I Need Serious Study Help from Students with 90+ GPAs and sleep ~6 or more hrs/night

Pre-College Topics High School Life
41

<p>

Senior!</p>

<p>

I get 7-8.</p>

<p>

It’s usually some type of outline notes system but sometimes simply bullets if it’s just a lecture. Usually the teacher writes stuff on the board and I’ll highlight those points or summarize what the teacher writes in my own words.</p>

<p>

I’ll reread the parts of the textbook. I’ll turn off the music, which I usually have all the time while I’m at home or while doing the homework and concentrate. If I want to know more about something, I often turn to Google or Wikipedia. I’ll look at the review questions or chapter summaries in the book even if they’re not assigned. Sometimes I’ll take notes and review it myself with a highlighter.</p>

<p>

I usually wait till the last minute to be honest. If it’s something like math, I’ll write down all the relevant formulas and test myself on them by writing them down on a sheet of paper and then asking myself for the formulas an hour or two later. </p>

<p>

I review and take notes. I’ll reread the book and look through the review questions and see if I can find the answer myself even when they’re not assigned, which they never are for some reason at my school.</p>

<p>

I try to steer clear of memorization because it’s an awful habit to fall into. I memorize formulas and stuff like that but most often I try to understand the concept and how to do it. If it’s math, I’ll try to find any patterns that will help me solve problems like the ones I’m doing and whatnot.</p>

<p>

I usually do it in the order of the period in the day, which means I’m always stuck with AP homework last. I also prioritize things by doing the assignments that are due sooner.</p>

<p>

I’m awful at it most of the time to be honest but I always make sure to finish all my assignments. </p>

<p>

I turn off the computer or turn off my music and get down to do it ASAP so I can go back to my leisure activities.</p>

<p>

I don’t have a problem motivating myself because I’m really self-motivated. I like setting goals and getting it done. I often rewrite my assignments on another sheet of paper or a post-it because it’s really satisfying to have a to-do list that’s clean and organized; it’s even more satisfying to put a line through it when I’m done. </p>

<p>

I make goals like I’ve said before and prioritize things by when they’re due.</p>

<p>

I’ll set aside days where I’ll do something piece by piece, often times in large chunks. I often finish long term assignments quicker than others as a result. I’m very goal-oriented.</p>

42

<ol>
<li><p>10th in a large competitive public school</p></li>
<li><p>0-14. I either sleep a lot, or not at all. Mostly, about 6 hours.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>My System: After school, extra-curriculars and working out, I am usually too tired to do homework. I go to bed at around 7 and wake up at 3-4 AM and complete my homework then on weekdays. I get most of my sleep on the weekends. My sleep schedule has actually been very helpful, I would recommend it.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>System? I don?t know that I have one - meticulous, cramped notes, which are then later organized into charts/graphs/webs.</p></li>
<li><p>I say things over and over and over again. Old school, but somehow, it’s effective.</p></li>
<li><p>I try not to wait until the last night, usually it doesn’t work though.</p></li>
<li><p>I re-write things into visual representation of verbal notes. By organizing information under groups of larger concepts, I am able to better tie ideas together.</p></li>
<li><p>I take Latin, so there is a lot of memorization. I can’t stress enough how effective traditional methods of studying are for memorization. Say things over and over, or write them over and over, or hear things over and over. There is no short-cut, it takes time.</p></li>
<li><p>First, I must finish those tasks that take the longest to complete.</p></li>
<li><p>Often, I find that I don’t mind doing the work as much as I mind the idea of first beginning. As long as I am cognizant of that fact, I am able to convince myself to start, knowing it won’t be so bad when I actually begin.</p></li>
<li><p>Leave the television, the computer, the ipod, the cell phone, and magazines. You will have nothing but work to do.</p></li>
<li><p>Keep in mind the incentive: a fantastic college.</p></li>
<li><p>Schoolwork must come first. Then, I prioritize in order of those commitments that will look most impressive on my application.</p></li>
<li><p>Look at the calendar and break the term paper down into smaller goals that are more easily accomplished than the larger goal of the term paper.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Now, if only I could follow my own advice (Alice in Wonderland, if you catch the reference)</p>

