Hey guys.
Because I didn’t get into any of my dream schools(UCLA, UCB, ETC), I’m going to a 4-year school in hopes of transferring.
I want to get a 4.0, yet with my habits now, I really don’t know if I can. Also, I have no clue how to make a good study schedule for college.
For people that have or had a 4.0 in college, what was your schedule general schedule like? I just want to know to get a feel for what is needed.
Thanks.
I recommend Cal Newport’s book: How to be a straight-A student. Very useful in helping me better structure my schedule.
@masquerade98 Ill read into it! It sounds like a good book to me! Thank you so much!
Check this out for tips: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.htm
it inclucdes Cal Newport’s book: How to be a straight-A student. of course!
For me, I do best when I make a schedule, even if I don’t stick to it. For my roommate, she would tell us when she was supposed to be what and we would nag her, like her mom, until she began studying and doing what she was supposed to be doing. So try out some of these and see which is better for you.
What really helps is studying early. After class try to review your notes, even if it is simply for 20 minutes because if you do that four days out of the week, you just studied for an hour. Try to find small times like in between class to study, or while you’re sitting on the bus or the train to study. The small study sessions add up and are better than cramming a lot of material into a short amount of time, or even a large amount of time. Your brain needs breaks.
During class, I listen to my professor and take down notes on what they say/emphasize in one notebook and after class or even before class If they put the slides up, I take notes from the slides and add what they said in class. For me, I remember a lot more when I write things down than I do if I type them.
Also try to find a space to study, and do not let it be your bed. I also recommend that you skim the reading before class and make sure you at least skim the reading twice again before the test or at least actually read it.
For papers, set mini deadlines. IF you have a five page essay due in two weeks, make an outline within the first couple of days and then try to type a page or a few paragraphs every day, so that you will have plenty of time to go back and edit and make a final draft to submit.
If you want a 4.0, then stay on top of things. Don’t squander your open time. Get up everyday and treat college like a full time job.
It’s almost impossible to get a 4.0 in college. 3.75 is considered excellent. The grading will be different from high school, as is the level of mastery.
For my son, who has a 4.0 so far through freshman year, it was to study after each class, take good notes - handwritten, find a good study partner, go to office hours, all reviews available and optional recitations if your school has them, find a place to study that you are comfortable with. He chose the architecture library, which closes at 10pm but has an area that is open all night. It is a new building and has just the atmosphere he needs to study. Don’t look only at the main library or libraries in your major. He is animal science so not even close to architecture but has met many friends there. Don’t give up fun. Set aside time in your schedule to have fun. Stay physically active. Set aside a little time for whatever physical activity you like.