1. Academic/Survival Skills April 21, 2007

2. Preparing for College in High School Become “College Ready”: Join clubs, athletics, and academic groups. Challenge yourself academically. Set your sites high.

3. Join Clubs, Athletics, and Academic Groups Look for groups on your high school campus that interest you: Debate Team Student Government Drama, Arts, Music Academic Decathlon Athletics Clubs, Organizations Community Service Volunteers

4. Challenge Yourself Academically Take college preparatory courses. Look into Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Get a tutor, or be a tutor. Take the PSAT early and SAT or ACT before December of your senior year.

5. Set Your Sites High! Apply to any colleges or universities that interest you, even if you think you might not get accepted. Apply for scholarships. Apply for financial aid. Talk with your counselor and your parents about post- secondary options.

6. College Campus Life What college do you want to attend? Choosing a college is very important; you may want to consider: Location Education programs Campus activities Think about what you would like to experience while in college. Visit various campuses or campus websites.

7. Coping with Leaving Home Being away from home will be tough, but give it a try for at least one year. Make new friends. E-mail friends and family back home. Join clubs or groups on campus that interest you.

8. Study Skills Is it important to have good study skills? Good study skills will help you: -Perform better on tests and quizzes -Retain information for understanding -Become a better student When preparing to study: Consider: Time, Space, Materials, and Subject Matter

9. BEWARE! Beware of “Study Enemies” The wandering mind Procrastination Lack of Preparation

10. Enemy #1: The Wandering Mind Focus on your task. Eliminate distractions. Change topics as often as necessary. Take regular, scheduled breaks.

11. Enemy#2: Procrastination “If I spent as much time doing the things I worry about getting done as I spend worrying about them, I wouldn’t have time to have anything to worry about.” --Beryl Phizer Keep a day planner. Set time to study weekly. Develop a schedule to complete assignments. Don’t wait until the last minute!

12. Enemy #3: Lack of Preparation Know what the test or quiz will cover. Know what types of questions you should expect. Know possible length of the test or quiz.

13. Strategy #1: Reading Strategy: SQ3R S—Survey Q—Question 3R—Read, Recite, and Review

14. Strategy #2: Index Card Study System Carry cards everywhere for study in idle moments. Speak answers to yourself or to others. Test yourself during random periods of the day.

15. Strategy #3: H5W Technique H—HOW W—WHO W—WHAT W—WHEN W—WHERE W—WHY Helps in note-taking Keeps you focused on main concepts and prevents copying from textbooks Becomes useful when reading history and science texts

16. Effective Studying Takes Time! We learn through REPETITION. Constant review will help you recall information!

17. Five Keys to Academic Success 1. Organization 2. Time Management 3. Prioritization 4. Concentration 5. Motivation

18. QUESTIONS About Study Skills?