43

<ol>
<li><p>What grade are you in currently?
grade 12</p></li>
<li><p>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
about 7</p></li>
<li><p>What is your system for taking class notes?
I abbreviate everything with my own shorthand method. Thus, more info in less time. And I PAY ATTENTION! I cannot believe the sheer amount of people who complain about their grades in a class they deem naptime.</p></li>
<li><p>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
I don’t really review lectures…I just take notes as said in number 3 and review the week of the test.</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
I’m not very good at this. I usually read through my notes Wednesday, study hardcore Thursday night, and study during all my classes leading up to a Friday test :)</p></li>
<li><p>How exactly do you study?
My pink highlighter is my best friend. I go through and highlight the important info (which should be a lot, because I didn’t take crappy useless notes). Then I use a blue highlighter to highlight headings. And a yellow for dates. Then I pretty much make flashcards off of this info. I know, it’s a little OCD, but hey, that’s my style.</p></li>
<li><p>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
Flashcards! And have someone else quiz you, because a lot of times you’ll cheat without really knowing the info and screw yourself over later.</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
Always do the suckiest subject first. I hate math, so I do my calculus homework, and then I get to snuggle up with my Literature (which I love). It just feels nice to get the stuff you hate out of the way. If you have a lot, do an hour at a time with 5-minute breaks. And if you feel like you have to pull an all-nighter, remember how crappy it feels and DON’T DO IT AGAIN.</p></li>
<li><p>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
As silly as it may seem, Facebook will NOT help you get into college.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
The goal–keep my GPA high, stay in the Top Ten, and learn everything I can to raise my ACTs because I WANT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY so bad.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
Yeah, pretty much as said above.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
I think this is kind of a silly issue. People can do more than one thing, you know? I’m actively involved in six clubs, two sports, have a part time job, and I still get to sleep at night. It’s all in time management. Do what you need to do, don’t watch TV when you have chemistry homework. It’s really quite simple.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
Make a schedule. You have to set goals for yourself; your teacher will not do it for you. For example, it’s January 6th and a paper is assigned, due at the end of the school year.
January 6th (yes, the day it was assigned!) - do some preliminary research. This will get the gears turning and maybe get you a little pumped up about the assignment.
Week of 13th - narrow your topic, get all the info you can in just a few minutes of internet research.
Sometime in February - Review your research. Get books you need from the library (don’t forget to renew them).
Later Feb - Make an outline.
Early March - Detail your outline, use all your research to do this (obviously)
Late March - Put your outline in paragraph form (this is essentially the paper)
Early April - Rejoice about getting into your top college! Then write your introduction and conclusion, and finalize the paper.
Late April - Let it sit a while.
Early May - Come back to it, have some people read it, edit it, and hand it in.
Late May - Make fun of all the people who are rushing to find a topic. And brag about getting into your top school :)</p></li>
</ol>

44

<p>This is like a myspace bulletin for geeks on CC.</p>

45

<ol>
<li><p>What grade are you in currently? 11th</p></li>
<li><p>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night? 9</p></li>
<li><p>What is your system for taking class notes? I don’t unless it’s absolutely necessary.</p></li>
<li><p>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently? I don’t really think about lectures or anything.</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time? I study for 2-3 hours before, then go to sleep.</p></li>
<li><p>How exactly do you study? For math/science tests, I reread the textbook and highlight; for history, I make outlines. </p></li>
<li><p>What tips do you use to help with memorization? Outlines, outlines, outlines!</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload? I only do big stuff, like papers and studying for major tests, at home. The rest I do in class.</p></li>
<li><p>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you? Nothing. I procrastinate constantly but always end up cramming my homework in anyway.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work? Sit alone in my room and turn off all outside distractions (TV, radio). Be in direct sunlight.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk). I don’t.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.? I don’t. Newspaper and sports rule my life and I squeeze in homework afterwards.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)? Do it all at the end.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Can you believe I’m ranked 7 in my class of 500? Me either.</p>

