Friday, May 27, 2011

Top 10 Tips for Taking College Exams


10 Things to Remember on the Day of your Exam

Arrive early.

Make sure you know the location and time of your exam. Get there early to give yourself enough time to settle down before the exam starts.

Be awake for the test.

Ideally, getting a good night’s rest is always encouraged before an exam; however, realistically, we all know that can’t always happen. Other options are to shower in the morning, chew gum, to have a caffeinated drink. Always be cautious when consuming caffeinated drinks, you don’t want to be jittery for the test.

Eat a small breakfast.

You’ll want to minimize any possible distractions during the test. It’ll be more difficult to concentrate if you’re hungry. Don’t eat anything that may upset your stomach.

Bring extra writing utensils.

You never know when your pencil’s going to break or run out of lead or your pen’s going to run out of ink.

Bring all essential test materials.

There’s nothing worse than forgetting to bring a calculator or notes to an exam. Professors usually won’t have extras or allow you to share with another classmate.

Go to the bathroom.

Self-explanatory. This is another precaution to minimize distractions during the test.

Wear comfortable clothes.

You’ll want to be comfortable taking the test. Popular choices are sweatpants and hoodies.

Bring any necessities.

Bring a water bottle, tissues, cough drops, etc.

Look over your notes.

Review important information again before the test to refresh your memory.

It’s just a test.

Remember that you studied hard and have confidence in yourself.

College Study tips For Students

College Study Tips for Students

Tips on Studying at College & How to Improve Study Skills

These college study tips are to help students learn how and when to study, and tips and tricks you can use to get ahead. Studying for college is no fun, but if you plan your time correctly and get your work done, you will have more time for fun such as college parties.

College Study Tips

· Create Mnemonics

Mnemonics are devices that can help you memorize formulas, key concepts, definitions, etc. A really basic example of a mnemonic is “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally” which stands for parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.

· Make a Study Guide

Whether or not your professor gives you a study guide for an exam, making a study guide is very helpful when studying for tests. Go through the textbook, notes, and any other material and write down any information that you think may be on the test such as important concepts, definitions, and formulas. Reading and writing the information will help you memorize it faster. If your professor gives you a study guide, make sure to cover all the points listed.

· Make Flash Cards

Making flash cards can be a bit time consuming, but flash cards are helpful tools in remembering vocabulary, formulas, and key concepts. They are also easy to carry around with you so you can review them anytime.

· Quiz Yourself

To ensure that you are prepared for your test, make a mock quiz to test how well you know the material. Write down a list of keywords or questions and make sure to leave room underneath each one. Then, pretend that you’re taking the test and write down as much as you can.

· Set Time Goals

Setting time goals for yourself will help make sure that you stay on track especially when you have time constraints. You’re more likely to be productive if you have goals to achieve.

· Remember to Take Breaks

Studying is hard stuff. You need to take short breaks to allow your brain to process and retain the information. Otherwise, you may confuse yourself or forget something you have already studied. Be sure to take only a short break, otherwise, it may be hard to go back to studying. When you begin studying again, review the material you have already studied, then, move on to something new.

· Don't Study Alone

Studying with other people is always easier, because you are all there and you know nothing else is going on. If possible convince your college friends to meet at the library at a specific time on a regular basis. If you and your friends have different schedules, do your best to find time when at least two of you are able to meet. This will also help you and your friends develop good study skills, keep tabs on your friends, and make sure they will be with you on graduation day.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Staying focused on your studies


TIPS ON HOW TO CONCENTRATE IN CLASS/STAYING FOCUSED ON YOUR STUDIES.
Many of us have fallen prey to this at one time or another in their studies.Am not an exceptional,most of the times I always lost concentration in class with detrimental consequences later when my performances would get affected due to having worried over non-important issues that dint add any value to my life.
I wouldn't wish you to pass through the same path that i followed and that's why from my experience I will discuss a number of things that you can do to ensure you are always concentrating in class.

SIT IN-FRONT
I know you have already becoming mad at the mention of this but the truth of the matter is sitting at the back exposes you to many distractions.Social network sites have enslaved us and whenever a class becomes boring,students revert to them as a form of getting relief to the boring class.secondly sitting in-front ensures that you will listen attentively as well as take note of all the Lecturer is saying since you obviously fear he/she may wish to check what you have written or may even ask you a question.I remember in one of our lecturers,we always left class each person with different notes and believe or not you would find backbenchers with a quarter page worth of notes and the frontbenchers with two-page worth of notes.

LOOK AT THE TEACHER AND MAINTAIN EYE-CONTACT
Remember the teacher did not come to babble nonsense in class,there is important piece of knowledge that he/she is trying to pass to you.maintain eye contact as well as the movement.if for some reason you get distracted ensure to get back on focus.I remember recalling a concept during the exam that a teacher had demonstrated while he was standing at the back of the class and I had turned round with him too.

DEFINE YOUR OBJECTIVE
Get to know in advance what the lecturer is going to talk about that particular day in advance and read in advance.This prepares you in knowing the particular areas that you will need to pay much particular attention and where to ask for clarifications and questions.Secondly define what you wish to achieve by the end of the lesson and if possible write them down.This way you will be kept alert by your objectives.

