With school back in full swing, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some of my top tips for academic success! I made a YouTube video on this topic last year but I decided to create a written version for today's blog post!
With high school, university and post-grad college, I'm no stranger to studying for tough exams and preparing for complex assignments! Doing well in school requires a ton of hard work and dedication BUT I've learnt a few tricks over the years to make the process a little easier. Here are my top 5 academic advice and tips that I think are essential to killing it this school year!
Tip #1 : Figure out your learning style
When talking about learning styles, we often forget how much of a role it plays in our academic success! I was taught that there were only 4 types of learning styles but when researching for this blog post, it turns out that there's actually 7!?
Anyway, these include: visual (you prefer using pictures, images etc.), aural ( you prefer using sound and music), verbal (you prefer using words, both in speech and in writing), physical (you prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch), logical ( you prefer using logic and reasoning), social ( you prefer to learn in groups) and solitary ( you prefer to work alone and use self-study).
Your unique learning style will determine how you formulate your notes, how you study, who you study with and how you approach your lectures. Figuring this out as soon as possible will make learning ( a bit ) easier and ensure that your are studying and learning efficiently!
Tip #2: Find out what time of day you study best
Studying in university is very different than studying in high school, for obvious reasons. But something that we don't often think about, is that university does not operate on a 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM schedule that a lot of high schools do, meaning, you have a lot of free time in between lectures and classes, leaving YOU to figure out when to squeeze in your studying time.
Waking up at the crack of dawn and pulling all-nighters to study is extremely popular in university but it's not always the most efficient. A lot of students aren't actually the most productive (or awake 😴) during these hours, making studying during these times kind of pointless.
Personally, I work best from 11am - 1pm and from 4pm - 9pm, anything before or after those hours is kind of pointless for me because I get tired and I'm no longer retaining information. So I would highly recommend you figure out what times you are the most productive (and awake!) and make sure to do the bulk of your studying then!
Tip #3: Figure out where you work best
This tip is one that I don't see recommended enough! I think a lot of people assume working in libraries and studying in coffee shops is the pinnacle of productivity and the only acceptable places to study, SPOILER ALERT: this isn't true.
Unpopular opinion: but I actually hate working in the library. I find it super distracting and sitting still for an extended period of time stresses me the hell out! I figured this out in third year and decided "no more studying in the library." Instead, I realized I actually worked far better in my room. I would study at my desk or on the floor or (even though it's not recommended), in my bed. Of course, YOU don't have to work in your bed, but the point is, is to find a spot where you can be the most productive (and comfortable!) to work.
Although library and coffee dates are fun, ask yourself before you go: "Am I really going to get any work done there?" If the answer is "no", you can still go! But maybe use that time to do another task that doesn't require as much brain power like writing a 2,000 word essay. Maybe you can copy lecture notes or format a reference page instead. Switching up your study location every once in a while is always a good idea, but pay close attention to your productivity levels and ask yourself "Am I really getting work done or do I just look like I'm getting work done because I'm in a coffee shop?" 🤷🏾♀️
Tip #4: Figure out your preferred note-taking style
In first-year, whenever I asked anyone the best way to take notes, everyone said "by hand." LIARS 🤬 lol jk! In all seriousness though, this did not work for me. Its' been scientifically proven that written notes are better for your memory, but I realized it's not always the most efficient. First-year me was determined to write all her notes by hand, but it got old, fast. I could never keep up with the amount of notes that my profs assigned and by the time midterm season rolled around I was like 3 chapters behind and chaos would ensue! For the rest of my university career, I switched to typed notes instead which saved me so much time and actually left me time to review my notes before my exams. I left the hand-written stuff for smaller things like flashcards or for my exam notes which worked so much better for me!
Handwritten notes might work best for you or maybe an entirely different note taking style might be more efficient. Don't be afraid to experiment with different styles but the quicker you can figure out what works for you, the faster and easier note taking will be.
If you would like to save your time (and your hand from cramping) try OneNote, I used it for the last 2 years of university and it saved my life!
Tip #5: Start assignments early
This last tip seems like a no brainer but it's something that a lot of us don't actually put into practice. If your school was anything like Guelph, major assignments were always due around exam season. There was always something going on and finding the time to sit down and work on a complex assignment was tough! Chipping away at assignments throughout the semester prevents it from piling up at the end, leaving you less stressed and giving you a better chance at doing well.
My advice? record the due dates of your assignments down immediately once they've been assigned to you, then schedule 30 mins to an hour each week to work on it.
And that's all of my academic tips for university! Of course there's probably more so if you want me to do a part 2, let me know! Like I mentioned previously, I actually made a YouTube video on this topic last year, so if you prefer to watch, check out the video down below.
With all that said, best of luck this school year! Manifesting a 4.0 GPA for you all! ✨🧘🏾♀️✨
Love,
-M
Overview of Learning Styles. learning-styles-online.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2021, from https://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/.
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