46

<ol>
<li><p>10th</p></li>
<li><p>7 hours</p></li>
<li><p>I try to write down everything. I can usually remember things that I hear, but seeing them and actually writing the information down really helps me.</p></li>
<li><p>I just basically reread my notes and look over the relevant textbook pages.</p></li>
<li><p>I sometimes look over my notes but most of my studying comes one or two nights before the test.</p></li>
<li><p>For math, I just do the assigned work. Science, look over notes and diagrams. Spanish, nothing really, just listen to the teacher during class. English, do the assigned readings. History, read the textbook and my notes.</p></li>
<li><p>Memorization usually comes pretty easily for me but basically repetition.</p></li>
<li><p>If I don’t have too much, I’ll do the tedious homework first. If I have more, I’ll do the urgent ones first (like the homework due first period vs. last period or the homework that has to be typed vs. handwritten).</p></li>
<li><p>Haha… I’m not really winning that battle. But I usually just look at the clock and realize how little time there is left, and my planner also helps. Also just starting is the best way, because I can usually stay on task once I’ve started.</p></li>
<li><p>Once I really get started on homework, I just tune everything out until a major interruption or I’m finished. Otherwise… hehehe, that’s still a bit of a problem. During school, I don’t normally get distracted.</p></li>
<li><p>Haha, I am too. I usually try to reward myself a bit… like if I finish a certain amount of homework before a certain time I’ll let myself read or play games or something.</p></li>
<li><p>I usually put schoolwork first and once I’m done I think about other activities.</p></li>
<li><p>Usually, I procrastinate. But otherwise, I write down certain goals in my planner. Like finish research in a week, write an outline in 3 days, a rough draft in 4 days, etc.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Haha, I think my answers are the same as everyone else’s, but this really made me think about how I should be studying. =D</p>

47

<ol>
<li><p>What grade are you in currently?
Grade 15: Junior in College</p></li>
<li><p>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
4 Hours on average (aggregate of all nighters and long weekend slumbers averaged by 7)</p></li>
<li><p>What is your system for taking class notes?
I don’t take notes. I listen and absorb the information. If it’s really important, I always use a computer. I can type the professor’s lecture in verbatim. I also organize study groups (200-300 people), and we compile notes and review material once an exam.</p></li>
<li><p>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
Always study with others. It’s better to study with strangers sometimes since you won’t be wasting time chit-chatting. Reread material closest to the exam date. This way you won’t waste time reading and forgetting.</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
I sleep and work around the exam. I cram a lot so have a bit more experience in that area. If you have less than 24 hours left, prepare to sleep for 6 hours and study till the examination’s start.</p></li>
<li><p>How exactly do you study?
Go to class for attendance brownie points. Listen to the lecture. Read all the material. Study with group. Compile group notes. Send them out to everyone. Have another group session. Always, always do the homework if this is a language or math test.</p></li>
<li><p>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
Spacing effect in psychology asserts that by being exposed to the material, multiple times, and through a variety of associations–you’re more apt to remember the material. Learn by learning NOT by memorizing. If you know a formula, you can solve the entire exam. You won’t have to recall pictorial images.</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
I view homework as busywork and a waste of my time. But sometimes I have to do it. I always do it hours before it’s due. I’m not a suckup who does it weeks in advance.</p></li>
<li><p>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
Have someone pressure you and make sure you do the work. Also, look at your long term goals. Visit a poor and destitute neighborhood–realize how lucky you are to have an education. Put on headphones and rock on.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
I don’t go out on weekends and decline offers to party. I review notes right after lecture (if i take them); I also tutor and mentor freshman undergraduates. Because I have to be on top of my game to set a good example, this “forces” me to be prepared.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
Motivation is imbued and reasserted. You just have to think of how bad others have it. Or, place yourself in a different environment. E.g., you’re at a state school–spend a weekend at MIT or Harvard, and see what these kids do (sit in their seat for 8 hours at a time).</p></li>
<li><p>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
This is difficult. Just remember that although extracurriculars are important and balance you as a person, employers and graduate schools look at GPA too. When you graduate HS or college, your GPA stays with you. Your activities are marginalized at the bottom of your resume, especially in banking or finance.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
I don’t manage them well. I do them last minute, but I perform better this way. I advise you to get started immediately, and use the gap period to tweak, revise, and polish your work. In the end, you will be more proud and have a sense of “equity” in your work. Good luck. =)</p></li>
</ol>