TAKE NOTES
Most lecturers make it a choice to either write or not write the notes, while majority of us see this as an opportunity to engage in other distracting activities or a chance to miss class, this is usually a vital task as it ensures that you are at par with the teacher.This makes you be more attentive and hence this helps you listen throughout the lesson.Secondly ensure you finish any homework given on the same day when your mind is still fresh and avoid the last minute rush that is characterized with homework.
PARTICIPATE IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS.
This is usually a good avenue to gauge your level of concentration during classes.whenever a lecturer asks questions , volunteer to answer it or give a guess of you are not certain about it. Secondly whenever you need a clarification on something you did not understand ,kindly ask the teacher to repeat for you and for many others that did not hear.
MAINTAIN DISPLINE
As much as you may try other means of concentrating in class,remember it takes personal displine to put all the above into action.At all times always remember why you are at that institution for a season and for a reason.Visualise your goals and objectives in life and regularly ask yourself if you are working towards attaining those goals.these help to keep you on track whenever you fall astray.

RID YOURSELF OF DISTRACTIONS AS FAST AS THEY HAPPENED
Often manydistractions ussuallyhave adverse effectson our studies.They range from physical,emotional,social,financial and if not controlled they have severe consequences to the success of the particular student since they are known to consume much of a persons memory while thinking about them.Never let these put you astray or blur your vision of making it in life.Depending on the nature of the problem always find an appropriate person with whom to share your problems with.

EAT HEALTHY BREAKFAST
We all have fell prey of heading to class on an empty stomach at one time or another and you can bet one hardly concentrates in class and a 1-hr lesson looks like a whole days lesson.make it a point to take a healthy breakfast before you go for those lectures else you will regret for not gaining anything on that day.


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Monday, May 16, 2011

Making Friends In College


HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS IN COLLEGE
I know many of you are waiting to join college or are in college and they are trying all ways and means to make and retain friends or still are wondering whether they will ever makes friends.
When I got admitted in n college I virtually knew anyone and I felt like a total stranger in a foreign country yet i was in my own country. I knew there and then that if i was to make it through smoothly I had to find ways of making and retaining friends.
Complied hereunder is a list of the steps I took and believe me they worked and believe they can work for you too.
KNOW YOUR ROOMMATES AND NEIGHBORS.
These are usually the first people you get to know when you get admitted. Get to know your roommates and find appropriate topics, maybe a game that you can play together. Secondly get to know people who live next door
SPEAK TO YOUR CLASSMATES
These are the people you will spend more of your college life with. You have a lot you will share in common and hence to talk about. Introduce yourself to them, ask them how the class was, and whether they have interesting material with regard to the subjects etc. you never know where the conversation leads to.
JOIN CLUBS/ORGANIZATIONS
This is usually a good opportunity to meet friends you share ideas, interests, and passion with. Establish your favorite club be it Drama, Dancing, Counselor or favorite game be it Football, volleyball, chess, pool and join and participate fully. You will be surprised at how fast you are making friends.
ATTEND GAMES AND OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS
All year round during the campus life there is more than one activity taking place at the campus. Maybe it’s an Open tournament. Attend these events and you will get a chance to interact with many people during cheering for your respective teams.Don't miss attending social events like Miss College event that’s held yearly. This gives you an opportunity to meet new friends.
ATTEND STUDY GROUPS.
It’s hard not to get to know someone over long hours of turning over class material or preparing for an exam. In your down time, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to chat and get to know one another — maybe even to grab a study break over a coffee or a quick bite to eat. Study groups also offer a no-pressure opener: You’re there to study, so you don’t have to feel pressured to come up with conversation starters. You can just let the conversation develop organically between discussion questions.
VOLUNTEER.
Not only will you be helping those in need, but you’ll also be meeting new people (maybe fellow students, and maybe not). You’ll be able to bond over your interest in the group for which you’re volunteering, and you know you have a shared commitment to volunteer work. You’ll likely discover that you have much more in common.
GO HIGH-TECH.
Many students are already on social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, and many of them affiliate their profiles with the schools they attend. Search for classmates through these sites and browse profiles to find students who share your interests.I have made over 100 friends by using facebook.
DON'T GIVE UP.
Freshman year is a major change and many people flip out and give up. Many freshman still haven't left their nest and the transition from being with close friends, siblings, or with their parents to a new environment might be difficult. This usually happen with students that go to college that is far away from home. Don't let this happen to you. It may take an entire year before you really start meeting people. Usually most college students that are not in sports, music or theater, or in some technical program don't meet people really well until sophomore and even junior year! Realize that once you have a major targeted (or are in a technical program or trade) and are done with your general classes, you'll find several people who have a similar schedule. This eases the friend-making process tenfold. If you are taking generals, try to have a path too in your major so you can easily meet people with common goals and interests.
TALK TO PEOPLE.
You cant get people to talk to you if yourself you don't want to talk to them.Again You can't make many new friends while sitting in a dark corner of the library unless there are other people just like you sitting in the dark corner of the library. Ask people who take classes with you questions about the material covered. Even if you don't have a question, classwork is a great icebreaker. Other great conversation starters are upcoming events and holidays/vacations, sports, food, music, etc. State the obvious too. Usually when you are eating, you talk about food and if you hear music, you automatically talk about music.
EAT IN THE CAFETERIA.
Or other favorite places to eat lunch on campus. Strike up a conversation with students at the tables around you, or ask to join a group at a table that has room.You may strike conversation ranging from