There are two ways to look at the looming college experience. Some freshmen point out that they’ve been in school for 12 years already, and that another four are no big deal. Others believe that college is the determinant of their entire professional future.
But like most things in life, there is a middle ground. The difference is that now you are actually mixing your social life and academic life. It can be the best concoction you will ever experience, but may become a bit distracting without a good balance.
Graduates and soon-to-be grads usually have the best tips.
“The main difference (from high school) is that if you miss out on the important stuff, you lose. It’s not just about waking up and being there, but also putting in time and effort,” said Molly Skirvish, a former psychology major who graduated last spring.
Don’t feel lame if you have to leave or opt out of something fun to go study. It’s easy to feel like you’re the odd man out in these situations. But, chances are, the people you’re hanging out with also have some kind of academic obligation that they are just not tending to. You will thank yourself for it when you are face-to-face with some tricky quiz.
“First, do the readings and attend classes. In the discussion-based classes in the humanities, there is so much learning that happens in real time inside the class session,” English professor Daniel Won-Gu Kim said. “Second, push yourself out of your comfort zone; take intellectual risks. You can’t learn anything new otherwise.”
Being able to take legible notes is just not enough. Remembering them is key. How-to-Study.com has great tips for doing well in class and on tests. According to their Web site, the best way to take notes is to:
– Review your notes from the previous class session before you come to class. This will help you remember what was covered and get you ready to understand new information your professor provides.
-Complete all assigned readings before you come to class. Your teacher will expect that you have done this and will use and build upon this information.
-Place a question mark next to information you write in your notes, but about whose meaning you are not sure.
-Make your notes more accurate by answering any questions you had when writing your notes in class. Use your textbook and reference sources to obtain the information you need to answer your questions. If necessary, ask your teacher or other students for help.
Even the perfect student can become distracted. Sharing a living space is difficult. The best thing to do if there is even the slightest distraction? Go somewhere else.
The university’s numerous libraries provide a quiet place to study.
Norlin Library is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. on Sunday.
During finals week, these times are extended. There are plenty of tables to spread out over and computers to use throughout Norlin’s various floors and wings. Your Buff OneCard has a set amount if money on it for the semester to put toward printing costs, and it can also be used to check out books and other media as well as for a quick pick-me-up at the Norlin Underground Cafe.
If the library isn’t your thing, hit the campus itself. There are infinite secluded nooks and crannies across the beautiful Boulder campus that provide an opportunity to get outdoors as well as do some quiet studying.
Get to know people in all of your classes. If you do miss a class or two, they can at least give you notes or explain lecture concepts to you. They can also be a great study resource when finals come around, but don’t forget to return the favor.
The classes themselves will be a major departure from those of high school.
As a freshman, chances are you will be in at least a couple 500-student lectures. You will probably be in a recitation where you will be able to ask a teacher’s assistant or graduate assistant questions.
Before tests, it is a good idea to meet with your professor or TA and perhaps go over an old test or discuss the types of questions to expect. This not only gives you a sneak preview of what the exam will look like, but it will also put your face to your name in huge lectures.
“In high school, you are tested a lot on rote aspects, e.g. ‘Can you identify all the metaphors and literary devices in a passage?'” Kim said. “In college, you are pushed increasingly to work at a higher level, developing more sophisticated theories and hypotheses through essays.”
Don’t worry — classes won’t be like this forever. Lower-division and upper-division classes are often much different from one another. Upper-division classes are more major-specific. There are more in-class discussions and comprehensive lectures about one topic.
“Lower-divisions are a lot of memorization and being able to take in vague information,” Skirvish said. “Upper levels, at least in my degree, are about taking the stuff you’ve learned and applying it. It’s a lot more in depth.”
Many lectures and discussions are focused comprehensively on a single topic. Thus, smaller, upper-division classes allow for more student involvement.
“[In upper-division classes] you are expected to become less of a student and more of a scholar in your own right. You are expected to aim less for an “A” and, instead, to feel driven to contribute something interesting and original to the broader scholarly community of your field,” Kim said.