48

<p>1. What grade are you in currently?
12th</p>

<p>2. How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
9, a bit more</p>

<p>3. What is your system for taking class notes?
What notes? Granted, two teachers put up the PowerPoints online. </p>

<p>**4. What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently? **
I skim through the textbook or the teacher’s printed notes. If they’re not available, I review with a classmate.</p>

<p>5. When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
Study during the classes before. </p>

<p>6. How exactly do you study?
Reread whatever little information I have. Ask a classmate; there’s bound to be someone in the class before who’s studying for the same test. </p>

<p>**7. What tips do you use to help with memorization? **
Read on the bus on the way to school–it really helps.</p>

<p>8. In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
I go by when I have the class the next day since my schedule’s on a rotation.</p>

<p>9. In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
Save it to the very last minute when I know I have to do it because it’s due next period.</p>

<p>10. How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
Sadly, I have not found a method for that yet.</p>

<p>11. How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
I don’t have work for which to motivate myself. </p>

<p>12. How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
They don’t collide. Schoolwork is done during school the day it’s due.</p>

<p>13. Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
Everything great that I have produced has been done the night before. I wouldn’t know otherwise!</p>

49

<ol>
<li>What grade are you in currently?
11th</li>
<li>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
around 6</li>
<li>What is your system for taking class notes?
i take them if teachers do notebook checks</li>
<li>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
review before school or in periods prior to class with test; sometimes i borrow other peoples notes</li>
<li>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
cram during day of test</li>
<li>How exactly do you study?
same as 5</li>
<li>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
u either have a good memory or u don’t; it’s an innate skill nothin u can do to help it</li>
<li>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
i have block schedulin so my classes r split into two days; it makes it much easier</li>
<li>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
procrastination will always get the best of me</li>
<li>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
short attention span…i just do my work when i know i have to</li>
<li>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
i wanna go to an ivy league school..i just get it done</li>
<li>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
do homework before school or during other classes..find out which periods u can do homework for other classes in and it gives u a lot more time for activities like sports and clubs</li>
<li>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
I usually start the weekend before it’s due.</li>
</ol>

50

<ol>
<li>What grade are you in currently?
Senior</li>
<li>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
6-6.5</li>
<li>What is your system for taking class notes?
Write down what’s on the board, otherwise very little.</li>
<li>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
Only before a test, read them over.</li>
<li>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
Start night before, fall asleep, cram during school</li>
<li>How exactly do you study?
I don’t study unless there’s an exam; see #5</li>
<li>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
I just read things over. Sometimes it works well, other times, not really.</li>
<li>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
I do hw that requires textbooks and hw for classes in the early morning at home. For other assignments, I do them during school hours.</li>
<li>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
I have a short attention span; I give myself intermittent TV/Internet breaks every few minutes. Yay, multi-tasking.</li>
<li>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
When I know I have to do something, I feel pressured to do it effectively.</li>
<li>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
Usually, the looming deadline is my main motivator. Otherwise, I just know I can’t risk a crappy grade.</li>
<li>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
Never really been a problem although I get home late most weekdays. I try to get a lot of work done on the weekend. </li>
<li>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
I start these things verrrry late. The time crunch alone gets me scared and motivated to finish.</li>
</ol>

51

<ol>
<li>What grade are you in currently?
11th</li>
<li>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
6-9. I nap for an hour or two in the afternoon.</li>
<li>What is your system for taking class notes?
I usually don’t. Most of my teachers just assign textbook readings or hand out ready-made outlines. If someone says something particularly interesting or important in class, I’ll just jot it down on any random document I’m planning to study anyway. It’s messy, but it works.</li>
</ol>

