBE National Chairperson

5. What You Don’t Know What did you notice? Bullet Point Reading (BPR)
Bullet Point Notes (BPN)
Bullet Point Concepts (BPC)
Bullet Point Notebook
What did you notice?

6. REPETITION IS KEY!

7. Read Before Class Seems impossible but worth it:
Makes lecture easier and more tolerable
Reinforces the material (repetition)
Take notes on the material → Bullet Point Reading

8. Reading Note Tips
Take notes on material 1-7 days before going to class
Section-by-Section
Sum up key terms in 5 ± 2 worded bullet points
Skip lines between bullet points
After each completed section, review notes starting from the first section
Helps remember the material you wrote down first
Repetition is key

12. After Class
Following the same process as BPR, complete a bullet point outline on your class notes → Bullet Point Notes
Do this IMMEDIATELY after class
Complete separately from BPR

13. Returned Homework
On corrected homework and exams, review EACH problem → Bullet Point Concepts
For correct answers:
Determine why the answer is correct
Do a bullet point outline on why the answer is correct
For incorrect answers:
Find the right answer
Do a bullet point outline on why that answer is correct

14. Keep BPR, BPN, and BPC for each class in one notebook
Bullet Point Notebook
Keep BPR, BPN, and BPC for each class in one notebook
Keep notebook on you and read it in your spare time:
Waiting on friends to meet you for lunch
Awkward 30 min – 1 hour blocks of free time
Long subway rides

15. 4.0 System Outline 1) Before class 2) After class
Bullet Point Reading – BPR
2) After class
Bullet Point Notes – BPN
3)After homework/exams
Bullet Point Concepts – BPC

16. Where do you like to study?
Consistent Studying
“When you establish a consistent time and consistent place to study, you are pre-conditioning your body to study more effectively.”
- Donna O. Johnson
Studying in a consistent manner drastically cuts studying time
Avoid distractions (i.e. social media, TV, texting, etc.)
Where do you like to study?

17. DO NOT STUDY ON YOUR BED! Do the math:
Your body is pre-conditioned to sleep in bed +
Your body gradually shutting down =
No efficient work getting done
Ain’t nobody got time for that!

18. Repetition…Repetition… Repetition
Rule of Thumb for Learning = 3, 60, 24, 7
Repeat new information within first 3 seconds of hearing it → Taking notes in class
Review it again within 60 minutes → BPN
Again within 24 hours → starting hw day it is assigned
And again within 7 days → BPC and office hours
This process moves the information from short-term memory to long-term memory

19. Stress-Relieving Activity
Must do this by yourself
Designate 1-2hrs for this activity
Same time of same day every week
Do something you enjoy
Watching your favorite TV show
Reading a book
Working out
This is time for you to wind down and the mere thought of it will become stress-relieving

20. On the other hand, when studying, commit to studying 100%.
Whatever you do, do it 100%
If you are having dinner with your friends, enjoy the time with them. Do not complain about the amount of work you have; it only makes you more anxious and raises your stress level. Instead, just enjoy company and conversation.
On the other hand, when studying, commit to studying 100%.