<p>Oh, I almost forgot! I used to have this notetaking blog. I made it after I got a disappointing test grade in AP Bio. After reading from my textbook, I’d use it to jot down my impressions, key concepts, etc. I’d use it for all subjects, with varying results. Bio would give me pretty much a straightforward outline. APUSH ended up with lots of free-association and connections to things I learned last year in WHAP. My notetaking was really casual-- slang, curse words, random abbreviations only I would understand. </p>

<p>I never went back to read most of it, but the act of typing it out helped me.
4. What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
I’m a relatively fast reader with really crappy retention, so I go through every reading at least twice. A lot of the time, I’ll reread selections from my textbook the night before a test in the corresponding subject. I also look things up online sometimes. I basically like to see the material in as many different guises as possible-- that’s how I review. I won’t say it’s terribly efficient, but I still sleep every night, so…</p>

<p>And this is going to sound really weird, but if you’re enrolled in a history course, reading historical fiction and even allohistory really helps. I totally credit speculative fiction author Orson Scott Card for my success in all my history courses. His Alvin Maker saga pretty much is my APUSH textbook-- with magic. I think it’s easier just remembering the differences between fictional people, situations, nations, etc. and their historical counterparts than relying entirely on the course. Dunno, maybe I’m just looking for an excuse to do my recreational reading when I should be studying.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
I usually start studying up to three nights before the test. (Actually, most of the studying happens the night before. ;)) I divide up the chapter readings so I can go through the same number of chapters each night. If your textbook comes with a companion website, see if it has any online quizzes-- those are amazing.</p></li>
<li><p>How exactly do you study?
Read and reread. I do extra problems from my textbook to study for calculus.</p></li>
<li><p>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
I used to be the sort of person who memorized random, interesting, useless crap for fun-- I still have over a hundred digits of pi and most of “The Lady of Shalott” floating around in my head. I don’t really use mnemonics that often, although in chemistry I made up random, nonsensical sentences to keep track of polyatomic ions and things. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Actually, this year, I’m taking so many courses dependent on multiple choice, AP-style tests that I just have to learn the material enough to recognize it in context. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
My school is on an A/B day schedule, so there are two nights to do every regular assignment. I do all my work the day I get it, though, because I know I’ll get two or three more hours’ worth the next day. I tend to procrastinate on projects and papers-- they pretty much all get done on weekends.</p></li>
<li><p>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
I find I actually work better under pressure. Even if I decide to finish something early, I’ll only give myself a day to work on it. Sort of artificially push the deadline up?</p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
I don’t always succeed at this… I tend to drift off during class, surreptitiously do other homework, think ahead to the next class. At home, I constantly interrupt myself to do the stupidest things-- check Facebook, look up something random on Wikipedia (like “caviar” and “manifold”), read my novel.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk)
I’m pretty OCD about getting everything done. I probably couldn’t leave a problem unsolved even if I wanted to. Even if the solution’s wrong. </p></li>
<li><p>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
Sadly, I don’t have a lot of ECs. School is definitely my biggest priority.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
I do them all on weekends. I also take longer to prep (research, brainstorm) than I do to actually get it done.</p></li>
</ol>

52

<ol>
<li><p>What grade are you in currently? 11th</p></li>
<li><p>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night? 8hrs a night + 3hr afternoon naps =D</p></li>
<li><p>What is your system for taking class notes?
Don’t take notes, read the textbook instead</p></li>
<li><p>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
Look over quizzes and use companion web sites.</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Studying the day before actually helps a lot since everything stays fresh. Don’t try to make a big deal out of it; stress messes you up.</p>

<ol>
<li>How exactly do you study? </li>
</ol>

<p>Sit down in an uncomfortable chair and AIM/internets while doing HW. This is a good way to relax and makes the work go by faster.</p>

<ol>
<li>What tips do you use to help with memorization? </li>
</ol>

<p>Don’t read to read, read to understand. Review concepts and try to visualize/reason them out in your mind.</p>

<ol>
<li>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?</li>
</ol>

<p>I do hw for the class which i have the lowest grade in first.</p>

<ol>
<li>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?</li>
</ol>

<p>Life should not be divided into 24 hr segments, so realize that you have however much time between returning from school and going to that hell-hole to do your work. If yur sleepy, then go to bed and copy the rest down during lunch.</p>

<ol>
<li>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?</li>
</ol>

<p>If you concentrate really hard, then you will get absorbed in the work.</p>

<ol>
<li>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )</li>
</ol>

<p>I think of all the people better than me, which causes a secret flame to burn brighter than ever before!</p>

<ol>
<li>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?</li>
</ol>

<p>All of my “activities” are only superficially pleasing and require no time lol…</p>

<ol>
<li>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?</li>
</ol>

<p>I usually think about them for a few days without doing any actual work in order to prepare my mind for the long process of writing. Then, I sit down and just start writing until I am done. (usually takes an entire day…)</p>

53

<ol>
<li><p>What grade are you in currently?
12</p></li>
<li><p>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
8-10…usually 9 or so.</p></li>
<li><p>What is your system for taking class notes?
I don’t unless I’m required to do so. I never look at them anyway. I usually spend class time doing homework for other classes :P</p></li>
<li><p>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
If the teacher is interesting, I actually pay attention and absorb the material. You remember things a lot better if you understand them (and it IS possible to understand “memorization”-based subjects, i.e. history, languages, and the like.)</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
Go on AIM and peek at the book every few minutes? Heh heh. I’m awful.</p></li>
<li><p>How exactly do you study?
Study groups help. A LOT. If you don’t understand something, chances are someone else can explain it to you. Understanding is more important than memorizing. Just don’t goof off too much.</p></li>
<li><p>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
Don’t do it. It hurts in the long run. If you’re trying to “memorize” vocabulary, just write a lot and try to use the words in different contexts.</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
I do the work for the classes that are more important (either because my grade is lower or I like the subject better). I do homework in classes where I’m bored just so I don’t waste time staring into oblivion.</p></li>
<li><p>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
Still battling procrastination, so can’t help ya there. Screw apps! :P</p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
During school - do work for other classes. Being productive as opposed to being bored? It’s an easy choice.
After school - uh. No comment. :P</p></li>
<li><p>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
Around 8 o’clock, I realize it’s getting late and I want to sleep at 10, so I start working.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
Extracurriculars > schoolwork. I usually have a nice buffer in my grade, so one low quality test/assignment doesn’t matter so much.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
Do most of it a few weeks before (or days if it’s like a week-long project), feel good about it, cram to the finish the night before. Fun!</p></li>
</ol>

<p>My peers do (jokingly) hate me for my laid-back-ness when they’re pulling one all-nighter per week. Honestly, I don’t understand how they need all that time to do the work.</p>

54

<ol>
<li><p>I’m in 11th grade</p></li>
<li><p>I sleep, on average, close to eleven hours per day…I’m not one of those guys who can pull an allnighter</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t take many notes in class, but it depends on the teacher. Generally, I listen, ask questions, etc in class and do my notes out of my textbooks/reading materials at night…I think this most closely simulates what I’ll have to do in college.</p></li>
<li><p>While I am very smart, I don’t have a very good memory. I find that when it comes to raw memorization, the best thing to do is to write things down. You learn faster this way than reading it and not writing it down. Once it’s written down, it seems to stick in my head at least until my next test.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>For things that requre more intensive thinking and application, not just memorization, of knowledge, the best thing to do is to work it out in your head and understand WHY it works. For example, you could memorize that the centripetal acceleration in constant circular motion equals omega squared times radius, or you could work it out with a proof to see why exactly this is true.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>For big tests, I study the night before, get a good night’s sleep, always eat breakfast, and put the blinders on when it finally comes time to take the test. Otherwise, I don’t study beyond looking over my notes on the bus.</p></li>
<li><p>It depends:</p></li>
<li><p>When I feel comfortable w/ the material or the test doesn’t mean much to my grade, I just skim through my notes.</p></li>
<li><p>When the test is important or I’m a little concerned about how I’ll do, I have a friend or parent look at my notes and quiz me the night before</p></li>
<li><p>When it’s urgent or insanely difficult, I will rewrite my notes two or maybe three times without looking at them, possibly in different styles or formats to HAMMER into my head what needs to be learned. I find that the more you manipulate information, the more you understand it.</p></li>
<li><p>As mentioned above, I write. I’m not a visual or auditory learner, nor am I a “doing/experiencing” learner. I’m a writing learner.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t prioritize. I just do.</p></li>
<li><p>I used to be the worst procrastinator EVER. I wouldn’t just procrastinate, I would abdicate all responsibility. What got me out of it? FAILURE. Honestly, the only thing to cure procrastination is a wakeup call. In my freshman year, my hopes to make Princeton were shattered when I did not do A SINGLE PIECE OF HOMEWORK FOR TWO MONTHS and got TWO C’s on my report card and failed a research paper. I went to my guidance counselor who called me a loser.</p></li>
<li><p>This is, unfortunately, innate to a degree by the time you are grown. If you were born and raised to have a large attention span, then you will have one. If you have genetically a short attention span or you were one of those babies who had all these flashy toys that keep your brain and imagination from developing, then just try to eat breakfast, relax, and if your concentration wanes, close your eyes, roll your eyeballs back in your head, and take a deep breath.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>11.I make it seem almost like a game. I feel like I’m accumulating points with every bit of work I put in, and each day I try to beat my high score.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It’s hard. You have to find a middle ground that you’re comfortable with. I have always favored straight-up schoolwork over clubs. I participate in one club, one varsity sport, one major extracurricular hobby, and have a job. That’s plenty. In the grand scheme of things, a 4.0 bests the student paper.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t manage my time long-term. I find if I spread my work out, I lose my place/train of thought and have to re-start each day. So, the weekend before it’s due, I go all-out.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The most important things to remember are to keep away from the traps, such as:

  • Game systems- very addicting
  • Drugs and alcohol- obviously
  • Consuming hobbies- I briefly became obsessed with movies…hurt my grades
  • Hating a teacher because he/she is “hard” or “gave you a bad grade”…deal with it and blame yourself, not your teacher</p>
55

<ol>
<li><p>What grade are you in currently?
11</p></li>
<li><p>How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
6-7</p></li>
<li><p>What is your system for taking class notes?
I only take notes for european history, nothing else</p></li>
<li><p>What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
either i just don’t review or i use online quizzes and wikipedia (prob not very efficient) and my history notes… and… do practice problems sometimes?</p></li>
<li><p>When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
study during class</p></li>
<li><p>How exactly do you study?
reread stuff… practice problems. i dislike study groups.. </p></li>
<li><p>What tips do you use to help with memorization?
I don’t know… im okay with memory. i’d prob recommend to make a small index card of everything you don’t remember and study that like crazy?</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
I make a list of thinngs to do and cross out … i tend to do the stuff i like first though.</p></li>
<li><p>In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
do it as soon as it’s assigned? there IS a good feeling to it.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
i don’t… </p></li>
<li><p>How do you motivate yourself to do work? (I’m really bad at making myself do work or take any action at all. I’m all talk )
i like doing the work actually…</p></li>
<li><p>How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
I don’t really… know… sometimes i do hw during the club if I really have nothing else to do, but not much else.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
i do it either the day it’s assigned or the night before.</p></li>
</ol>

56

<p>1. What grade are you in currently?
12th.</p>

<p>2. How many hours of sleep do you get on average per night?
I probably get around 6, but I could get much more if I wanted to. The only time when I honestly am unable to get more than around 5 hours is before a theater production.</p>

<p>3. What is your system for taking class notes?
I take notes. If I’m feeling incredibly overachieverish, sometimes I type them up.</p>

<p>4. What methods do you use to reinforce lectures and other class material? If so how do you review efficiently?
In the more difficult classes, I look at my notes and convert them into questions, and then I put the answers on a different page. I review those along the way.</p>

<p>5. When it comes time to actually studying for a test after the date has been announced, how do you manage your time?
I do all my normal homework first (unless it’s going to be a really hard test, or if it’s really going to affect my grade), and then I study. I don’t like to cram, but sometimes that happens… studying for about 20 minutes a day is better.</p>

<p>6. How exactly do you study?
See number 4. I also re-read sections of my text for certain classes (AP Gov), and sometimes re-read articles. If it’s a math or science test, I look over the questions which were hard or that I didn’t get the first time, and then I re-do them.</p>

<p>7. What tips do you use to help with memorization?
Associating things with colors, pictures, or rhymes help me. I don’t do this with everything, but if something refuses to stick in my brain, then I’ll make something up to make it easier to remember.</p>

<p>8. In terms of homework, how do you prioritize your workload?
First, I do the work that I KNOW is going to be checked- AKA, reading, some physics problems. Then I do shorter work which probably won’t be checked, then longer work that isn’t going to be checked (or will be checked later). Long term projects due soon take priority over work that won’t be checked.</p>

<p>9. In the never-ending battle with procrastination, what methods have been most effective for you?
I’m still terrible with this one. Sometimes I make my own deadline…</p>

<p>10. How do you keep yourself from becoming too distracted during school or when you have to do work?
I don’t really get distracted during school (this year, all my classes are pretty interesting so I only zone out if I got very little sleep the day before), but I do work like this: 45 minutes of work, 15 minutes of play. That way I don’t get too antsy.</p>

<p>11. How do you motivate yourself to do work?
Rewarding myself with ‘play’ time- see above.</p>

<p>12. How do you balance schoolwork with your other activities such as clubs, sports, newspapers, musical ensembles etc.?
Ack. My grades drop when I have a show coming up… usually in between scenes and stuff I try to do work while I’m there. If it’s an EC where you can’t do that, then… I don’t know. Just do the ECs and do the homework… sleep is relatively low on my priority list.</p>

<p>13. Lastly, how do you manage your time long term (i.e. termpapers, projects, science fair etc.)?
Science fair is basically managed for us- splitting it up into section with different deadlines. If you school doesn’t do that, I would recommend it. Our term papers used to be like that too, but not junior or senior year. Last year I did it all in one night (still got a good grade but it was not fun). This year I’m really interested in what I’m writing about (Guernica! Picasso! Spain! Hoo-rah!) so I don’t mind the work. If you can’t pick a topic that really thrills you, then I’d recommend setting your own deadlines.</p>

57

<ol>
<li><p>sophmore</p></li>
<li><p>My sleep schedule is pretty irregular. It ranges from 3 - 7hrs.</p></li>
<li><p>If there’s a powerpoint, I skim through it and rewrite the key points into something I can understand. If it’s from a lecture then I just write down what the teacher repeats several times.</p></li>
<li><p>I usually just go over my notes twice a week, just to make sure I understand it and don’t get it mixed up with something else. As for lectures, I usually just remember the key points, but when I don’t they I just look to my notes.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m pretty bad at managing my time, so I usually just write out the key points and make sure I understand it the night before, but for history I reread the sections.</p></li>
<li><p>Skimming or rereading the book. I also review my notes.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t really have any tips. Sorry.</p></li>
<li><p>First I put it in order of due date, and then the period it is due.</p></li>
<li><p>I have my sister hide the TV remote, my iPod and I get off AIM. Those are my main distractions. Sometimes when I’m really distracted I shut off the WiFi on my laptop.</p></li>
<li><p>During school I usually try to get as much done in class as possible, because I walk home and I don’t like carrying a lot of books home.</p></li>
<li><p>I just try to keep in mind that this will help me later on in life. </p></li>
<li><p>I’m only in a couple of clubs so it doesn’t interfere too much and I’m on an off season sport right now so they don’t really interfere.</p></li>
<li><p>I try to do a little everyday but that almost never happens. I usually wait until the morning before it’s due to start my projects.</p></li>
</ol>